The cart went back to its steady pace down the dirt road. Champ squinted his eyes as the cart gained speed. He turned and looked back behind them scanning the horizon. His hands fidgeted on the end of his shirt.
“how far out do you think they are Simon?” asked Champ
“Hard to say really, but if the brand sent you a dream I'd say too close to be relaxed,” Simon responded eyes fixated on the path ahead
“If they do happen to catch up, what are we supposed to do? I can't use my brand. I don't- I'm not particularly strong either.” Champ explained as he looked toward his biceps.
Simon took a second to think. His eyebrows furrowing
“That's a good point Champ, I’m a capable individual when it comes to combat, but my gifts are more suited to aiding only myself. I wouldn't be able to keep track of too much during a fight with more than a few enemies. What's even worse is the hounds travel in packs. I think if we can make it to the borderlands we can hopefully camp out and learn more about what you have been given.” Simon reassured
Champ's hands fidgeted more intensely. Hearing Simon so directly state his struggles and concerns to protect Champ in this situation made him extremely nervous. However, the thought of him being able to train his mark did linger in his mind and gave champ some solace.
From inside his coat, Simon handed Champ a spyglass. It was long, painted red, and had brass accents on the couplings. Engraved along the main shaft was an image of a wolf.
“Alright young sir, I need you to keep watch. Every hour on the hour. Tell me everything you see alright?” Simon said reassuringly
“Just because you may lack control over your gift, or you say you aren't physically strong, doesn't mean you can't help or be useful in other ways.”
Champ grabbed the spyglass and looked at it. He examined it rolling it over in his slightly clammy hands. He extended the spyglass and peered out to the horizon behind them. He saw surprisingly clearly through the lens. The dirt path they were just on, the towering trees, a few birds, and a blue sky. He relayed all of this to Simon.
“Good job Champ, keep all those details in mind. Now since we have some time to ourselves on this open road, I'd like you to explain the nature of your incident with your mother. I've heard it from your father but that's just an outsider's perspective.” said Simon
Champ’s face turned a bit pale at this request, having to think about what he did and how he hurt his mother unintentionally was not something he wanted to relive. He looked at Simon with blank eyes. He recalled the event verbatim as it was seared into his mind and would be for the rest of Champ’s life. It wasn't hard to remember for Champ, just painful to have to explain.
“I- all I remember was beginning to feel overwhelmed and fed up and a weird tingling sensation built up in me and I just thought of the storm and it just happened,” said Champ
Champ continued to explain and answer any questions Simon had for him, he had him clarify or be more detailed about each sensation or any outside stimulus that might have affected Champ during the outburst. Simon after having heard everything Champ had to say, sat in silence with this information and thought to himself for a long while.
“Hmmm, I see, alright Champ I want you to think of something simple, something you interacted with almost every day back in Parish, and bring it to the very forefront of your mind. Visualize its shape, its texture, its sounds, its weight. Anything you can think of, just create an absolute version of it in your mind. Maybe your powers are a type of manifestation” said Simon
The thought of actually performing this magic excited champ immensely, he sat up straight and rolled his shoulders back
“I guess maybe a book? We would get quite a few at the shop” said Champ
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
“Sure that'll do fine young sir” Simon replied
Champ closed his eyes and focused on seeing a book in his mind trying to see every detail he could recall.
“Think of how it feels, how it smells, the sound of the pages turning” Simon instructed
Champ stayed with his eyes closed in the seat next to Simon for what felt like 10 minutes before he opened his eyes in frustration
“Ugh it's nothing all I'm doing is just thinking, nothings happening Simon,” Champ said annoyed
“It's alright young sir, it takes time. Try some more. You can't be an expert on your first week.” Simon reassured
Champ continued to close his eyes and concentrate for the next few hours to no avail. He even fell asleep a few times during his practice. Dejectedly Champ opened his eyes and pulled the spyglass out to look out on the horizon for the 4th time. The same sites greeted him and he reported it to Simon.
As they continued on their path a few crows flew overhead from the tree tops from the right heading to the forest on their left. Champ smirked a bit as they flew by out of sight.
“Do you have a favorite animal, Simon? I've always been fond of crows and ravens personally, their caw is a bit silly sounding to me” Champ asked, yawning after he did so
“Hmm, a favorite? Maybe dogs or wolves if I had to choose not very fun or exciting of an answer, but they are just loyal creatures and I admire that. Now that you mention it their call is a bit silly, caw caw caw.” Simon tried recreating the noise laughing a little.
They both laughed at the half-hearted rendition “No not like that, it's more in the back of the throat and high-pitched! Here let me show you!” Champ responded eager to show off his talent for bird calls.
A stretching and fluttering feeling swelled in Champ's chest and throat. He felt his airway become tighter, almost choking him. The caws echoed and lingered in the air around them on their cart. The horses picked up pace when they felt this tension build-up near them. Simon struggled as he tried to pull on the reins and gain control. The leather reigns tensed in his grip and the old wood creaked and rattled from the sudden change. They continued to pick up speed galloping down the road. Hooves thundered, and the sound of crows echoed around them. Champ's hands tightened onto the cart bench, he squeezed so hard that his fingernails dug into the wood.
He felt something in his chest that tried to writhe and claw its way out from the center of him. It was something trying to escape. As if a caged bird lay in his chest. A bird he thought, a crow! With his sudden realization, he thought of Simon's instructions just a few moments ago, he thought of the image of a jet-black crow, with its smooth shiny feathers and strong beak, its lightweight, and the sound it makes. Suddenly, from his chest and mouth an explosion of green and brackish energy bursted into form. The form of two crows.
With a gasp, the final echoes of cawing faded into the warm noon air, Champ sucked down air hard. The sudden rush of fresh air soothed his burning lungs. He fell back into his chair from being doubled over and looked to his side. He saw two semi-translucent crows that trailed next to the cart. Champ's hands reached to his chest rubbing just below his sternum.
“Sure gave me and the horse a good fright for a second there Champ,” Simon said.
Simon had regained control of the horses and brought the cart's pace down to a more manageable speed. He faced Champ with a look of interest and excitement.
“Seems to me you are a summoner of sorts. A rare gift of the brand.”
“There are different gifts the brand can give to us?” Champ replied out of breath
As Champ spoke one of the crows landed on the cart next to him. It cocked its translucent head and looked quizzically at Champ. Champ reached a hand out to it and paused for a moment above the bird's head. He stroked the bird gently, the bird leaned into the small embrace and evaporated into a small puff of greenish vapor.
“Oh hell! I killed it, Simon! Right when I make something with my gift I go and kill it” Champ said exasperated and embarrassed.
Simon laughed “No dear boy you just haven't got the energy to keep them here for long. Try asking that other one-
Simon's sentence was cut off. In a blur something pierced the remaining crow flying next to their cart, it split the creature in two. A meager rattle left the creature's beak and it faded into green brackish vapors. Simon's eyes widened and the corners of his mouth twitched nervously. He turned behind them and looked back on the trail.
“Damn it, damn it! We were sloppy and distracted young sir, they've caught up.”
Champ's heart raced once more, his chest swelled faster. He turned to match Simon's gaze and pulled up the spyglass. Not far behind he saw two people in pursuit on horseback. Champ adjusted his sights on a much closer dust trail in front of the two horseback pursuers. There he saw it. Two wolf-like beasts with black liquid that dripped from their jaws and that same liquid oozed from their muscular frames, the beasts with their sickly verdant eyes, the ones from his dreams. The warning that the brand had sent him.