A Mage's Power (Journey to Chaos) (34 page)

Chapter 12
The
Beginning of a Beautiful Partnership

 
Surely you have heard of me
.

 
I sleep with your book at my bedside!

Which one?

Introduction to Magecraft
.
I'm at ‘Chapter 3:
Elemental Magic.’

Hmm. It seems you read ahead. There are signs of major
strain . . . you tried elemental fusion, did you not? You maintained it for an
extended period of time.

Yeah I . . . but it saved my team!

The healer watched in amusement as the young boy carried on
a conversation only he could hear. She took another sip from her cup while
waiting for it to finish.

That does not change the fact that you injured yourself.
The most dangerous situation for a mage is to lose their magecraft and that is
precisely what has happened to you!

But . . . I saved my team . . .

Then they had to save you. New mages should never attempt
elemental fusion. Too many students cripple themselves from trying spells they
weren't ready for.
He sighed wearily.
I will simply have to fix you,
just like the rest of them.  

A chiropractor realigned his brain and worked out kinks in
his soul: a few jolts of pain followed by a great release of pressure.
Try
it now.

Eric cupped his hands. “Crimson fire . . .” A flame sparked
into life; it warmed his heart. He finished with confidence. “Grant my desire!
Fireball!” The flame roared and filled his hands.

He missed this; it validated him. It was something he could
do that others couldn't; something they relied on scrolls for. While useful,
they were nothing like the real thing.

“Be careful,” the healer said. “I don't want my tent burning
down.”

Eric grinned ear-to-ear. “I can do magic again!”

“I'm glad to hear it. Now please, it's getting a little too
warm in here.”

“Oh . . . Of course.” Eric clapped his hands together and
extinguished the flame.

“Are you satisfied with what I have given you?”

In his head was one of the greatest mages in history! “Oh
yes!”

“Good, now pay close attention. There are rules concerning
possession that you should know. Firstly: You are in charge. Dengel is a
powerful spirit, but that is still
your
body. You are the landlord and
Dengel is the tenant; he can't tell you what to do.” Eric nodded.

“Second: Dengel cannot use your body for
anything
without your approval. A tenant cannot make significant changes to their room
without the landlord's say so.” Eric nodded again.

“Third: You can banish Dengel if you have reason to do so or
he may leave on his own. A tenant that commits a serious offense can be
evicted.” Eric nodded a third time.

“Fourth: all of the above are invalid if you do not enforce
them.”

Eric paused mid nod. “You mean Dengel doesn't
have
to
obey the rules?”

The old female demon's eyes twinkled. “Our
universe is based on chaos and thus free will. No one is compelled to do
anything they don't want to. Dengel is a free spirit. He might commit mischief
if you do not keep an eye on him.”

Do not worry. I will behave myself
.

The old healer grabbed Eric's chin. “Pay attention because
this most important.
Never
give him full control over your body. He
might not give it back.”

Eric had locked himself out of his apartment before but that
was an inconvenience. It was nothing compared to being locked out of his
body
.
It would be the ultimate identity thief.

The healer offered the jar of Aio's ashes and Eric took it
in both hands. “One more thing: do not mention this to anyone. I don't want to
be known as 'One who gives the souls of greater mages.' I'm an old woman and I
want peace and quiet. That would never happen if young ones constantly asked
for spirits. You understand?”

“Yes, I understand. I won't tell anyone. I promise.”

He tugged on Aio's jar but the old woman's grip was firm. “Not
even me? If you ever mention it, I'll pretend I don't know what you're talking
about.”

“Not even you.”

The old healer finally let go. “Good.”

 Eric screwed the lid tight. “Thank you.”

“For what?” Eric shrugged; he heard mystic type were like
that.

I do not
mean to interrupt, but who is that on the
floor?

That's the sergeant of my squad. He was injured when we
crossed the Yacian Caverns.

That cannot be. There is nothing strong enough in there
to severely injury a sergeant.

My teammate said the xethras 'pooled their spiritual
power.'

Soul Union!
Eric clapped his hands to his ears to
drown out Dengel's shout of joy. It didn't help of course.
I KNEW it was
possible! All those fools said I was delusional! . . .Do you have any proof!?
Eric
shook his head and felt great disappointment.
Oh no matter. I can wake him
up.

Really?

Yes, of course. Pull that book out of his pocket
.

Eric grabbed the edge that stuck out and gently pulled.
Basilard's hand flew to his wrist. It scared him half to death. Basilard's eyes
were still closed and his chest still rose and fell.

Now chant the fire spell.

“C-crimson fire, g-grant-”

“Don't you
dare,
” Basilard mumbled. His free hand
rubbed his eyes and he sat up. “Where am I?” His gaze drifted to his hand. “Why
are you holding my book?”

“I . . .curious! Yeah, I was curious what you were reading
all the time.”

Eric's mentor removed the dirty book from his grasp and
pushed it deeper into his own pocket. “It's too mature for you. I'll let you
see it once you've landed the elf girl.”
Landed!?
“Now tell me what
happened since those xethras attacked.”

Blushing and stammering, Eric told him everything except his
adventure to get Dengel's spirit (because he promised) and how Tiza used that
soft voice of hers to lull Nolien to sleep (because he wanted to live).
Basilard gave him a slap on the back for his light spell.

“That kind of improvisation is exactly what Mercenary Magic
all about!”

 Eric was proud of that moment, but felt guilty savoring it.
He shouldn't feel proud of something that was required of him, but it was all
right if such an authority said it was okay.

“I'm sorry to hear about Aio. We'll have a proper burial for
him when we get back to the guild.”

“I blessed his ashes,” the old healer said.

Basilard did a double take. “Oh! Well in that case . . . Eric
. . .you should hold onto them.”

Eric blinked. “I should? What about his family?”

“I'll look into it,” Basilard said firmly. “Until you should
keep them.”

“Okay . . . if you insist.”

“In place of a burial I'll have a drinking match with Death.
So where's everyone else?”

Did he just say 'drinking match with Death'?
“ . . . Uh
. . .Nolien's—”

“Sleeping,” the old healer cut in.

“Oh, and Tiza's—”

“Dreaming.”

Eric scowled at the healer. “And you are—”

The healer smiled and said nothing.

Basilard stood and stretched. “Eric, how do you feel about a
lesson?”

Suddenly, Eric realized how tired he was and excused
himself.
Do you sleep?

As I have no body, I have no need. However, I assume I
could if I so wished.

Basilard bowed his head to the healer. “Thank you for your
assistance.”

The healer returned it. “No, thank you for yours.”

Eric detected a second conversation somewhere in there, but
was too tired to figure it out. He walked to the Inn while Basilard wandered
off.
The last time I was here, this place was still under construction. It
has not changed since then.

Oh yeah, the healer said you came here when you were my
age for lessons.

I learned from them when I was young and ignorant. Now I
stand far above them.

Yawning, he entered the inn and the keeper called him. In
his hands was a sandwich and a glass of juice. “Miss Tiza saved these for you.”
Eric gladly accepted them. He had no idea Tiza could be so thoughtful . . . “I
also have a message from her: 'You better pay me back, Dimwit, or else!' That
is all.”

Eric sighed, suddenly a great deal wearier.

This 'Tiza' sounds like a handful.

You don't know the half of it.
He ate the sandwich on
the stairs.

I myself traveled with a . . . never mind.

Long story?
He swigged the juice.

Inside their room, Tiza was sprawled with her sheets in
tumult. Her mouth was open and drool dripped.
Even in her sleep, she's the
opposite of feminine.
Nolien, surprisingly, was just as bad. As interesting
as this was, Eric was too tired to care. He collapsed on his bed and was
instantly asleep.

He awoke to much shaking. “Get up, Dimwit!”

“Go away . . . Sleepy.”

“We're leaving! Get up!” Eric was yanked off and dropped
unceremoniously on the floor.

To avoid that you should use the blankets to anchor
yourself to the bedpost.

This has happened to you before.

You would be amazed what you learn on the road.

Though tired, Eric rubbed his eyes and stood up. What he saw
outside the window explained his weariness-it was still night!
Why the abyss
did Tiza wake me up so early?

The fighter was tapping her foot impatiently. “Get ready to
leave, Dimwit. Money Stomper wants to be gone within the hour.”

“But it's . . .” Eric yawned. “ . . . still night.”

“Yes, it is. You've been in that bed since
last
night.”

“What!? Really!?“

Tiza raised an eyebrow.” What's with you, Dimwit? Out late?”

“Yeah, I was at the shrine . . .” Eric caught himself just
in time. “ . . .star gazing.”

The fighter shrugged. “If you say so.”

Eric gathered up his things, grabbed his pack, and followed
Tiza to the Inn's mess hall where Nolien and Basilard were already eating.

“Where's Anuzat?” Eric asked.

Basilard paused his sucking of a steel colored drum stick to
answer. “Resupplying.”

Nolien ate with refinement as always. Tiza, sitting next to
him, shoved food in her mouth with her bare hands. Eric sat on his other side.
Their plates clean, they left the inn and the chilly night air helped Eric wake
up. Tej was waiting for them at the West Gate with a hand over his heart.

“Oh, my scorpion. The next time I see a mana storm, I will
pray it heralds your arrival.”

“The next time I see a mana storm, I'm gonna throw you in
it.”

He stepped closer. “Then can I have a goodbye kiss?”

She raised a rude finger. “How about a goodbye fist!?”

“Tiza, calm down,” Basilard said.

Though she refused to kiss Tej, she gladly shook his hand.
Then Tej took advantage of the situation to pull her to him. She uppercutted
his chin. Eric shook his head as Tej rubbed his jaw.
The guy never learns
.
His knees buckled.

Anuzat had placed a large bag over his own pack. She did
likewise to the rest of Team Four, including Basilard. She herself carried
twice as much in addition to her own.

“Since my camels are gone, you have to fill in,” the merchant
said, “Don't worry, I'll pay you extra.” Eric hoped it was a good deal extra
because his back felt like it was going to break! For the second time, he
wondered what kind of merchandise Anuzat was dealing in.

I don't suppose you have some unusual remedy for heavy
loads?

Try thinking of something else
.

The gate opened and Team Four began their return journey. It
was
much
harder with Anuzat's bag on his back; his feet sunk deeper, he
felt off-balance, something inside smelled of iron. It was also harder to dodge
monsters. Basilard, on the other hand, fought them off with ease. With him and
a fresh supply of food, Eric decided this leg was still better than the last.

Since he had nothing to lose, he took Dengel's advice and
thought about something else. At first, his mind drifted to his friends in
Ataidar, particularly Annala and how she'd look in that gold dress. He shook
his head. He had more important things to think about than his pretty and sweet
and
FOCUS!
It's been two weeks and I have no idea how to find Kasile!
Dengel, do you know anything about rescues?

Of course. I wrote a book on rescue operations for my
glorious patron Emperor—
Two hours passed before he stopped praising
himself, his patron, and his students.

Are you listening? Of course not; you are a child. I
shall explain again:
All living things possess life energy and
constantly lose it, like a furnace burning a fixed amount of wood. A skilled
mage could follow this 'exhaust' like a scent trail. There is also another
method:
If you spin your staff in a circle counter clockwise to the
direction of the wind and then threw it up in the air, the direction it pointed
when it fell would be the direction of the thing it was you were looking for.

I don't buy that.
Dengel laughed and said he told
that to new students. Then he went on another long and rambling monologue and
Eric fought to stay awake. Before he knew it, the dark blue sand changed to
white gold. The sun was coming up and Anuzat was making a Sand Shelter.