Domhnall 1.2

Donal stepped out of the dinghy onto the island. Out of all places the man could’ve chosen, he just had to choose a barren island in the middle of a lake. A dwelling in the forest would have made a little more sense, but this? Who was he to question, though? Probably some kind of custom, or just simply a personal preference.

Looking around a bit, he found the Druid tending to his herbs behind the little hut. The garden was big, covering almost half of the island, and four times as large as the house. Most of it consisted of shrubs, providing little protection from the scorching sun above.

“Nice garden.”

“It is decent and it serves its purpose. So, your highness,” Kevlyn said with a drawl as he turned around. “What is your purpose in being here?”

“I’ll make it brief. Teach me magic.”

He sighed in undisguised exasperation. Also, was that contempt he heard? “I’ve said it time and time again, you aren’t compatible. Nothing short of a miracle will change that. But it’s nothing to be ashamed of. It’s not as if magic is the only thing in this world. Only a small group of people have access to it, and an even smaller group can use it efficiently. Not to mention, it’s not like you have nothing. Your bloodline and swordplay will be enough.”

“Just check me one more time. Please?”

“Do you know something I don’t know?” His eyes narrowed. “Perhaps something to do with yesterday?”

“Possibly. A miracle might have indeed happened.”

“That was the only thing to come to mind. Since that’s the case, let me prepare some stuff. You just stand here.”

A minute later, Kelvyn came out with a dagger and a small bottle with some sort of brownish liquid inside. He now wore a cloak of black feathers, in his left hand a triangular charm. On his head was the skull of some wolf-like animal.

“What’s up with the outfit?”

“Tradition. Now, take this,” he handed Donal the dagger and bottle, “and pour some of your blood into the bottle.”

Kind of unhygienic, but he did not mind. It’s not much work, a slash along the palm, and he was done. The Druid took the concoction, shook it, and waited. From a murky brown, it was now crystal clear. How that happened, he had no idea, but it should be fine. He initially thought he would have to drink his own blood, so this was a step up.

“You weren’t lying, something changed.”

Suddenly, he pulled Don toward him and stared straight into his eyes. The man’s intense green eyes seemed to uncover the deepest secrets of his existence. Don hastily pulled away and shouted. “What are you doing?!”

“Just checking. To see if there are any abnormalities.”

He felt his heart skip a beat. However, he kept his face straight and asked. “Was there anything?”

“No. The result is quite clear. You can perform magic now. Not only that, you seem to have a fairly high aptitude. From today, come here every morning. It is, after all, my duty to help you.”

“Thanks. I thought there would be more to this, though?” He had skimmed a bit on magic, and there were supposed to be rituals involving divinity.

“No need. Most would indeed require deific support, but you already have divine blood in your veins, so it’s unnecessary. Also, while the cut might seem small, it drained your spirit. We can make the first step, but after that, you rest.”

“What am I supposed to do?”

“It depends, really. Essentially, you need to open yourself up, and to do so, you need to truly want it. You want to gain access to your birthright, to gain access to the part of your soul that does not belong in this mortal realm. You want magic, to either destroy or protect. You want to see the world for what it truly was. Form that desire in your mind, and realize it. It depends on the person, but as long as you have something to base yourself on, then it’s all good.”

He blinked. Sounds… odd.

“Take your time. It can be quite difficult. For some, their desires are too weak, too faint. For others, they can’t put faith in the vagueness and ambiguity, meaning their wishes will never be fully genuine. For a tiny few,” at this, he gazed at Donal, “they have nothing they don’t already have. So, what are you?”

“I’m not sure myself. Let’s see.”

As he concentrated, he wondered how this worked. Did they input his brainwaves in? Mind reading? Or it might be completely random.

Let’s just see if it could read his brain. I really want magic, for the good of my realm. That seemed a plausible thing. He waited for a moment.

“Did anything happen?”

The Druid hummed. “Nothing. Which was to be expected. There’s a reason all Druids should be educated thoroughly before officially activating their full potential.”

…So, some old-fashioned brainwashing and indoctrination. Nice. Considering their potential power and influence, it was a good call.

“Your father told me you had a solid education. It makes me wonder. I wasn’t from this region, so I don’t really know the customs. But still, it could not be that bad. I suppose you did not have this in mind before, so no worries.” The man did not bother to hide his mockery. There was still a subtle disappointment, however. He wondered why.

Donal did not mind Kelvyn’s antics. It was to be expected, considering his own position. Don was more concerned about how the world actually functioned. He would be able to get some answers outside. Or at least, attempt to get answers.

“Our magic is more primal, more emotional than other variants. Some would even say it’s primitive, which is a stupid claim made by incompetent fools. There are quite a few reasons the Free Mages can never get hold of much power, and emotions are one of them. While the ‘logical’ methods are more prevalent in the Far West and the Deep South, they could only fiddle with toys and their meagre curses. You and me, our kind, are meant for more. I’m saying this so you don’t go around, searching for an easier path. That’s most of the Free Mages right there, a group of failures and non-believers.”

“I see… You’re quite passionate about this.” Was that brainwashing kicking in?

“Yes, I am. You’ll see the light soon. If not now, then in a few years. Anyway, take this,” the man handed him a small token, “and show it to the librarian. Tell her to lead you to the beginner’s section. You’ll get what you need there. There aren’t many, so just use what you see. Magic had always been a personal business, so the writings that exist are few and far between. What I know might not be of much use to you and vice versa. However, basics are still basics. While I did go on a bit of a tangent about desire, the initial levels don’t require too much.”

“Thanks for helping me.” He said with a smile.

For the first time, the Druid also smiled genuinely. “You can finally leave me alone now.”

And with that, he was kicked out. As he slowly rowed back to shore, he couldn't help but think. Kelvyn should be someone of decent importance since he did not bother with pretences around himself. He seemed to be a purist and a traditionist, who was in love with his ‘art’. Perhaps that played a role in his place of residence. It also meant that he was quite enthusiastic about teaching others. Whether his teaching would be effective remained to be seen. He was also…

He shook his head. He was in a game, to relax, not to analyse artificial intelligence.

Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

He still wondered if there was mind-reading. From the machine, rather than the game. That would not be ideal, to say the least. While he was quite certain it was not possible, with how things were, he would not be too surprised.

It really was a headache. He decided not to think about it any longer. Nothing would come out of all this speculation, either way.

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Standing in front of him, three stories high was the library. It was a stone structure, one of the few in the entire town. With its width and height, it towered over the area. It was quite surprising that they even attached this much importance to a library. The Celts seemed to be a rather warlike people, especially this group of people, who had Morrigan as their patron goddess.

To his surprise, the inside was quite clean and fresh. He had expected it to be some damp, musty library full of old tomes that no one bothered themselves with. This was certainly a bonus. There were few people around, but that was no surprise. The number of literate people was already quite low, and not all of those had access to the building.

He showed the token to the librarian, a plump middle-aged man with one leg. The man called for a young girl, who then led him to the third floor. This place was definitely less inhabited, though still very neat and tidy. He noticed one other person on the floor, probably a Druid judging from her attire.

Looking around, he decided to head over to the beginner’s section. Kelvyn had not been joking when he said there were few. A grand total of three: ‘Rituals and Sacrifices’, ‘Men, Monsters, and Gods’, and the aptly named ‘Magic’. He sighed. At least the books were quite thick. Who even wrote all this stuff?

He decided to start with ‘Magic’. It seemed to be the most basic; therefore, the most suitable. The material was interesting; some leather outside and some type of skin for the pages. He skimmed through it in a few hours.

To sum it up, magic was a valuable strategic asset that was available to very few people. They said a long time ago, the first Druids grafted magic into their bodies with the blood of monsters and divinity. Their descendants became capable of magic. It was inheritable, but the chance was rather low. The people without their parent’s gifts usually entered the common populace, and as time passed, this magical inheritance lay dormant in the blood of all people. While a good number of new Druids came from established parents, a third to half of them came directly from normal people.

He pondered if bias and discrimination existed.

Magic was not omnipotent, but it had many usages. The main class of mages were the Druids, who also acted as religious figures and civil officers. There were normal people filling those roles too, for sure, but the highest caste were the Druids. Even royalty and aristocrats would join their organization. Not too much regarding this; it might be in one of the other books.

Celtic magic focused primarily on the Natural Elements, the Beasts, Blood, and Rituals. The last part mainly focused on dealing with gods and such.

There were other roles too, for example, the Free Mages, which was just a label on people who practised a larger variety of subjects. Also, they did not have a strong association with the Divine. However, they were few in number and limited in influence. The strongest faction among them were the Bards, who could empower people in large numbers. They were sought-after for their ability in large-scale warfare. The fact that they were good entertainers was a nice bonus.

The book brushed on other people’s and their magics, but not in much detail. For example, this was what they had on the Greeks: [Heavy focus on external tools: Artifacts, jewellery, rituals, especially potions. Curses. Through costly measures, they can create semi-magical people. Easy to deal with up front, but dangerous when prepared.] Some were longer than others, but when their people were an entire ocean away, there was no need to care too much.

Then there was the Blessed, like him. However, magic too was their main source of power, with many of their numbers joining the Druids directly, or possessing honorary membership. They, however, had some different power on top of magic. Even the ones who did not have the capacity for magic still had such powers. For example, a Blessed of Taranis could either throw lightning about, shatter people’s ears with thunder, or even ride through the air in chariots of sky horses. Most, however, only possess a single skill, so they had to make it count.

There were also quite a few nations that were ruled not by the Blessed, but by others. These could be an established family of Druids or a dynasty of legendary warriors. That said, even if they were not directly supported by the gods, they likely possessed divine items or supporters who were related to gods.

Anyway, this three along with the small pile of tomes that already filled his dreamscape, he had quite a lot to do. Since he could use the latter while sleeping, it was rather efficient. Though, he was not sure if such rest was effective. Not to mention, he was not exactly allowing his outside body to sleep properly. What if his brain is just fried or something?

Ah, who cares about rest, amirite?

Now, he had to meet up with that brother of his.

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Conroy was talented. There was a reason he could contend with Donal, even though the latter had such enviable luck. He was only twenty years of age (2 years older than Domhnall), but his skill with the blade was well-respected even among veterans. He was the latest apprentice of the region’s High Druid. That alone spoke volumes of his ability. In contrast, Donal couldn’t even access magic before today. Not to mention, despite being given a less prosperous city to govern, Conroy still thrived whilst also making strides with his magic. Conroy even participated in some small wars before and fought directly amongst the men.

From the provided information, his eldest brother was a friendly, honourable person who had always been kind and helpful to his siblings. The young Donal had always trusted and respected Conroy. He wondered if it was a facade or if that was his true nature. If it was him, he wouldn’t be happy with a clearly less talented individual having a better shot at the throne.

Seriously, though, the former him seemed so underwhelming before this opponent. He didn’t have magic. He wasn’t particularly smart or knowledgeable. His redeeming quality was his martial skill. But with him being in control, he doubted that it still held true. Not without sufficient practice, at least.

He could hear the clattering of hooves from a distance. There they were, a troop of ten men, at their head the target of his concerns. As they closed in, he could see who he was up against. A tall, lean man with sharp features. His black, curly hair fell to his shoulders, with streaks of red mixed in. The right side of his head was wrapped with bandages, centred on his ear. Riding his war horse, he certainly looked imposing.

As soon as the group arrived, Conroy jumped down, his expression visibly brightened upon seeing Don, and he said warmly. “Hello, how have you been, Don?”

“I’m good. How about you?”

He shrugged. “Could be better.” Then he smirked. “And it’d be better if you would give me a hug right now.”

“I… don’t want to.”

“Don’t be like that. It’s been a year already. Shouldn’t that make you feel like hugging?”

He grimaced. Conroy chuckled as he pulled him into a bear hug.

“Anyway,” he said as he wriggled out of his brother’s grip, “let’s get inside. I wouldn’t want to keep you and your guys out for long. I like to think of myself as a decent host.”

“Eh, no worries. Do get someone to take special care of my horse, though. The big guy’s a bit of a menace,” he could hear the black horse snorting from the distance, “but he’s worth the trouble.”

“Huh. Sure. If there’s nothing else, let’s get going.”

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“Cheers!” They roared as they each gulped down a cup of wine.

For a small welcome feast, it was certainly a site. There were two whole cows roasted for the event, with a range of other delicacies on the side. It made him wonder what a true feast is like.

“What are you thinking about?”

“Nothing.”

Conroy grinned. “If that’s the case, let’s do some catching up. I heard that you gained magic. And don’t give me that look. Kelvyn is a good friend of mine, and it’s not like it is something to hide. At the very least, don’t keep it from your own family.”

“I had no such intention. But yes, the goddess gifted me that for some odd reason.”

His brother’s smile waned at the mention of Morrigan. It was the slightest gesture, but it seemed the man wasn’t all too happy about current affairs. It would’ve been more surprising if he wasn’t. After a moment, he said. “Perhaps it’s for your coming-of-age.”

“That’s possible,” Donal said, whilst wondering what he meant.

“It’s also why I’m here. We’ll journey to the capital, where your ritual will be held. Pretty exciting stuff, right? I can still remember my own ritual.”

“Wait, what’s happening?”

Conroy raised an eyebrow. “Are you serious? I heard you got knocked out for days. You didn’t hurt your brain in the process, right?”

“Ugh. I certainly hope not.”

“Welp, you aren’t making a strong case for yourself right now. Be prepared. You’ll have a companion, too. A day late, but still.”

“You mean Kane?” Kane was his younger brother, born a day after him. A mistress, if you were wondering.

“Who else,” he chuckled, “and don’t be like that. Cannot imagine that you two are so close, yet so far.”

“Me neither. So, what have you been up to?”

“Not much. Master got a new apprentice, she’s quite a looker, I’d say. I can introduce you to her if you want. I remember you desperately looking for a potential wife last year.”

“I’ve gone over that phase, all right.”

Conroy just laughed. Don acted like he was embarrassed, though part of him truly was embarrassed. At the humiliation, if nothing else. Thus, he diverted the topic. “Anything else? Perhaps some mystical stuff??”

“All confidential. Nothing I can do about that.”

“That’s a shame.”

“I can tell you the story of the baking of the cake if you want.”

He stared at the man. Seriously?

He laughed. “Perhaps not then. But trust me when I say it’s worth a listen. Either way, we’ll have a few days before going. Anything you want to do in particular?”

“I don’t know. We’ll see. As for now, let’s just enjoy the meal.”

“Will do. But don’t enjoy it too hard. You wouldn’t want to be like uncle Murray, would you?”

“Ah. I’ll take care.”

Afterwards, he was very much drunk. His dream, as such, wasn’t very productive.

As he drifted away into unconsciousness, he wondered if drunkenness would transfer to the outside.