Chapter 15

The door opened, allowing a flood of light into the room, allowing the sound of footsteps to reach her sensitive ears.

"Tobias, up and at it!" Gwendolyn said, setting a small glowing crystal lamp down on the table.

"Leave me here to die," Riley complained within, being too groggy to project her thoughts. She rolled over in her comfortable crate and nestled down further into the debris within.

It had been her first night of peaceful, uninterrupted sleep since arrival; her belly had been full, and safety had been established if only tentatively, which allowed the fatigue to slam into her like a wave.

"I'm up, I'm up," she could hear Tobias swing his legs off the bed and set his feet upon the floor. Her crate was just to the side, tucked between it and a nightstand.

"How long do I have?" He groaned, looking up towards his mother.

Riley gave a disapproving grunt.

"Oh, I've two grumpy slugabouts, it seems. You've about an hour, like normal," she said, tsking and shaking her head.

"This level of chipper is illegal at this hour. Call the cops. I want to file charges," Riley groaned, curling into a tighter ball.

"Ok... Ok… Come on, Riley. We're meeting Justinian before class," Tobias said, rising to his feet.

"Who's Riley?" Gwendolyn asked.

"I am, and I want to sleep!" She demanded, keeping her words far from mental projection.

"She is. It's her name. Is there breakfast?" He yawned.

"Huh, well, suit yourself. There's fruit and bread. You know I'm soon off; it's the start of my work week at the inn," she reminded.

"Tea, please tell me there's tea," Tobias yawned again.

"It's waiting for you. Just how late were you up shining the half night crystal love?" Gwendolyn asked.

Riley, in a titanic force of will, pulled herself up in a high arcing, yawning stretch, pulling out the kinks in her back.

"Hour past halfnight. My trials are next week; gotta be ready," Tobias began the morning death march towards the kitchen table.

Riley blearily followed after him.

"My, you two are getting on well, but I must be off dears. Mind you, it's a foggy one out today," she said cheerily before moving down the stairs.

A moment later, Riley heard the door shut.

An eerie quiet fell upon the upstairs apartment as Riley scented the air.

"Everyone's gone?" She said, feeling a strange loneliness.

"Da's upfront in the shop, no doubt preparing to open, and Granda is most likely out catching the news from the crier. We'll need to be quick about things ourselves if we want to make class on time," he explained.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

"You mean I'm going with you?" A new pang of fear ran through Riley's chest.

"If you'd like. You said you needed an ally last night and a chance to learn about this world. I think I can help with some of that, and after the verbal tirade, I'm pretty convinced you don't mean me any harm, so why not go with it? Maybe we can help each other. The twelve Gods know I need all I can get," a pall of worry fell upon his face.

"What happens if you fail your trials? You sound pretty nervous about that," Riley asked as Tobias sat down at the table, took some Tenganut, and put it on a waiting plate before tearing off a chunk of bread and pouring himself a glass of tea.

He looked at it as if it might speak the mysteries of the universe to him before slowly beginning to eat.

"Cloistering is what happens. All magic users have a use, even defective ones, Riley. I'd become enslaved to the state. It would ruin this family, and it would all be because I can't get over myself and trust my damn magic. I'm so fucking screwed," Tobias dropped his bread on his plate and sunk his head into his hands, trembling.

"That's a lot of pressure," Riley said, starting a mutiny against Captain Obvious.

The title would be hers!

"It is, which is why I've been faking it with Justinian all these years. My torc is supposed to mark me as a student, that's why it's silver, but Justinian did some work on it so that it acts as a focus, allowing me to channel without having to rely too much on my own work. Such are mainly reserved for first and second years, but it's a hill I've never gotten over. If I get exposed or fail, this silver one will be replaced with one of copper," a look of horror replaced the worry.

"If I can help at all, I will. Want to make it formal? You help me, I help you, a simple exchange of friendship and trust?" Riley asked.

"Deal, but you still know nothing of magic," Tobias remarked sourly.

"Not even a little bit, except maybe for that strange power rush I felt when I got angry that one time. Could that be magic?" Riley asked.

"I've been thinking about that. One of the reasons they teach us meditation is to control our emotions. A sorcerer that snaps in a rage may cast without thinking. Magic is the projection of will against an indifferent universe. I suppose that's lesson number one. Emotions can reinforce that will, make it stronger." Tobias explained.

"New age horseshit," Riley grumbled to herself, keeping that from Tobias, but this was a new world; there were new rules.

"Does this mean I need to align my chakras?" She half joked, fearing the answer.

"What's a chakra?" Tobias looked over towards her, puzzled.

Gwendolyn had left everything needed on the table, even a small bowl Riley assumed was for her.

"Never mind. Can I have some tenganut and a little bread?" She asked.

"Sure, but let's be quick about it. I've got some ideas that might help you with the basics, but we need to hurry," Tobias said, sliding over some food.

"What basics?" Riley asked.

"Of magic. I've got an idea to train you like we train first years," Tobias replied.

"Thank you for all this," Riley said, the words erupting out of her, almost as if she was still under the compulsion of the oath.

"Should the worst happen to me, I don't know how much you'll be able to do in this world, but stay with my family. Maybe the lot of you can find some strange way forward. I'm so scared of leaving them with nothing, but every student is, whether they've got my problems or not," Tobias seemed even paler at that moment.

"That's why you do Justinian's homework? How common is all this?" Riley asked.

"It's fairly common. Especially on the theory side, as long as you can cast, you're a body to man the walls. My magic and my ability to use it are the only things that matter to them. The same is true for everyone, save for the First Tiers that make up the royal court. You either perform, or you're effectively locked away, and there's not too much concern as to how you get there, just that you get there, hence my problem," Tobias explained.

"It was your problem, but we're together now. We just need to keep moving forward, you'll see." Riley countered.

"I wish I shared your optimism, but nothing I've done has worked." Tobias sighed.

"But you still have an instinct to rely on your magic. I saw it last night when you threatened to fry me. Your hands suffused with an orange flame. I really thought I was going to burn!" She praised.

"It's a funny way to start a relationship, but we're together now." Riley mentally shrugged.

"Wa...Wait... Wait a minute, what?" Tobias' eyes went wide in shock.

"The orange flame that suffused your hand it flickered, but it was there. Come to think of it, your torc glowed too. It's like those music crystals; there's an electric like energy in there," Riley cocked her head in puzzlement.

"You can see magic! Oh wow, you can see magic!" Tobias exclaimed.

"That's uncommon?" Riley wondered.

"It is, and it could be an advantage," Tobias said, his face brightening.