When Killian landed on the balcony, he could see Seren sitting on a chair, clearly waiting for him. He had shifted his cold weather gear back into his base before entering the city, so to her, he had gone to a mountain a hundred miles away and returned in about three hours. Killian marveled at the thought to himself; he hadn't minded the journey; the cold was the worst part, but he had prepared thoroughly for such weather. He was wondering if he could learn magic to keep himself warm when he pushed open the door and stepped into the room with the woman. Killian could smell a pleasant blend of tea in the air under the chemicals that must permanently infuse the room. Seren stared at him for a few moments before speaking.
"So, the blubbering fool has all of the potions then?" She asked.
"Yeah, I told him no matter what your decision, I would deliver them for free from now on. I'm going to be helping him in my own time, so there's no need to worry about the kids getting what they need. You must have some way of keeping in contact with him, so let me know if he can't pay for them, and I'll take care of it."
Killian pulled a chair up next to where the woman sat at her work table. She had made an open space, devoid of the clutter of her various works, and had her tea resting on the table, one hand absently resting on the side of the cup. She stared at him for a few more moments, and he could tell things to say or ask were bubbling to the surface of her mind, but she set them aside, leaving them all unasked for now.
"You're looking for a magic teacher, but what is it you want to learn? For that matter, what is it you already know? Imari was annoyingly vague about what she has seen, but what details she did tell me are interesting," Seren asked.
"Truth be told, I know very little. It would be safe to assume I am brand new to magic. I am a sorcerer, and my innate magic allows me to manipulate and interact with three-dimensional space in various ways." Killian answered. He hesitated on how to continue, this woman may end up being someone he trusted enough to learn the full story, but that would be some time before he gained that level of confidence to explain. He slowly continued, "My magic is indeed strong, and I have innate intuition on how it works, but everything I know I have done through feel and experimentation. So I may be able to teleport across this room or store something in a pocket space, but I don’t know how to do much else outside of what my innate affinity gives me. I want to understand magic itself; I want to be able to do more than blink around or bend space. I know being a dusk elf allows me to learn any magic, but that's really all I know about my people. So, I pretty much want to start from the beginning, if that’s ok?"
Seren watched Killian answer. He was sure she could tell he was hiding something, but she didn’t seem to really care. After taking a healthy sip from her cup, she said, "I've never been one for charity, but doing something to help because you can goes a long way for me. You offered to help those kids, not for any personal gain or advantage, but because it was the right thing to do." She paused for a second before continuing. "Fine. I'll teach you, but it won't be easy. From what I know about sorcerers, it can be difficult to understand magic in logical terms when you cast by feeling and willpower instead. Having your own internal well of power will make it harder as well. I am a wizard; I'm sure I will be able to teach you regardless of our differing practices, but I use magic fundamentally different than you do."
Killian thought for a moment before slowly asking, "Would it help if I said I could manipulate the magic in the environment too?"
Seren stopped in the middle of finishing off her tea, eyes squinting in his direction as she clearly tried to see if Killian was messing with her. When she saw he wasn't, she stood and muttered, "Damn mysterious Fadeborn," before waving him to follow her out of the room.
And so Seren became Killian's magic teacher. She handed him a stack of books, and after getting annoyed he could shift them away instead of having to carry them around, told him to read them all and write out any questions he had before he came to see her again. He thanked the woman and promised he wouldn’t take too much time before returning.
--------
Killian settled into a pattern with his new life. He made a point to spend time with his new friends, once again remembering how easy it was for him to ignore relationships if they were out of sight for too long. The trio hounded him to become an adventurer and take missions with them, but saying he had some things to figure out first, he would put it off. Though he promised the moment he signed up they would be the first to know.
Killian tore through the books on magic, fascinated by how such a wonderous and mystical topic was broken down and analyzed scientifically. Most of them were clearly written by wizards, but he was shocked to see that Seren had slipped a couple of books written by sorcerers in as well. The others were helpful, but those two books did more for him than the rest put together. They detailed the authors perspective on what using their magic was like. Their feelings, sensations, and techniques on how they manipulated their magic to achieve the effect they wanted. Though there were only two books, it made it very clear that unlike wizardry, there was no specific way sorcerers used magic. They listed some overall techniques and mindsets to help themselves produce results, but every sorcerer used magic differently. The first book detailed how the author had to struggle to keep his magic in control and how he had to wrest it to do what he needed. He had written how using his emotions in concert with casting spells was what gave him great progress in growing his powers. He used his anger for destructive spells, love for healing spells, his curiosity, and wonder for illusions and obstructions. For the author, magic was literally a part of himself as much as a body part would be to everyone else. The second book's author seemed to be the opposite. They struggled in the beginning to get any results at all. They were an elf from a desert land where water was scarce and monsters were far too common. Their emotions seemed to block them from their power more than help, like with the first author. They wrote that gaining a high level of proficiency with the innate sand magic their sorcery had let them start to imagine different ways to use their magic. If they wanted to draw the water hiding in pockets beneath the sand, they learned to stretch their thinking to picture removing the water from the sand as the main use of their spell, but then using that to choose where the water would go. To use side effects and loopholes to achieve more than just what their innate magic could do.
Aside from the insights into sorcery, Killian began to learn the fundamental basics of magic. He was vindicated in his choice to start renaming anything with magic in the name. When Seren used the word ether, after he slipped up and said it aloud and had to explain, Killian tried not to smile. Seren would throw whatever was closest to hand, and the woman had to be using magic because she rarely ever missed. Killian had started blinking every time he said something that might set the horrible witch off. She still nailed him half the time. What made it worse was the fact that Seren had no tolerance for what she called "stupid questions," and seeing as there seemed to be no metric or reason for what she qualified as a stupid question, Killian spent much of his time failing to dodge knickknacks and furniture.
Killian also spent time getting to know Falcons Rest. This was a two-sided coin. The good part was how beautiful the city was. He loved the aesthetics of the buildings; it brought to mind a sleepy German town if not for the sheer size of the place. He got used to the birds pretty quickly; some even started to join him on his flights through the enormous redwoods in the back fourth of the city. The people were nice, at least when they got past their shock, but that's where the bad stuff started. Killian couldn’t go anywhere without being stared at. It took at least three meetings with an individual before they stopped gawking at him when he was nearby. Ironically, his earth attire seemed to not draw any attention, his race being far more awe-inspiring than his rubber soled boots. Seren had let him read what she had on dusk elves, but there was precious little he didn’t know already. He did learn that he was a part of a group of races known as the "honored ones," the eldest races in The Elder Realm, and each seemed to be a part of the world's founding. There wasn’t any information on how they were involved, but Killian was reminded of the text he had read in the description of the Fadeborn and how they were present when various magics "collided," whatever that means.
Yelkin had swiftly built a new wall in his cave with the help of the children. Killian asked for his help in applying modern insulation and enjoyed the Yoten's reaction when the place became much more pleasant to live in. Killian also learned a hard lesson when playing with the kids: Yoten children are STRONG. He made the decision to never piss off Yelkin; if the kids were strong enough to nearly throw him through the newly built wall, he didn’t want to be on the fully grown Yoten's bad side. Killian also saw the children's need for connection; the rest of their people seemed to ignore them. They didn’t bother or harm Yelkin and his charges, but they clearly were very Spartan in their thoughts of strength and survival. Killian could never imagine a culture that left children to die simply because their parents did, that since the parents weren't strong enough to win their battles, their children would be just as weak. This did mean, however, that Yoten were monstrously strong warriors. People from all over The Elder Realm would contract them to fight in their wars if a mountain where they lived was close by. Killian made a point to fly back to see Yelkin and his kids at least every two weeks and sometimes more. The man was able to increase the quality of the children's lives with the gold Killian had given him and with the items Killian could deliver using his pocket spaces. No matter how much the Yoten tried to pay him back, Killian would just say it was the right thing to do and fly off before Yelkin would force him to accept.
Killian loved relaxing in his base at the end of the day. After practicing magic with Seren, after walking or flying around much of the city, and after quality time with his friends, he would shift back into the base and sloth out. A piping hot shower, curtesy of his hot water heater, and plopping on the couch with whatever food he had ready. He laughed more than once when he noticed himself sprawled out on the couch, surrounded by magical tomes, watching a movie on his flatscreen, and eating bread made that morning from the city. And his bed, oh the bed. After a few late starts to his mornings, Killian had to start setting alarms to make sure he didn't oversleep because the bed was so comfortable. He could spread out as wide as he could and still didn’t pass the edge of the mattress. Killian had also made a fair bit of coin washing Blue Feather's laundry. He had dodged another round of questions from Arden about what inn he was staying at in town when the man had asked how his clothes smelled so good. Killian had mentioned offhandedly he did his own laundry. The women had instantly joined their warrior companion in haranguing him for the location so they could use it as well. He told them he would do it for them if they stopped asking him questions and gave him some money for the trouble. After the first load, they promised to use his services forever. Killian knew he would have to start giving his friends some answers soon, and a perfect opportunity arrived two months into his new life.
--------
Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.
Killian and Seren were quite a distance inside of the "redwood," as it was called. The weather had started to turn colder, Seren telling Killian winter was around the corner. She was sitting in a comfortable chair, sipping tea that rested on a table with books and other items of comfort. His teacher had forced him to bring everything with them when the two came to the redwood to practice his magic. Killian, however, stood facing a number of burned and broken targets.
He had learned how to perform a few basic spells. He was getting close to understanding more complex magic, like the lifestyle magic he wanted so badly, but for now he had asked to start with attack spells. He was capable of creating fire and lightning, as well as basic elemental manipulation. His teacher had told him it was useful to have and was the best magic to hone the fundamentals. Killian didn’t want to be an elementalist, but he had to agree with his teacher. The elements were a natural part of the world and therefore naturally held the ambient ether the world produced. Learning to sense the magic in them and use that to manipulate the element is what helped him improve as fast as he was. Seren badgered him into spilling his ability to sense and manipulate magic. She started him on feeling the spells she would cast, telling him the purpose of the spell and explaining each part as she wove it together. It helped Killian to "see" magic in this way while helping him understand the "intent" he needed to use his sorcery to cast spells. Killian had to admit, the woman was a horrid witch with little patience, but she was an incredible teacher. With his building knowledge, Killian started to create his first spell. He loved blasting lightning, but Killian wanted something with a bit more power. Since he could use ambient ether as well as his own well, he knew he could afford to make it a bit more "expensive" than another mage would want for a basic combat spell. He spent time thinking about things from his world and tried to use them for ideas. After a few days, Killian had landed on a perfect idea: powerful and intimidating. A laser. The first few tries are what brought the lessons from Seren's home to the Redwood. Killian had just finished target practice, his teacher agreeing that he had gotten his first real spell down enough to call it complete. As she used a spell to put out a fire, he missed fifty yards behind one of the destroyed targets.
Arden and Shan learned from Imari where Killian did his practice, having attended a few herself, and all three approached the teacher and student from behind.
"Good gods, man, what kind of magic is she teaching you?" Arden said while giving Seren a scared look.
"The kind that will let me fight that disgusting creature we met fighting, or something like it." Killian replied, walking to join them.
Shan whistled, and her falcon Nahlen flew down from a branch high above. Killian hadn't even noticed he was there.
"You watching me, Ranger?" he asked.
Chuckling, she replied, "Not at all; he enjoys your flights around the city. He started to hang around you when you're out and about, hoping you will fly and he can join in."
Killian was surprised to find that out. He reached a finger to give Nahlen a scratch, the bird allowing it and leaning into the gesture.
"The whole Rangers Guild talks about you," said Shan. "The birds that fly with you let their partners know about it every time."
"Hell," Arden began. "I'm not even in their guild, but ever since they learned we're friends with you, they keep bugging us to try and get you to come to the ranger's guild. They heard about you taking that delivery job off of Havron's hand and how much stuff you can apparently tuck away in that pocket space of yours. They need someone who can deliver supplies to the various ranger camps in the region and want to know if you would be interested in something like that."
"Maybe. I'll make some time soon and go to the guild to talk to them so they'll leave you guys alone," Killian said.
"Thank the spirits. If I'm approached to talk to you one more time, I'm going to start putting arrows in skulls." Shan huffed. She continued, "We actually wanted to talk to you about something similar. I know this idiot." She pointed a thumb in Arden's direction. "Keeps bugging you to join the adventurers guild, and I agree, but if you don’t want to join up just yet, would you mind helping us out with a job?"
Killian placed a hand on Arden's shoulder to stop him from starting the normal back and forth between himself and Shan. He smiled at the man and got one in return.
Killian asked, "What is it you need help with?"
Imari spoke up, saying, "We got word from the guild that a dungeon appeared a week or so from the city. They think it's not too big and said we would give it a go first as a reward for the info about Morrachel."
"No fucking way," Killian thought. "A dungeon, a fucking dungeon, like in a video game? There's no way." He asked the question.
"What's a dungeon? Do you make a place to keep prisoners?"
Instead of one of his friends, his teacher began to explain before they could. Killian thought it was better that way; Arden looked like he was about to go off, and Killian thought very little actual information would be contained in his version.
"Dungeon is the word we use for a pocket of another reality that gets pushed into this one. They can come from anywhere and appear anywhere. No one knows why it happens; the current theory is that lost or broken pieces of other planes float unmoored from their origin plane and eventually crash into ours. The force of the impact is what pushes it into our reality. Dungeons became the name simply because most of them look dour and abandoned."
"Yeah!" Arden said, no longer able to hold himself back. "Inside there are strange creatures and items from these places. More than one party of adventurers has cemented their place in history because of the loot they pulled from a dungeon. The scouts think it's a small one, but if we can clear it, we could get gear to categorically increase our capabilities. Or at least get the money to buy some!"
Killian was definitely interested, but didn’t see what the trio needed from him if they thought he didn’t want to sign up.
"What do you need from me then?" he asked.
"Well," Shan started. "We would like to ask if you would let us use your pocket space. We would like to bring enough gear for an extended trip and maybe take the same trip we did to get to the city when we met. As well as help with anything we pull out of there, we will only get the one chance to have the dungeon to ourselves, and if we can't clear it, we'd like to make off with as much as we can instead of others."
It took Killian a moment to understand what she meant about the trip, but then he realized she was asking to use the Jeep to get to and from there faster and more comfortably. He tilted his head and thought for a few seconds. He definitely wanted to go, that much he knew. And he had no problem driving himself and his friends there or using his pocket spaces to take anything not nailed down. He had an idea but wanted to ask a question first.
"Are you going to set up a camp outside the dungeon and delve in and out of it?" he asked.
Arden spoke up and said, "That's the plan, unless we find a place inside to make a camp, but that's always a gamble. If we do, it's less distance we have to cover again each day, but then we could be attacked by creatures we missed or that appear at different parts of the day."
Killian smiled as he made up his mind. This information was going to come out eventually; he might as well let it be now when it can help his friends.
"Sure, I'd love to go. But I have a better idea; I want to join you fully. As an adventurer, but I have a better way to camp if you let me show you something."
The trio beamed, nodding their heads vigorously in response. Seren squinted at him and walked over. Killian knew there was no way he showed more about his magic without her seeing it as well.
"Ok. I'm going to move us with my magic. You have to allow it to happen." He said
One thing Killian had learned during his magic training is that living beings have an unconscious protection against being moved to a different plane or reality. This could of course be ignored if you had strong enough will, which is what the higher deities must have done to him, but he didn’t want to scare his friends or even try doing that yet. This protection kept someone anchored to whatever plane they currently occupied, but if the person allowed it, the protection would fall and they could be moved. This, Killian had learned, is why spells mages cast to let them plane hop would work in the first place. Casting the spell means they are, by definition, allowing the spell access to move them.
The trio and his teacher nodded, and Killian mentally picked out a living space. Warning them, he shifted them all inside the space he picked out. All of their eyes bugged out of their heads, including Seren's. He got too much enjoyment from that. Before they could start up with the questions, he began to speak.
"This is one of my pocket spaces. I kept this to myself for what I hope are obvious reasons, but I can make any amount of them as I wish. I can also impart the things they would need for living things to survive inside."
Imari squealed to the point Killian thought she would pass out from lack of oxygen. When she managed to finally draw in a new breath, she said, "YOU HAVE BEEN STAYING IN ONE OF THESE! THAT'S WHY YOU WOULDN’T TELL US WHAT IN YOU WERE STAYING IN!" She shouted into the empty space.
Killian just nodded, eyeing Seren as she asked a question of her own.
"There is nothing in here, so this is clearly not the one you sleep in. Nor are there any of the things I have seen you pop out, like your notebooks or supplies I gave you. You said you can make as many as you want. How big can you make them?"
Killian smiled and said, "Enough to but every house on your street in, with some room to spare."
Seren took in the space they all stood in, saying, "I can see why you would keep this secret close to the chest. You should keep doing it; an ability like this is something kingdoms would go to war for, just to acquire for themselves."
He nodded, not needing to say he already understood. Killian turned to the members of Blue Feather.
"So," he started, "here is what I am thinking. We can go and get anything you guys would need to camp comfortably, beds, trunks, basins, everything. Add in the supplies and tools for the dungeon, and we would never have to leave. When we are ready to call it for the day, I shift us into here. Bam! Instant camp! Safe and secure from any and all danger. You guys can get a good sleep knowing you don’t need to watch your back, eat well, or even bathe if we get that set up, and start right where we left off the next day. Hell, I don’t even care paying for it all; this is something I could do with other adventurers; I would just call it an investment. I imagine people would pay a premium for a safe and comfortable campout on long adventures. I won't charge you guys, of course." He winked when he said the last part.
The trio stated with their mouths hanging open. After silently glancing at each other for conformation, they grabbed Killian up into a crushing hug and begged him to come with them. He laughed as he shouted he was coming and to let him go. When he managed to pry them off him, Killian turned to speak to Seren, but she cut him off, saying,
"Go ahead; you have been working hard for months. Use the opportunity to test your magic in a real-world scenario. It will help you hone and cement what you already learned and can give you insights into things you haven't. Just be careful; new spells may not function how you think when applied out in the world, and reliance on them could be what gets you killed." She said
Killian promised he would be careful and shifted everyone back to the redwood. He took his teacher and her array of home goods back to her home and followed the trio to the adventurers guild. Killian drew a lot of attention, but his friends were able to steer away anyone who tried to approach him out of curiosity. He was surprised that there weren't ranks for adventurers, contrary to what the media back on earth had taught him. They told Killian that the staff learned what you could do from your successes and failures and never recommended new adventurers certain jobs when they first started. Killian was only allowed to go because Blue Feather, which had a bit of a name for themselves, vouched for him as well as the information that he helped them fight the nightmare back long enough to escape. He was handed a magic steel card with his name, unique number designation, portrait, and official seal stamped into it. It would also serve as an official ID, letting him into various cities and places around the world.
After the whirlwind trip to the guild, Killian had the trio follow him to the commercial area of the city and pick out furniture and everything they would need for a comfortable camp. When he told them he would pay for it, they tried to fight him, stopping only when he said they could take it out of any spoils they got from the dungeon if they did really well. From the look on their faces, it seemed they wanted to succeed just to pay him back, fame and amazing items be damned.
Saying goodnight to his friends and promising to meet them at the gate in the morning, Killian went to bed early. He had some traveling to do tomorrow. He was going to a dungeon as a real adventurer. All of the magic training, and for some reason, this is what made him feel he was in a fantasy world.