After weaving and dodging through crowds, the city finally began to thin out. Giving way to low hills and scattered cottages. More than once, Tirian had attempted to start a conversation with the strange sent-priest of Bollusag. And more than once Kal had shut him down.

“Alright,” Tirian said, breathing hard. He took off his worker’s jacket, carrying it under his arm. “Please, can we slow down for just a moment? We’re not all corpists here.”

Kal turned to look at Tirian. The priest wasn’t even out of breath. He let out a sigh. “I do often forget what it was like to get tired naturally. Fine.”

After passing another hill, the landscape revealed a small home surrounded by a wide yard covered in an array of large metal sculptures. Spires, circles, spirals, a sinuous sheet with ripples emulating an ocean wave. Tirian heard the twisting of metal and looked ahead. Almost directly in front of them stood an old man. He moved his hands, pushing and pulling the metal into a new sculpture.

Tirian stared in awe as the artisan moved his hands in twisting formations, the metal moving in concert with the man's fingers. He was a magnetist, but not a soldier. Tirian began to make his way towards the artist.

"Tirian, we better go around,” Kal said, a warning in his voice.

"This'll be fine," Tirian said, "He's not a warrior, he's an artist."

"We don't have time to-"

“Hello strangers!” The old man called out.

Kal’s gaze fell.

Tirian raised an eyebrow at Kal. “It’ll be far more suspicious to sneak around him.”

Kal frowned. "Fine, but I'm knocking him out if things get out of hand. I will not have you getting caught just as I'm about to get you to Bollusag."

They approached the man.

“You seem to be leaving town at the peak of the festival,” the old man said. He turned his gaze back to his art. “Have you come to see an old magnetist at work?”

Tirian smiled and nodded. “Partially. We were on our way north, but I wanted to see your art on the way! I’d heard of the amazing artist that lived out here! What better way to celebrate Elmarad’s victory than creating beauty with the power he gives us?”

The old man nodded without looking away, slowly shifting the metal. “Decades of practice will yield such skill.” The metal's twisting movement slowly came to a stop as the man stopped moving his hands. He wiped some sweat from his brow and looked at Tirian. “And who might you be?”

Tirian performed a traditional magnetist bow. “Elfred, a new acolyte of Elmarad.”

The man gave a slight frown. “Did you know that thief? I was recently made aware of a young man getting powers from Elmarad under false pretenses.”

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Kal tensed at Tirian’s side, but Tirian ignored him. Tirian clenched his fists. “I did, a little. I heard they were tracking him west. If I had been there, maybe I could have stopped the bastard from escaping.” Tirian clenched his fists.

The man nodded again. “Much agreed.” He turned to Kal. “Who’s your friend?”

"Kalif," Kal said.

“And you said you were headed, north?” the man said.

Kal nodded. “Yes, the northern beaches. We’ll be on patrol there against ralsuk raiders.”

"Good," the old man said. He spat to the side. "Those damned ralsuk pretend they're so civilized, but all they do is banish their miscreants. It forces us to deal with their criminals. It’ll be good to improve our northern defence/"

"Just doing what we can to serve," Tirian said.

The man looked back to his work and furrowed his brow. "Hmm, not quite what I wanted." He turned back to Tirian. "Would you like to try?"

Tirian smiled. "Me?"

"Yes, go ahead, give it a few gentle tugs in different directions."

Tirian grinned and stepped forward.

"We've really got to go," Kal said, "We're supposed to report soon."

"Don't worry about it! We've got plenty of time," Tirian said.

"Do I look like a time-weaver to you?" Kal said, but Tirian ignored him and approached the metalwork. He put his hands up, then stopped.

"I want to try, but I don't have much energy left."

"They didn't give you energy for the trip?" the man said, cocking his head.

"Oh, they did, but… we ran into a little bit of trouble…"

The man frowned, "That, too, has been happening too much lately. I've got you covered. Prepare yourself."

The man put his hands up towards Tirian. Tirian focused on his Core near his stomach, preparing to receive the energy that would be sent to him.

He felt it open. His center was ready for the magnetic energy that would come.

"Do it," Tirian said.

The man barely moved, but Tirian could feel a burst of magnetic energy buzzing through the air. It rushed at him, flowing into his open Core causing that familiar and exciting buzz as it charged with new energy.

The man stopped.

"Good," he said, "Now, give it a try."

Tirian turned to the metal sculpture.

"I don't want to ruin it," Tirian said to the man.

"Don't worry," he said, "It's freeform, anything you do will just be considered art." He smiled encouragingly.

"Elfred," Kal said, "We really have to go."

Tirian ignored him, concentrating. He pulled the energy from his Core and felt it move through his body until it buzzed at his fingertips.

He let it out in slow and rhythmic waves, gently pulling the tall metal sculpture, stretching it taller. It was difficult, and somehow he could tell that the metal was about to tear.

"Careful now," the man said, "Lower your output."

Tirian did so. Moving more slowly. Then he twisted his fingers. The flat metal sheet twisted into a curved spiral. The man let out an audible noise of surprise. Tirian smiled proudly and looked at the man.

The old man gasped. "Watch out!"

He looked at the sculpture and felt it. He had sent too much energy. He tried stopping but he was too late. The metal tore in a jagged line down its whole length, but still managed to keep most of its spiral shape.

Tirian growled. "Blast it all."

The man laughed and patted him on the shoulder, "That was amazing for your first time, I've seen mid-level apprentices who can't do what you just did. It has a sort of, amateurish charm. You've got quite the talent for magnetism."

"Thank you," Tirian said, nodding.

"Elfred?" Kal said. Tirian looked at him, he was scowling.

"What?" Tirian replied.

"We have to go! We have orders to not be late!"

Tirian rolled his eyes and turned back to the man.

"Thank you for the lesson, and for the energy," Tirian said, "What was your name again?"

"I never gave it, you can call me Master Voluntu," he said with a smile.

"Master Voluntu," Tirian said, "It's been a pleasure."

Tirian reached out his hand and Master Voluntu shook it.

"A pleasure meeting you both," Master Voluntu said. "Thank you for the visit. I don't get many out here."

"Pleasure," Kal said in a not very convincing tone, "I'm sorry to be in a rush, and, thank you for your time. Elfred, let's go."

Tirian gave a deep bow, customary with magnetists for showing respect to superiors.

Master Voluntu nodded in return.