It had been four days since they left for the Jaggerjack mountains where Mirran, the city of magic was rumoured to be hidden. Cyrus and Dixie had come along as well. Apparently, the two of them worked as merchants and often made these trips to take supplies that were unavailable up in the mountains. They were currently riding in their wagon that creaked every time they hit a bump. Vivian, holding Ebion on her lap was sitting up front with Cyrus, and Dixie sat squeezed in the wagon along with the merchandises and a sleeping Peri. She shoved him occasionally when he started sliding towards her side. The man gave no response and simply flopped over.

‘Do you think he is still alive?’ Vivian asked.

‘Unfortunately,’ Cyrus replied. ‘If he was that easy to kill, I would have done it a long time ago.’

‘Do you two have a bad history?’ she asked cautiously.

‘No, he just infuriates me.’

‘You don’t say…’

Dixie snorted. ‘Do not listen to him. He will never admit it, but he sees this drooling idiot as a friend.’

‘We are acquaintances at best.’ His lips were pressed in a displeased line. ‘I would rather be friends with an ape than him.’

‘You know, they say that the best of friends fight often,’ Vivian said. ‘So if you two fight a lot, then that means-’

‘Do you really want to finish that sentence?’

Vivian snickered which she hid behind a cough when Cyrus raised a questioning eyebrow at her. She cleared her throat and changed the subject.

‘How long is he going to sleep? He has been like that since we left.’

‘This is his natural state of being. If he is not eating he is usually sleeping,’ Cyrus said. ‘He is a sloth born as a man.’

‘I have nothing against him sleeping.’ Dixie wrinkled her nose in disgust as Peri leaned towards her once again. She shoved him away and he flopped over like a dead fish. ‘But does he have to slobber so much? I’ve seen dogs that drool less.’

Cyrus chuckled. ‘In all honesty, I like him better when he is asleep. The world just seems like a better place somehow.’

Dixie and Vivian laughed. The sudden noise caused Peri to snort in his sleep, but he did not wake up which made them giggle again. Ebion decided to follow Peri, purring slightly before he too fell asleep.

They had entered the forest that blanketed the base of the Jaggerjacks. The road was quiet and grew bumpy as they ventured deeper into the woods. Wisps of fog appeared and grew thicker as they travelled, obscuring their vision upto a feet feet in front of their wagon. The only sounds heard were the occasional chirping of a bird and the rustling of the grass as a small critter ran through it.

‘How much longer do we have till we reach Mirran?’ Vivian felt a nervous pricking on the back of her neck. Something about the fog was giving her the creeps. It was unnaturally still, as if it had descended just to keep them blinded.

‘About three days, that is if we do not run into any trouble.’

‘What do you mean by trouble?’

‘The Jaggerjacks is one of the few places left in Venith that have a strong magic presence, a surplus of mana. They’re called mana fields, areas with high concentration of pure magic. There are only three of them left after the First Purge; the Jaggerjack Mountains in the northwest, the Gantior Abyss in the south and the Baltum Lake in the northeast,’ Dixie explained. ‘The closer we get to these regions, the stronger the magic in the air gets and subsequently, our magic gets stronger as well.’

‘Mystic creatures tend to gather in places like these.’ Dixie stared ahead into the fog as she spoke. ‘They prey on people who wander into the forest carelessly. Victims tend to see visions in the fog, things born right out of their worst nightmares or their greatest dreams. Needless to say, none have made it back alive. People avoid this place like the plague. That’s how it got the name the Baleful Woods.’

Vivian gulped. ‘Aren’t we idiots to travel through someplace people avoid with good reason?’

Cyrus cracked a small smile. ‘We would be, if not for the fact that this forest is actually the first line of defence for Mirran. If we want to reach Mirran, we must pass through.’

‘Besides, this forest was designed to keep normal humans away. The fog doesn’t work on mages so they are able to easily find their way through, though you should still be wary of the creatures that live here,’ Dixie said.

The nervous prickling on the back of Vivian’s neck had fully grown into anxiety. ‘So… I’m not supposed to be able to see the fog?’

Dixie fixed wary eyes on her. ‘No, your not… Vivi, do you see the forest shrouded in fog?’

Vivian didn’t answer. Her mind was miles away as she gazed intensely at the fog, her focus captured by something only she could see. Her mind was suddenly getting hazy as she continued staring, as if the fog had somehow made its way inside her head. A sudden urge to jump off the wagon and run deep into the woods came over her. She leaned forward-

‘Vivian!’ A sharp voice cut through the fog in her mind. She looked back to see Peri studying her, his ice blue eyes looking sharper than ever.

The wagon had stopped and her three companions were staring at her, Cyrus and Dixie having doubt and suspicion written on their faces. Vivian realized she was standing and slowly sat back down.

A moment’s pause. ‘What happened?’ she asked.

‘That’s what we should be asking you,’ Dixie said. ‘You are a mage. How does the fog effect you?’

‘I-I don’t know.’ Vivian stuttered.

Oh no, are they doubting I’m a mage? What if they decide to just leave me here? Or worse, they decide to take me back. I don’t think I can survive being hunted a second time. I am a mage! I won’t survive, I won’t, I won’t-

She was shaken out of her rapid thoughts by a comforting hand on her shoulder. Cyrus, ever the cool headed one leaned forward and smiled gently trying to settle her nerves. ‘Vivi, we aren’t doubting you, but this is something that has never happened before so we need to know. What exactly did you see in the fog?’

‘People… o-or more like ghosts. They weren’t solid, like they were made of mist but at the same time they felt so real,’ she answered truthfully.

‘No mage has ever been effected by the fog when they passed through,’ Dixie said, her voice heavily laden with suspicion. ‘It makes me wonder if you really are-’

‘She is a mage,’ both Peri and Cyrus interrupted.

‘How can you be so sure?’ Dixie questioned.

Peri was the one who responded. ‘I know what I saw. That day when she escaped, she had no magic items on her and yet the resonator reacted violently when she released that explosion. She is a mage, just not a conventional one.’

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‘Also, Ebion here has taken a liking to her,’ Cyrus added.

All eyes fixated on Ebion who was peacefully asleep on Vivian’s lap.

Dixie sighed. ‘Well, you better hope you’re right. You know they will sift through you memories before they accept her. After this, it’s more likely now that the Council will refuse.’

Peri grimaced. ‘I know… You,’ he said to Vivian. ‘Keep your head down. Don’t look into the fog again.’

Vivan nodded and did as she was told. The wagon started moving again, albeit a bit faster now as the bumpy road sped by beneath them. An uncomfortable silence fell upon them.

‘Peri, how is it that you are not effected?’ Vivian asked, trying to break the tension. ‘You are a normal person right?’

When no response followed her question she turned around, just to see that Peri had already gone back to sleep. Dixie sighed, shook her head and answered in his stead. ‘His cloak is weaved with a protection spell. As long as he has that he should be fine.’

‘Tell me Vivi, how did you find out that you were a mage?’ Cyrus asked.

‘I was out in the family fields early one morning and I ran into this snake, a behemoth of a snake. I was so scared that I screamed and then the next thing I know, the fields had burst into flames.’

‘Hmm, a typical awakening,’ Cyrus muttered to himself.

‘That… is typical?’

‘Think of your mana, the source of your magic as river and that a dam was built across it at your birth.’ Dixie explained. ‘Theorists believe this dam or this wall is a natural defense mechanism, since an infant’s body would be incapable of handling that power. However, that wall keeps collecting mana behind it as you grow, like how a dam collects water. Eventually, usually by the time a child turns thirteen, the dam bursts and the excess mana is released all at once. It’s usually quite the expolsive affair.’

‘We’ve heard stories of hurricanes, minor earthquakes and once even a volcano eruption. Now that was a powerful mage,’ Cyrus said, a hint of awe in his voice. ‘Compared to that, yours was quite tame.’

‘You keep hinting I’m a weak mage, both with the resonator and now… I don’t even want to know the answer, but how weak am I exactly?’

‘I would say… you are the weakest one I have met so far,’ Cyrus said with a gentle smile that did not suit the comment he just made. ‘Right now, I can’t even sense any mana from you.’

Vivian was confused. Should I be happy or sad? Magic is banned, so if I don’t react with a resonator that should be a good thing… on the other hand the Sentinels already know I’m a mage, so wouldn’t it have been better if I was a powerful one?

‘This is just great. Not only am I a mage, I’m the most pathetic one,’ Vivian complained. ‘I can neither return to being a normal person, nor can I be someone special among the mages.’

‘You don’t need to be powerful to be special,’ Cyrus said sagely. ‘Look at our sloth friend. He’s a normal person, mostly, but he is indispensable to the Council because he is the only one who can move about freely outside of Mirran. He is their source of news and the first person they call when there is a need to accompany a newly awakened mage back to Mirran.’

Vivian glanced back at her sleeping companion. ‘I didn’t know he had such an important role. Is that why we met?’

‘Um, I’m afraid not.’ Cyrus scratched his cheek. ‘The guarding business is only for people who can… afford it. You see, the place where we’re headed was built for the children of nobility who turned out to be mages. So you can expect some… segregation between yourself and them.’

‘So to summarize this tragic comedy called my life, my magic is weak, so weak that the Council might not let me stay as they doubt whether I’m a mage or not. Even if I do stay, I will be looked down upon for being a commoner. Going the other way, if I don’t stay I will be hunted down and killed,’ Vivian listed. ‘Great! Did I miss anything?’

‘Your poor taste in clothing, your deficiency in brain power, your non-existent personal hygiene,’ Dixie counted off her fingers. ‘You are going to have a really hard time in Mirran.’

‘It is very disturbing to see myself say that with a smile,’ Vivian said. ‘Can you please pick someone else to mimic when you are insulting me?’

Dixie grinned widely. ‘No, this is fun.’

‘You were right,’ Vivian said to Cyrus. ‘I do regret it. It’s like I’m offending myself.’

Cyrus chuckled good-naturedly. ‘Well I’m afraid it’s too late for regrets. Until she finds another form she likes better, I’m afraid that she will be using yours,’ he said. ‘Moreover, in all honesty I’d rather have her looking like you than me. She had once decided to change into me as a punishment for when I called her old.’ He shuddered. ‘It was the most disturbing three weeks of my life.

………

It’d been three days since they departed for Mirran. They had finally made it through the Baleful woods and had started their ascent up the mountain. The path they were following narrowed and steepened. Lush green trees shrouded in fog faded into rocky cliffs as they moved ahead. The wagon threatened to turn over every time they hit a bump and Vivian found herself hanging on for dear life despite Cyrus’ constant assurances that they would not fall.

‘How high up the mountain do we have to go?’ Vivian asked, gulping visibly at the sight of the sheer height. A fall from here would be fatal. ‘Why couldn’t they build this Mirran somewhere safer?’

‘I think you are missing the whole point of a hideout,’ Dixie replied, pushing a snoozing Peri aside for the umpteenth time. ‘And why do I have to sit back here with him?’

‘Because I do not trust him alone near my wares,’ Cyrus replied simply.

‘If that's the case make him sit upfront with you.’

‘Then he will be slobbering on my shoulder… No thank you.’

Dixie grumbled under her breath but didn’t say anything else. She shoved Peri aside again as he began to slide over towards her. Tired of having to do it every single time she moved a barrel of wine between them. The next time they hit a bump, Peri’s head slumped onto the barrel. Now he lay drooling over a cask of wine. The wagon rolled along, the back wheels squeaking every time they turned. Vivian poked her head out to see if they were in any danger of coming loose. That is when she sensed it. A slight presence following them, a pair of eyes watching them. She leaned out a bit more to see if she could spot it, but it suddenly disappeared. Vivian settled back into her seat and looked towards Cyrus.

‘It’s been following us since we left my home,’ Cyrus said, answering her unasked question.

‘What is it?’

‘A stygian wolf… must be the same one Peri let loose during your escape. I am impressed that you saw it. Stygian wolves are very hard to spot since they are creatures of the shadow element.’

‘I didn’t see it. It’s more like I could sense it was there.’

‘… You are a strange one,’ Dixie said.

Cyrus said nothing but kept his eyes on the road. After a while Vivian spoke up, hoping to keep a conversation going so that she wouldn’t keep thinking about the steep, deadly drop beside her.

‘What did you mean by shadow element?’ she asked. ‘Are there others?’

‘Well, you see, magic is divided into six categories based on what element is used to cast said magic,’ Cyrus answered. ‘And each element has their power core located in different parts of the body.’

‘Power core?’

‘Remember how I said that your source of magic is like is like a river filled with mana,’ Dixie replied. ‘That is your power core. It is a center from which mages and mystic creatures draw their power from,’ Dixie explained. ‘For example, I’m a creature of the air element. The power core for this element rests within the lungs. That is where I draw my power from each time I transform.’

‘What about you?’ Vivian asked Cyrus. ‘What’s your element?’

‘I’m a shadow mage,’ Cyrus said. ‘My core is in my mind.’

‘Then there are the others,’ Dixie interjected. ‘Earth has its core within the bones. Water’s core is in the blood.’

‘And then there is fire which I believe is your element’ Cyrus looked at her. ‘The core rests in your stomach. Finally, lightning. Its core is in the spine.’

‘So you think I’m a fire mage?’

‘Most likely,’ Cyrus replied. ‘Though there are a few rare cases where a person is able to control more than just one element. I’ve seen one who could control lightning and water… He was quite formidable.’

‘However so far we haven’t seen anyone who can control all six,’ Dixie said. ‘Probably because the strain of having six power cores would be too much and might very well kill the mage. The body probably rejects the use of all six elements just so it can protect itself. It’s a self-preservation instinct.’

‘What about Ebion?’ she asked. She looked down at the cat who peeked at her when his name was called before closing his eyes again. ‘What element is he?’

‘He’s different. He does not belong to any of the elements,’ Cyrus answered. ‘He is a sensory cat, which means he can sense the vibrations in the Viribian with those tails of his. This makes him quite valuable as he can be used to find other mages and magic items. While sensory cats are not rare, one with three tails such as him is quite hard to find. He’s the only one in Mirran right now. Cats like him usually attach themselves to powerful mages, but for some reason he seems to have taken a liking to you… I wonder why.’

Vivian stared at the cat. Why did you pick me?

Receiving no answer, she turned her attention back to Cyrus. ‘What’s the Viribian? And vibrations? I’m guessing not ordinary ones.’

‘You can think of the Viribian as the power core of the world.’ Dixie shifted to make herself more comfortable. ‘However unlike us mages and mystic creatures, it isn’t a single river, but rather a network of tributaries and streams of varying sizes spread out across the land, the seas and the sky.’

‘When a mage awakens their powers they set off vibrations in the Viribian,’ Cyrus explained. ‘These vibrations are what the resonators pick up on.’

‘Once it starts, it cannot be stopped,’ Dixie continued. ‘So, even if you don’t use magic as of right this moment, you’re still causing vibrations in the Viribian… Yours, however, are non-existent.’

Vivian groaned. ‘I’m headed for absolute ridicule aren’t I?’

Cyrus chuckled. ‘I am sure you’ll find a way to manage in your new home.’

A new home… Vivian thought. I hope it is better than my last one…