It happened again.

Florian had been lying in his bed, trying to process what he’d experienced since waking up, and decided to get some shut-eye. However, just as he closed his eyes, images once again rushed his mind. It was painful, but less so compared to before, and this time he could see the images more clearly.

He saw massive constructs - just like the tower he’d seen when he entered the town, but far more majestic. The constructs towering into the darkened sky were crumbling into dust amidst a sea of fire. The cries of suffering people buried under rubble and steel beams made his skin crawl.

Before he could react to a rumbling sound beneath him, the ground began shifting and he fell into pitch-black darkness.

Then he was jolted awake. “Did I really fall asleep?” Not only had the vision come the instant he’d shut his eyes, but it had also felt so real. “What did I just witness?” A shiver ran down his spine as the mere thought of it not being a dream was frightening.

Feeling thirsty, Florian rose up from the bed and went for a tankard of water he’d been given by the barman when left for his room. The once icy-cold contents were now lukewarm but it still felt good against the back of his throat and he could slowly feel his thirst being quenched.

A myriad of thoughts went through his head as he tried to get a grip on the situation. Last time the experience with the images had been so painful that he’d almost torn the skin off his face with his fingers - now he only had to grit his teeth. It had been uncomfortable, but manageable.

“There’s no way that was a mere dream,” He thought. “It felt more like a... memory.” Florian closed his eyes in an attempt to focus. “Or, knowledge perhaps? Of what?” Somehow he had a strange feeling that the images were trying to tell him something - almost as if his mind had been an empty cup and now someone had slightly filled it.

In the middle of his internal monologue, something caught his eye. A small window was letting in a stream of moonlight that was beautifully dancing against the wall and while it was subtle, almost unnoticeable even, it was almost as if the air was... vibrating? He moved over to get a closer look and as he got closer, it became even more noticeable.

The air was definitely moving, or perhaps shimmering was a better word. Before he realized what he was doing, he slowly reached out with his hand and the air began to slowly circulate around it - almost as if it was moving according to his will. It was a strange sensation like he knew what he was doing, while simultaneously being completely unaware. He couldn’t tell if it was out of fright, instinct, or excitement, but he raised his hand and released the shimmering air as a powerful gust that managed to knock over the previously emptied tankard.

“Did I just shoot air out of my hand?!” Florian couldn’t believe it. No matter how he tried to get his gears turning, he couldn’t understand what just happened. He blinked a few times to make sure he wasn’t seeing things but the shimmering air was still there, moving slowly almost like it had a life of its own. Once again, he reached out trying to replicate the feat he’d just accomplished - but for some reason, he could no longer control it.

Now he was really confused. “Should I tell Baudric about this?” The older man had been ridiculously friendly ever since they met. He’d not only saved him, a complete stranger, from a ghoul attack, but he’d also given him a change of clothes and a ride to town. Once Florian told him about his circumstances the man had relentlessly encouraged Florian to go out and experience the world. Such limitless hospitality naturally made Florian wary, but Baudric had not given him any reason not to trust him.

While on the subject of experiencing the world. Baudric had given him some sound arguments. He had no reason to go back to whatever old life he might have had in Spartalia - if he even had one.

On one hand, if he had family waiting for him then that might be the best choice for him to get his memories back. On the other hand, if he didn’t and was caught asking around, then there was a major risk that he’d simply get thrown back into the army. While he couldn’t remember whether his experience in the army was good nor bad, it would almost definitely restrict his freedom.

“I’ll probably regret it, but seeing what the world has to offer definitely sounds like fun. I’ll ask Baudric about the shimmering air and, while I’m at it, I might just as well ask him about where I should go next.” A stifled yawn ended Florian’s train of thought and after unsuccessfully trying to manipulate the air one more time, he went to bed and fell asleep the second he hit the pillow.

//

An intoxicating smell of freshly baked bread was the first thing that hit Florian’s senses as he woke up and his stomach was growling fiercely by the time he eventually stepped into the dining area. Looking around, it didn’t take him long to spot Baudric in a corner. As their eyes met, Baudric waved him over in response. Florian plopped down on a seat opposite to the man and didn’t waste a single moment before ordering his breakfast from the barman.

“Mornin’,” Florian muttered. Baudric couldn’t help but chuckle at Florian's brief greeting and flashed his usual friendly smile before answering. “Sleep well?”

Florian sighed slightly in response and began to slowly massage his temples with the tip of his fingers. He was exhausted. Despite getting plenty of sleep, he’d woken up with an aching headache that didn’t seem to go away.

It wasn’t strange when thinking about the circumstances. After all, he’d woken up with no memory in a place he didn’t recognize while random flashes of images messed around with his head. To make it even better, he’d fought something straight out of a nightmare and almost became dinner in the process. After a stranger saved his life, he’d spent several hours on the road while learning about the ins and outs of the world he was in. To top it off, he’d been able to manipulate some sort of shimmering air in his room.

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

“People have probably gone insane for less,” Florian thought and realized he’d become so lost in thought that he’d completely forgotten about the man sitting across him. He then met the eyes of Baudric who’d been studying him curiously during his internal monologue and answered. “I think I’ve slept better. There was a lot on my mind.”

He let out another sigh and gave his temples another rub. “Yesterday was intense. I experienced so many things and to top it off, just as I was about to hit the sack, something strange happened,” Florian said with a hint of hesitation in his voice as he noticed the barman arriving with his breakfast. Baudric didn’t say anything but looked even more curious and motioned Florian to continue after the barman left.

“You’ll think I’ve lost it,” Florian was shaking his head as went on to tell Baudric about his experience with the shimmering air. How he’d been able to briefly control it and how he’d managed to knock over the tankard after releasing the air in its direction. He also told him that while he hadn’t been able to replicate the actual manipulation, he’d been able to feel the air clearly almost as if it had a mass.

As Florian began to tell Baudric about what he’d done, the man's eyes grew wider. Florian first noticed hints of disbelief, but the more he told him, the more it became something more akin to astonishment. When Florian finished, Baudrics eyes turned dark and he was clearly brooding on something.

“I knew it, I’m crazy,” Florian sighed and waved dismissively at Baudric. Reminded by his hunger Florian then pulled a large piece from the freshly baked loaf of bread in front of him and threw it in his mouth.

“Let me check something.” Baudric rose from his chair and moved over to Florian. He grabbed the collar of his shirt by the neck and pulled it down. While Florian was confused by what was happening, he was intrigued and therefore neither moved nor said a word. Baudric then let go of the collar and moved back to his chair with a perplexed look on his face.

Despite feeling a bit confused, Florian didn’t really know what to say and simply sat there eating his bread in silence. He didn’t know the man that well but he knew him enough to know that he was concerned about something and it definitely had to do with the shimmering air he’d encountered the night before. The question was, why did he grab his collar and why did he look so concerned? A few moments later, just as Florian was about to break the silence, he was interrupted by Baudric who looked at him with serious eyes.

“Lad, what do you know about magic?”

//

Florian had an amazed look on his face during the explanation that followed Baudrics' question.

The shimmering air Florian had experienced was apparently something referred to as Mana which, according to the scientific explanation provided by Baudric, is a form of energy that permeates everything in the world but is usually not visible to the eye unless greatly concentrated - and that’s if the individual meets all the requirements in the first place.

The individual needs to be relatively sensitive to Mana and most important of all, they need to have a low-density Manastone embedded in their spine.

Depending on where someone might live, even a low-density Manastone can potentially be insanely expensive and the ones with a higher density often go for several times the price of a low-density one.

Owning even a single Manastone is therefore seen as a privilege and to own more than one is generally reserved only for the filthy rich. This means that most people go their whole lives without seeing a manifestation of Mana even once, and even fewer are able to “feel it”.

After his lengthy monologue, Baudric leaned forward and his booming voice now turned into a hushed whisper. “Now that I’ve told you this, can you tell me more about those monstrosities you have on your back?”

Florian had been lost in thought and only glanced at Baudric before doing a double-take. He began to reach towards his back while he spoke:

“What are you talking ab-” Florian interrupted himself mid-sentence. He’d traced his fingers from the neck down along his spine and identified not only one, but three large objects that felt hard to the touch and seemed to protrude slightly from his back.

After his initial surprise, Florian lowered his voice. “Are those what I think they are?” He asked the man opposite him without hesitation. His mind had gone into overdrive and that was far from the only question he had. Among others, he wondered how it was possible for him not to notice the large stones until now and why they almost felt like an extension of his body when touched, but he realized they weren’t important for now.

“I can’t tell if you’re blessed by the gods or simply cursed, but yes. As far as I can tell, those things on your back are Manastones, and the biggest ones I’ve ever seen or heard about at that.” Baudric shook his head slightly and for a brief moment he seemed... conflicted, but he quickly shook it off and his usual warm expression soon returned.

Florian listened intently while Baudric took a swig of water before continuing. “As you might already have realized, what you saw last night was most likely a very dense convergence of Mana. I’m no scholar so I’m afraid I won’t be able to tell why it manifested so clearly there and then, but I can tell you that it’s highly unusual and that you should be careful who you share this with.” The man once again rose from his chair and this time motioned for Florian to follow.

Stark rays of sunshine and a noisy street greeted them as they left their lodging. Florian thought he had gotten a decent look at the street the night before when they arrived, but he was struck by how lively the city felt this morning.

There were people everywhere. Some seemed to be casually walking around enjoying their day while some were carrying an assortment of goods. On the cobblestone roads, he could see strange metal contraptions with four wheels moving up and down the roads without a horse.

Baudric took a right and began moving down the street. This gave Florian a chance to get a closer look at the nearby cityscape and when he thought of an accurate description of the wood- and stone buildings surrounding him, the word Victorian emerged from the back of his mind. While he didn’t know what that actually meant, something within him told him that was the most fitting description.

They were moving at a steady pace away from the tavern and just as Florian was about to ask Baudric where they were going, Baudric broke the brief silence.

“I don’t think I have to tell you why you shouldn’t show off your gemstones unnecessarily. With their size in mind, not to mention their potential Mana density, they would likely sell for record-breaking sums on the black market.” The man turned his head to Florian and looked him dead in the eyes with an expression serious enough to make Florian feel slightly intimidated. “Don’t underestimate the lengths some are willing to go to get a hold of a Manastone.”

Florian trusted Baudric and it felt like he made a compelling argument. Florian was convinced that unless he was careful in the future, he might not live for long. “On that note, have you decided what you want to do from here on?”

This was the big question Florian had been mulling over since last night. There were pros and cons with every option, some more dangerous than others, but he firmed up his heart and smiled at Baudric as he answered.

“Let the adventure begin.”