Chapter 11 – Quae est potior pars corporis

“Are you being serious Jack?” Ralph asked. “It’s still not time for us to retire yet; we may be the older two in our group, but we still have a while longer.” Ralph looked at his companion in disbelief. Blake was having doubts about what Aaron said about Jack.

“Could he really have done what Aaron said?” He thought. “Maybe something happens to him from this moment in time to then.” Blake expected Aaron to say some remark but he didn’t, so he continued to listen on.

“I’m afraid so Ralph. I feel like I hit the wall; it’s been years since I felt I improved. It might be time for me to settle down, start a family, or even become a teacher.” He sighed. A heavy silence filled the air around them. Ralph looked like he was trying to find what words to say so Jack was the first to speak again. “I still haven’t made my decision so don’t tell the other two yet. Okay?”

“Alright.” Ralph responded. “I won’t.” The noise in the background kept going on but the two men opposite of Blake at the table remained quiet. No one was speaking. Blake was hoping they would talk more but it wasn’t possible as the food arrived shortly after. With the arrival of the food, the mood was lifted and the two were laughing and reminiscing about quests they took together.

With Anna busy playing with her food, Jack and Ralph doing their own thing, Blake was left with nothing to do. As minutes passed his mind started to wander. He thought about how Aaron hadn’t said anything for a while. He thought it was weird that he had nothing to say about the conversation that had just ended. He tried to call out.

“You there? Aaron?” He thought. There was no response. “Are you asleep? Even though you don’t sleep.” Still no response. He tries a couple more times to no avail. Everyone was about done eating so was about to give up on Aaron answering him, but he finally did answer.

“Sorry I don’t know what happened. I suddenly felt very weak and I kind of just blacked out. Did anything important happen?” Aaron asked. Blake sighed breathe of relief.

“Well not really but Jack mentioned he might work for the royal academy.” Blake thought.

“Is that so; we’ll see about that.” Aaron said. Blake was about to ask him what he meant but he didn’t have a chance. He felt a hand rest on his head. Startled, he looked up to see Ivy `smiling down at him, she was now wearing a long violet robe and was holding a tall wooden staff. Jess was right next to her, who was now wearing a full suit of armor.

“Well thankfully I didn’t have that much to pack.” Jess said as she pulled a chair from a nearby table and sat down next to Anna. Jack and Ralph finally noticed that their companions had come back as Ivy removes her hand from Blake’s head and sits down next to him.

“So Jack, how old are the kids.” Jess asks. Jack scratches the top of his head.

“I don’t know. Six? Seven? Maybe eight. Why don’t you ask them?” he says in a sarcastic voice. Jess sends him a few glares before turning to Anna and Blake.

“How old are you?” She asks.

“Seven.” Blake answers. Jess slightly nods in acknowledgement and turns to Anna. After a minute she puts on a big smile. “I forgot.” She says. Blake almost face palms but he keeps a poker face while Ivy holds back her laughter, and the other three laugh.

“I may not like looking after kids but they can be quite funny sometimes.” Ralph says. Jess nods in agreement.

“At the very least, we can assume them to be close in age.” Ivy says. “I have to say, I’m very interested in knowing why you wanted to know their age Jess.” Jess stands up and does a dramatic 360 degree spin and sits down again. She tilts her head downward and places the palm oh her right hand on her forehead.

“Does a woman need a reason to ask for the age of young children?” she asks. She remain in her position for a few more seconds and then lifts her head. Everyone, even the other peers in the inn, just stare at her without saying a word.

“We should charge money for this.” Blake thought. “It’s almost like some bad comedy skit.”

“What? Did I say something wrong?” Jess asks. Blake turns to look at Jack and Ralph huddling together and whispering to each other, one pops his head out and looks at Jess and goes back. Then they separate and Jack turns to Jess.

“After a little bit of discussion is has been deemed that it is wrong because you asked them.” He says.

“What!! Why?” She cries out.

“After a few years of being in the same party, we know that the only time that you ask anybody for their age is when you’re after them. We just want to make sure you don’t end up in prison.”

“You’re just jealous that I’m still young and beautiful, Jack.” Jess said. Jack raises an eyebrow. Jess turns her head away from Jack. “But if you must know. I wanted to know how long until they’re eligible for the royal academy.”

“If that’s the reason then I guess its fine.” Ivy responds.

“Tough luck. Jack said that the boy’s parents want him to be a blacksmith.” Ralph informs Jess..

“Is this true Jack?” Jess said. Jack nods yes. “Well I guess that’s disappointing.”

“Just a question Jess, but why would you want to know when they can get into the royal academy?” Ivy asks.

“Simple actually, as a graduate of the academy, I can be awarded a medal if someone I recommend graduates at the top of their class, maybe I can rise to A rank adventurer. Problem is, I can only recommend three people. The first recommendation I gave out was a waste so now I’m saving my last two.”

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“First time that I hear that you graduated from there.” Jack said.

“Well I just don’t really see a reason to bring it up. Anyway I guess I can see if this little girl has any potential.”

“Not so fast, the boy’s dad said he could become an adventurer if he so chooses. I guess you might have two test subjects this time.” Jack said.

“Awesome.” Jess replied. Blake didn’t really care since he doubted his parents would agree.

“Anna’s parents might though.” He thought.

“Father and mother might actually agree, but if I don’t know the full details then I can’t hope to make a decision; for now you should plan to say no just in case she would require you to do something extreme.” Aaron suddenly said.

“Okay, if you say so.” Blake thought. Aaron said no more and Blake resumed listening to group.

“Jack may you please inform us of their names. You should at least know that much right?” Ivy asked.

“Yeah, we need their names.” Ralph agreed. “We can’t just call them Boy and Girl.” Jack grabbed the back of his head in response.

“The boy’s name is Blake, but I don’t know the girl’s name though.”

“It’s Anna.” Blake interrupted. The group of four looked at Blake and then at Anna.

“Blake and Anna it is.” They said. Jess turned to Blake once more.

“Stat…” She started to say before being interrupted by Jack.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“I was just going to see his stats.” She responded.

“Since they’re kids he wants to ask the parents before we check.” Ralph said.

“I don’t see why though. Don’t you guys check anyone you want without remorse already? What’s the difference this time?” Ivy reminds them.

“It’s because of personal reasons and I warn you, I’m not budging.”

“Can I at least check their affinity?” Jack put his hand to his chin in a thinking gesture.

“If they can actually say the phrase then yeah sure.” Jack responded.

“Now this is getting interesting. I bet 2 gold coins that this Blake kid is earth affinity and the girl is light affinity. What about you guys? You’re not afraid of losing are you?” Ralph mocked. Ivy raised her staff.

“I don’t back down from a challenge. Let me see, I bet 2 gold coins that Blake is water affinity and Anna is wind affinity.” Ivy remarked

“I got you guys beat. I bet 2 gold coins that the brat is fire affinity and the girl is life affinity. What about you Jess?” Jack declared.

“Well I don’t know, let me think. Hmm I think Blake is dark affinity and the girl is life affinity.” Jess responded. They all took out 2 gold coins and placed them on the table.

“Alright. Whoever gets the closest to be correct wins all except if it ends in a tie in which case the money will be split.” Ralph declared.

“Of all things, they’re using us as entertainment by betting on us.” Blake thought. “I don’t know whether to be disgusted or amused. Well I just now that Jack is the only one who guess my affinity right so he’s going to win or at least tie.”

“Yeah, if I remember correctly her affinity was life. So he’s going to win.” Aaron confirmed.

Jess got up, left for her room again and came back with a piece of paper and a pen and wrote the phrase, quae est potior pars corporis, and then turned to Blake and Anna

“Okay Blake, Anna, repeat after me.” Jess said. She pointed to each part and said it. “Quae.”

“Quae.” Blake and Anna repeated.

“Est”

“Est” they repeated.

“Potior”

“Potior” they repeated.

“Pars”

“Pars” they repeated.

“Corporis”

“Corporis” they repeated.

“Okay now all at once. Quae est potior pars corporis.” Jess said.

“Quae est potior pars corporis.” Blake and Anna said.

“Okay now we wait.” Ivy said.

“I guess I wait until I feel heat. I’m surprised Anna was able to keep up though.” Blake thought. “I thought it would be hard for her to pronounce but I guess not.” A minute passed but nothing was happening. “It’s taking longer this time.” While waiting for something to happen he noticed that a leaf had grown on the table, right in front of Anna. The problem was that no one seemed to have noticed it; they all seemed to be looking in his direction, even Anna, but he couldn’t understand why.

“What’s wrong?” he asked. Ivy raised her staff.

“Cogitatio.” She used the staff to draw a circle midair in front of Blake. A circle of light slowly appeared in front of Blake. Upon closer inspection Blake noticed he could see a reflection; it was like a mirror. The problem that he noticed was that he couldn’t see his reflection. He looked down at his hands but he could still see them. After a bit of time passed he could start to see his reflection in the mirror before it slowly faded.

“Okay everybody it looks like Blake was dark affinity and Anna was life affinity so the winner of our little bet is Jess since she guessed both affinities right.” Ivy declared. Blake was confused.

“Wasn’t I supposed to be fire affinity?” he thought. As the money started getting pushed over to Jess, she put up her fist as a sign of victory. Suddenly Blake heard Aaron.

“Sorry.” The room started to tilt, but it was that he started to fall sideways. He tried to put bring out his arms but found himself unable to. He closed his eyes but he didn’t feel himself hit the ground. He opened his eyes he saw Aaron standing before him in an empty space.

Blake sat up while Aaron took a seat in front of him. “I thought my affinity was fire. What happened?” he asked Aaron, but Aaron shook his head.

“I don’t know… I really don’t know.” Aaron responded. “When someone has two high affinities they both show some sign after you say the phrase but it didn’t happen when you first said it; I don’t know why this is.”

“Okay fine. If you don’t know then why am I here?”

“I want to make a couple of tests. We’re going to have you repeat the phrase a couple times but I don’t want anyone seeing.”

“But won’t it show outside?” Blake asked.

“It shouldn’t, not if I don’t let it.”

“Can you please explain what you mean?” Blake asked. Aaron nodded his head.

“In the time we’ve been awake we’ve found out that you have control over the body but I control what the body does. I made you pass out so I could meet you here. In that same way, I can make it so that the effects of anything you do in here, stay in here and don’t affect the actual body.” Aaron said

“I don’t know if I understood that but I’ll just have to trust you.”

“Don’t worry, it’s still more of a theory, I don’t know how much or what I can control so what I said might not be entirely correct or accurate. I’ll keep trying to figure how this works but I’ll leave that for later. Go ahead and say the phrase.” Aaron commanded.

“Okay, here goes nothing. Quae est potior pars corporis.” Blake waited for a while and then a plant sprouted out of the ground.

“Life affinity… again.” Aaron demanded.

“Quae est potior pars corporis” This time he waited and without warning he burst into tears.

“Water affinity…once more.”

“Quae est potior pars corporis” His hair started blowing even though there was no wind.

“Wind affinity…do it again.”

“Quae est potior pars corporis” Blake felt something moving all over his body. He stood up and started to shake it off, dirt and sand fell to the ground.

“Earth affinity…last one.”

“Quae est potior pars corporis” Light shown out of Blake’s eyes.

“It’s as I thought.” Aaron said.

“Does this mean I have affinity with all seven attributes?” Blake asked.

“Yes, yes it does. I have a feeling that it might be thanks to that one skill that gave you unlimited potential. It might have transferred into the potential to master all the attributes of magic, but I can’t be sure yet.”

“What do we do then? Should I try to master all seven?”

“No, not yet at least. I worry because no one has been able to master more than two, even training al their life.”

“But I bet they didn’t have high affinity with more than two.” Blake remarked.

“You make a fair point but even so, if you don’t focus on one or two then how are you supposed to master any. You’d become a jack of all trades but master of none and that won’t work. We’ll start with 2 and go from there and see if you can learn more at a later time. You will continue with fire since I have a lot of experience with it but I’ll let you pick the second one. What will you pick?” Aaron asked.