Ikrei P.O.V.

“What was that?” I asked extremely discomforted.

“You went through a space time distortion device. You can think of it as a portal.” Iru told me helping me to stand.

“And we had to go through a death dive to open it?”

“Best way to avoid unwanted occurrences and guest following behind us.” Krigsain answered sitting on a rock behind me.

“They weren’t expecting it, neither did you. It was a last moment change to the original plan.” Freslia interjected.

I just looked at her having no words to say, like a mute.

“Where are we anyway?" Iru questioned, he was pulling out a book.

“Somewhere in the eastern section of Andara. Ciel is scouting.” Freslia replied while keeping guard.

“We were heading south, now we are in the east, our escape route has changed. So?” I wondered with perplexity.

“From here on out, we travel continuously nonstop until we reach the frontier village of the Zurians. Therefore, eat and rest up everybody, we are moving in a few hours.” She said while cleaning some dust from her cloak.

I couldn’t help but feel downcast. I was definitively in over my head with everything happening so fast. Worry, fear, resentment arose in my heart way too easily. For all of my ideas, this was not what I was signing up for. I sat down feeling defeated.

Guessing my state of mind Krigsain came over and sat next to me.

“The life of the Andurin is a harsh one, yours might be even harsher. But at least we are heading out of the Malgrunian nation.” He finished looking straight into my eyes.

I sat there silently listening. The bulging muscle mass instructor of mine somehow felt comforting.

“I’m not a guy that dwells on words too much forest hunter, but I’ll help you to get a leg up on your late start and become a proper mercenary once we are out of here.” He said trying to give me a reassuring smile.

It didn’t work.

“He’s not a man suited for speeches.” Iru expressed his opinion.

Still it was something to hold on to, I needed anything that I could get.

“Better than nothing I guess.”

Iru also came over and sat on the other side of us.

“What do you understand about Magi and magic Ikrei?” He asked.

Iru is switching topics to lighten the mood. Isn’t he?

I will admit it is a very useful method, I was curious about magic in this world.

“Not much, just the basics everyone has heard of. You use mana and learn to control it. Although my father called it the will, he always said it was slightly different. I never understood the difference or a proper application of mana, will or whatever the source of the power is. Everything for me has been trial and error.”

“The teachings on convergence of energies and powers are convoluted and misleading intentionally, you must know this, yes?” Iru asked me.

“Yeah, I get the gist of it on the surface. Why is that?”

“Knowledge is power and power is concentrated amongst a few. The selfishness and nature of man. So I’ll just touch on what pertains to mana for now. When you meet your mentor or elder you will learn about other details.”

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

“Why share what makes you special with others? Only one circumstance, when it benefits you. “Krigsain added.

“The Magi or wise men discovered mana, how they did that? That’s debatable, the point being, mana is considered to be the attunement of your awakened energy with the energy of the world around you. The elements you can control depend strictly on your affinity to the elements that you intrinsically are born with. Of course, this is only the general principle.”

Iru explained patiently.

“So magicians are born.” I said.

“Yes, pretty much and we are rare. Rare enough to be marked as special regardless of affinity.”

“The Claimere, is she a magician then? I’ve seen some pretty weird stuff happen around her.” I inquired.

“She might be, Claimere are a special breed of the Kotari, a true higher up. Their powers are mysterious and their true abilities concealed. You should look at the bright side; such a being is paying close attention to you.”

I didn’t know how to feel about that statement.

“How many people in the world get to have a higher up of an ancient faction intervene forcefully on their behalf?” Iru questioned me.

I was struck like a deer by the arrow of truth. No words came out.

“We have been scouted for a long time according to my step grandfather, you on the other hand, are a pickup on the spot as far as I know.” Krigsain worded in.

“To acquire this knowledge by chance is almost impossible. You would have to be the second coming of Augir.” Iru explained.

“The father of adventurers and mercenaries?” I probed the issue.

“That’s the one. Augir lived long enough and was lucky enough to pull off something close to the realm of miracles. An outsider becoming a core energy user, a triple master with vast experience in many fields. That doesn’t happen by accident, not anymore.”

“Did you know about the ancient arts by yourself?” He was looking at me with a questioning gaze.

“No, not by myself I had some guidance.” I acknowledged honestly.

“Be glad of your lot in life man, millions of people would kill to be in your skin.” Krigsain commented.

“Yes, there’s definitively something to this Ikrei fellow. He might even be a spy!” Iru said jokingly.

Iru and Krigsain laughed their hearts out. I was not amused.

“Whatever happens just wait until we are out of harm’s way that’s all I can tell you.” Krigsain said leaving to polish his sword again like he always did.

I looked into the skies wondering, trying to get my mindset in the proper place.

“I’m having trouble coming to terms with everything that’s going on.” I said to Iru.

“Remember Ikrei, we, the Sachear, are not privy to a deeper understanding of the mysteries until we are vetted.” Iru explained.

“Magic surely looks cool but I can easily beat the both of you up. The development of your core is what is important.” Krigsain told us from where he was with a shout.

“I was getting there you brute!” Iru loudly responded.

“Once you have awakened you will sense things. You will know if you can interact with the elements within and without. Affinity and everything else can be detected later.” Iru said igniting my curiosity about my future a little.

“What about you Krigsain, you can use awakened powers but not magic, right?” I asked loudly so he could hear.

“I use what it is called the Will, the energy within my core, the one in my brain. The brain is the basis of your main core so don’t get your head on a stick or chopped off. Even the so called immortals are not invincible.” He said pointing at my head with the weapon.

“Then mana is the energy outside and will is the energy inside?”

“There is more to it than that, your master will clarify that for you, vetting and all that. Simply put for now, mana is a term used by the Magi, Will is a term used by the Andurin. Once you awaken you will slowly understand the difference, just keep doing what you are doing.”

“There are Magi in all factions? Are there independent Magi?” I asked.

“There is the Kingdom of Adol in the Eastern continent. The Magi who wished to be independent went there about two millennia ago. There are faction members, also some lose magicians here and there. There are always hidden cards in our world.”

“And where are the Magi here, in our neck of the woods?” I pressed.

“The spire of Adolphyr in the Kingdom of Zunar is the home to the Magi Association in the western continent. The citadel itself is a sight to see, we should go there sometime.” Iru hinted.

Even though I felt the offer was a gesture of goodwill, it didn’t feel genuine given the circumstances. I did appreciate the fact that it made me feel slightly better for a moment.

“How come you are not going to Zunar then? Magi may choose to be with their own without being tied down to a faction. You know freedom, independence and all that stuff?” I was deeply intrigued, unconsciously comparing my circumstances with his.

“There’s nothing to it really. I had my Rite of Passage at Orgis when I was but a child and for all the wealth and knowledge of the current magicians, the Andurin are older, ancient in comparison.”

“Didn’t you say the Magi discovered mana?” I asked trying to clarify my confusion.

“The original Magi did. Not the current iteration of them. History is manure from a different stable my fellow Sachear. In other words, it’s complicated.” He answered adjusting his glasses.

“You will learn far more once we reach our destination. This is enough for an appetizer. Cheer up!” Iru gave me his customary salute and left to read another one of his books.

“Get to cooking Ikrei, Ciel will be back any minute now.” Freslia gave the word.

We began moving about our business until Ciel’s return.