“Did Adrestia tell you? Or was it Nemesis?” She asked curiously.
A man from behind answered her, his voice the most soothing and feminine of them all. “Indeed she did, although I wouldn’t use the second name too often, miss Ana. It's tied with some unpleasantness we would rather forget.” Getting a better look at the man, he also wasn’t human. This day just keeps getting weirder and weirder.
The only resemblance he had with a human was his form. Two legs, two arms, one head, and the sort. But being rather short, with yellow skin, a flat nose, pointy ears, and being rather skinny or better said wiry as his muscles were clearly defined, pointed towards him not being human. And being shirtless gave the impression that he was a man, but she thought better than to judge so quickly.
Putting the firewood down, he walked to her extending his hand. “Nathaniel Merry, at your service ma’am.” Shaking Nathaniel’s hand she responded.
“Anastasia DeRose. Do you mind answering some questions?”
“But of course, you are the reason we are here in the first place. But before you ask, would you permit me to do one test?”
“A test? Do elaborate.”
“Do not fret, it is quite a simple matter. I could have done it while you slept but thought it rude not to ask you first. Simply hold out this stone with your hand and depending on its glow we can tell what your aptitudes are and how strong they are.” Rummaging in a bag to the side he produced a cloth-covered object that he unraveled carefully as not to touch it himself. Inside was what looked like a piece of monoclinic quartz crystal.
Taking the stone in one hand, she noticed that her hands weren’t shaking anymore. “What do you mean by aptitudes?” As she spoke the crystal started glowing and casting swirling shapes all around them. Every color imaginable was expressed through the ever-changing shapes and formations. And among the clouds and mist, lightning crackled like in a storm. The combination of the memory from the first time she had seen the same thing and the fact that it was too bright caused her to drop the crystal which then stopped glowing.
Both Borka and Nathaniel were stunned into silence. “A true magus.” Nathaniel whispered in excitement. The word was familiar to her. Magus. It took her a few moments to recall, but she did remember that the word Magus was used to describe a sorcerer. Seeing her confusion Nathaniel continued.
“It means you have a gift with magic.”
“A sorcerer?” They both said at the same time.
“Wait! Magic!? Like wizards and spells?” She asked dumbfounded.
“Well, yes?”
“But there is no such thing as magic.”
“What do you mean there is no such thing if you know the name we use?”
“What, wizards?” He nodded and Ana fell into silence, grabbing her head as she pondered.
After taking a few deep breaths and collecting her thoughts she spoke. “Well, I know them from stories and books, fictional books that it. Magic is just a fool’s excuse for a lack of knowledge. I mean no offense but as a scientist, it's hard not to find the idea laughable.” She tried giving a smile but her teeth just made the expression of a hungry predator instead.
“Ah, so I am correct in assuming that your world is one of the blanks?”
“Blanks? I have never heard that expression before.”
“It means that the specific makeup of the world itself combined with its location prevents the connection to the weave.”
“Guess so, as to my best knowledge there is nobody like that in my world.”
“That you know, so is it possible that you were sheltered and do not know of anyone with a connection. Blank worlds were all supposed to be destroyed in the war. It makes more sense that your world has a weak connection instead.”
“Impossible. With globalization and the aptly called information age, it is impossible to keep something like that secret. Plus there is no scientific proof of something like that.”
“Globalization? I am not familiar with the term, can you explain?” Borka had poured them drinks in clay cups, something that smelled suspiciously like beer, and had handed out plates with food.
Tasting the suspicious beer she confirmed that it was, and coupled with the food it was divine sustenance.
“It’s a term we used to name the process of communication and interaction among people worldwide. I’m guessing this world doesn’t have that?”
“Worldwide interaction.” Nathaniel’s face lit up like a kid opening a present on Christmas eve. “How do you achieve such a feat?”
“That is the complicated part, but mainly by advancing technology. Where I come from It is completely normal to have a conversation with someone on the other side of the world.”
“And you tell me you don’t know of magic, I have seen some wondrous things in my time but feats like that seem a bit too much.” She couldn’t help but chuckle at that.
“That is just the base for the society I live in. Can you tell me how to return? Adrestia said it was impossible due to some barriers or whatnot.”
“I’m afraid that traversing the Sea has become quite difficult ever since the war, entering it is not the issue but navigating, that is a task beyond most.”
Ana didn’t take it to heart, she did survive the first time, so there is a chance that she could come back if she learned how. A sudden realization hit her. “Wait how can I understand you? Shit, I am even speaking the same language and I don’t even know how it’s called.”
It was the turn for Borka and Nathaniel to chuckle now. Nathaniel pointed at his chest while looking at hers. The medallion Borka had given her laid there hanging from a small chain around her neck. “Magic.” He simply said, which annoyed the living hell out of Ana.
“What do you mean magic, It could just be an auto translator for all I know. Throw a few fireballs and then I’ll call it magic.” And he did. With a smile, Nathaniel got up, winked at her, and pointed a finger towards the sky. A streak of orange energy formed and shot at the spot he was pointing at. And then it exploded in a ball of fire.
While the scientist in her tried to find the hidden flame thrower on him, the kid in her was ecstatic.
“Magic huh. Damn that’s cool.”
Sitting down with his smile evolving into a grin now, he responded with a simple. “Indeed.”
This day has blown Ana’s mind a few too many times so she went quiet to contemplate all that she learned. She missed Nicole and the realization that she couldn’t return had broken the last straw. She started chuckling and shaking her head, but that chuckle quickly evolved into laughter. Tears and snivels from laughing became soft sobs as she couldn’t keep it in anymore.
Thankfully both Borka and Nathaniel had kept silent, understanding that this was a lot for the poor woman. After a while, she collected herself. “I’m sorry it’s just a lot to take in, before this started I was going to see a movie with my girlfriend and now I don’t know If I will ever see her again.”
With a nod of understanding, Borka spoke. “Fear not Naviir, sometimes it is a hard thing to face the world. Whatever helps you go forward you do it.” Nathaniel was surprised at his companion, Borka rarely spoke this much, choosing to speak only when necessary.
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“Thank you. And why did you call me Naviir?”
“It is what we call those that struggle with heavy burdens.”
“Guess I am Naviir squared then.” Laughing from her joke made both of her companions raise eyebrows of curiosity. “You did mention going to see a movie.” Nathaniel chimed in, curiosity spilling from his ears.
The next half an hour she spent explaining the concept of motion pictures, answering question after question. The problem was that they just got more and more confused as she went on and completely lost them with electromagnetism. A field where she had a Ph.D. in, meant that dumbing down became quite difficult. Especially since she was a researcher and not a professor, the Ph.D. there only because of her love of the subject.
After realizing that she had lost them she stopped. “I’m sorry. I’m no Feynman so explaining things isn’t my forte. Oh, Feynman was one of the most famous physicists who was excellent at teaching and explaining especially the more complicated subjects.”
“That is...uh...quite the pool of knowledge and advancement, and here I thought myself a learned man.” He chuckled sadly. Looks like Ana wasn’t the only one having to deal with the shattering of one’s world.
Looking at both Borka and Nathaniel. “Why did you help me? I know Adrestia had something to do with it but still, you must have your reasons.”
Nathaniel spoke first. “Lady Adrestia is the goddess of justice, but also vengeance. I am In debt to her so I chose to serve her goals.”
“Without the Lady, I would have been lost in the hate of my own making.” Borka also answered.
“Does that mean that I am now in debt also? I mean she did save my life and got you to help me, but she hadn’t asked for anything in return.” She was a bit wary, owing to some being powerful enough to be called a goddess wasn’t a terrific prospect.
Nathaniel pondered for a moment before asking. “You didn’t even know of the Great Lady before, correct?” Ana nodded. “You are sure that when she helped you, she didn’t ask for anything in return?”
“Yeah I’m sure, memories with her are the ones that are the clearest.” She answered, dreading Nathaniel’s verdict.
“Then you have nothing to worry about, as the goddess of justice she will not use underhanded tactics to influence you. She might ask something of you later as she asked us to help you, but it will be your choice.”
She was glad that it was Adrastia that had found her and not some evil self-crowned god of death or destruction.
“So what happens now?” She couldn’t go home, her main skillset was useless now. Integral and differential calculus didn’t help calculate how many bushels of grain a village produces.
“That will depend on what you choose to do, we are here to help and teach you. That necklace will stop working before the end of the day, so I would suggest that we start with the language we are speaking first. After that, I would move to the basics of magic and other local knowledge. While I teach that, Borka will teach you about survival and how to fight.”
“End of the day? And what happens after I learn all that?”
“Worry not, It is fueled by magic and I will teach you how to power it yourself. That will depend on you. We will continue to assist you until you deem it unnecessary.”
I will be learning magic huh? This is either some kind of an elaborate prank with lifelike cosplayers, or someone had slipped something in my coffee. Or I met a goddess, traveled between planets, and am about to learn magic. She shook her head, deciding not to dwell too much on it and to just go with what happens here and there.
“She went all out in helping me, I hope that I prove to be worthy of such help.”
“Do not worry, for hers is a noble cause.” Borka stated.
They spent the rest of the day breaking off the camp and packing everything in a cart that looked more like a big wheelbarrow. She used this chance to ask as many questions as she could about the world and especially about magic, which Nathaniel was more than glad enough to speak about.
She was currently inside the Sutus Kingdom, ruled by the Sutus the XXVII. That’s another thing, they used numerals very similar to the Roman system. They were heading towards Sutusmots, the capital city. The naming system made Ana roll her eyes whenever it came up. Another curious thing was that the various kingdoms used to be divided by race until Sutus The First, also known as Sutus the Conqueror, well conquered most of them. In the Formation of the Empire later a lot of displacement and migration took place and after the Empire fell the newly formed kingdoms and city-states were already a mixed bag, Some more than others.
Sutus Kingdom being the original starting place of the conquest was the most diverse of all. The language she was speaking has evolved from the creole of the first post-empire states. Her next volley of questions was directed towards magic, and while she understood the concept reasonably quickly she was still raised where such a thing belonged only on tv, and was hard to just accept it as is.
Night settled but the temperature didn’t drop all that much so Borka and Nathaniel decided to sleep outside. Ana didn’t even try, even if she could by some miracle fall asleep, the experience of the past few days wouldn’t let her stay that long. So she kept the fire going, mulling over everything she had learned.
From what Nathaniel told her, magic was very easy to use if you have the aptitude, but the more complex things you try and achieve the more knowledge you need about the subject. The more you know about how a fire works the more complex a spell you can make.
Her job was to figure out how things work, and she was excited to learn. That night she experimented with the campfire, trying to make the flames turn purple. She knew for example that you could use potassium chloride and an alcohol fire to get purple flames. After several hours of trial and error, she succeeded.
A minor victory as it only lasted a few moments but she was on the right track, her previous troubles forgotten as she immersed herself in this new experience. Through a few tries, she got the amulet working again, actually feeling how it was slowly draining her strength.
The best result she got was to imagine the whole process happening step by step. The more time she spent on the details the better the result was. When Nathaniel and Borka woke up in the morning they spotted Ana sitting by the fire, who was burning in a grey-black color.
Both of them were stumped into silence, not only did she learn how to control magic by herself in just one night but she also created something neither of them had ever seen.
“H-How did you…” Nathaniel trailed off, his jaw somewhere on the floor.
“Oh, good morning.” Ana greeted them and returned the flames to normal. Experimenting all night was taxing but not as much she thought it would be. From Nathaniel’s explanation, everyone has a personal limit to how much magic they can channel before they pass out, so her tank must be from a semi or the things she was doing weren’t consuming that much.
“You are something else, Miss Anastasia. I am positively giddy about the future.” Their things were mostly packed already, fixing up the camp Ana suddenly remembered her that her things weren’t with her. Asking Borka and Nathaniel she was pointed to the cabin and on a table next to the bed were her things. Wallet, phone, glasses, headphones, and lab coat. They must have taken the thing off as it was bloody.
Packing her things up she was surprised to see the phone still had a little bit of the battery left, she used the camera to see how bad her hair was. It was bad like she was in a fight with a raccoon and had lost. Her eyes were a surprise though, they had turned from a deep pine green to violet color. She decided to skip trying to explain how and what, as her knowledge of genetics consisted of the basics and a few general papers when CRISPR became a hot topic.
Taking a few pictures of herself in case she ever returned home, she ran outside. With a bit of convincing, she was able to take a picture of Borka and Nathaniel, having already explained the concept yesterday. They started their trek following the stream that passed nearby, while she explained to Nathaniel how she created the black flames before.
“Well, it was quite easy, as you know fire produces light.” He didn’t, so she spent the next ten minutes explaining the light spectrum. She skipped the part about the wave-particle duality of particles. “So then the fire produces visible light.” He nodded at that, he was smart, and the things he didn’t understand he took her word for it, grasping the concepts.
“So the absence of said visible light creates darkness, so if you absorb that specific wavelength of light it creates the dark flames you saw.” She suspected that this just left him more confused, but didn’t overexplain and let him ask questions.
They made a stop when the stream grew enough for them to fill their barrel with freshwater, continuing down a path that led away from the river. Ana spent the day talking about her world, answering a barrage of questions.
They made camp before nightfall, making a fire with Nathaniel casting some sort of an alarm spell, from what he explained. That drew a slew of questions from Ana now. Two of them were two peas of a pod, while Borka only chimed in when a specific topic interested her.
Nathaniel gave her a few pointers and exercises she could do to familiarize herself with the basics. Borka being first on watch, two of them decided to get some sleep, or at least try to.
Not sleeping the previous night and walking for most of the day tired her out and she drifted soon after laying down. She saw Nicole inside the dream, her just being there and holding Ana. But such a nice dream was interrupted by nightmares, as she found herself going through the pain again. Fighting through the storm seemed pointless and exhausting but before she could throw away the towel Adrestias voice sounded again.
Her calm and soothing voice-guided her through the worst of it until she finally woke up. The first thing that welcomed her was the headache as if some asshole was hammering nails into her head. Looking around her she saw her companions some distance away coming towards her. She had previously laid down in some blankets on green grass, now besides the green circle around her, there were smooth holes in the ground littered with fine powder-like ash like someone had carefully carved pieces from her surroundings.
As she was taking in the sights her companions finally got to her, asking how she was doing and if she was okay. After a bit of confusion, they had explained that after a few hours she started screaming and wild magic poured out of her like from a faucet.
Apparently, that is normal for those that are new to practicing magic when they are in emotional turmoil, and her having enormous potential coupled with no knowledge or practice made sleeping a bit more dangerous than usual.