Born of Magic (Channeler Series) (6 page)

Patterns of leaves shaded Aton's face as he stared at the ground, deep in contemplation. A warm breeze came from the forest and rustled his hair around before it reached the wall of Saltren and then wrapped around the city. I had never felt a breeze like this before, so complete and warm, unopposed by the city walls.

"We should keep going. It's a bit of a travel to my home from here. Given the way that went, I think it’s best we lay low for a bit."

With that we started walking again. Aton led us off of any marked trail. Instead, we traveled alongside a stream that headed off to the East. Crystal clear water trickled along the stream, producing a soft pattering sound that accompanied me as I walked. The water looked far cleaner than the puddles in Saltren.

"What will we do during that time?"

Aton watched the path that we walked with caution, his eyes scanning every direction. Each step he seemed to take with care, making almost no sound as he walked. "I will train you, just as I had promised to."

Out here, in the forest, I felt more at home than I ever had in the city. While Aton was precise and mindful with his movements, I found myself veering off from his path often. Everything around me was far more interesting than the city streets. It was difficult for me to focus on where I was going, let alone where I was.

"What am I going to be learning?"

"You have nothing to learn, only to practice."

"Practice? Aren't you going to teach me how to use my magic more?" I asked, a little frustrated at how vague he continued to remain regarding my future.

"Magic isn’t something that can be taught. It’s something you must learn. As I have said, everyone's ability is unique. There is no book on it, no list of steps. It's your own journey you must take."

As he spoke, I realized that for the first time he seemed almost wise.

I said nothing as we continued. The sun warmed the side of my face, while the trees' shadows cooled it as I walked past them. I watched the mists of magic dance with the wind that blew through the forest. The magic was like its own force, changing its direction in a sporadic pattern and going opposite that of the wind. I found its behavior curious, beautiful, graceful, and yet a bit chaotic. When I would channel it, I found I could make it dance like the wind, swerve through the trees and down along the stream.

At one point Aton looked around in Etherea, watching with a pleased grin on his face as I manipulated the magic. I concentrated the mist into the shape of a leaf. It glowed like a swarm of fireflies as I made it drift around like it was caught in a breeze of magic. It was this that really
caught Aton's attention, "I don't think I’ve ever seen magic behave that way. You're a natural, Jas."

I smiled out of satisfaction. Maybe I was special. I wondered what I could do with the leaf, or what else I could make. It took a great deal of effort and I was only able to maintain the shape for a short time. I grew tired of it after a while and allowed the magic to break apart. Like water hitting the cobblestone streets during a rain, it broke apart and dissipated back into the magic around it.

We had been walking the entire day, so I was relieved when Aton stopped to make camp. He stopped in a small clearing surrounded by several thick trees.

"We'll rest here by the stream for the night, and tomorrow we'll continue on. I need to stop and grab some supplies. The nearest town is not quite like yours. This one will most likely have mages, and we need to make sure you go unnoticed, if possible."

"Why would I need to hide? Aren't I supposed to be powerful?"

He chuckled as he spoke, "Yes, but you have no defense against them. Given your current level of skill, you would be more of a treasure to them than a threat. Look at what you can do for me. Imagine what other mages will ask of you. Most of them would probably be much less kind about it. Not all of them are like me. They won't offer to help you or take your best interest and future into consideration. They will simply take from you."

It seemed as though I would not be getting any breaks any time soon. "Why do you care so much?" The question was one I hadn't considered asking before. I always figured he was nice because he had to be for some reason.

"I find it far easier to get others to like you, than fear you. That way they are happy to help, not waiting for their chance to stab you in the back."

The image I had of Aton was changing as our journey went on. He showed more promise with the beautiful new world that he had opened up to me, the hope of a better future, and the wisdom and kindness that he was showing me today. Even after all that had gone wrong, he may be the best person to come into my life since Edgar. For countless nights I had laid awake, thinking about what my family would be like and how excited they would be to find me, but they never came. In the end the only person that was ever there for me was Edgar, until now.

The night was cool and quiet. The gentle sounds of the forest soothed me to sleep far better than the city ever had. That morning I awoke from a dreamless slumber, far more rested than I could remember ever having been in the past. Aton was already awake with a small campfire and some eggs he had apparently managed to scavenge that cooking on it. The smell dragged me out of bed without much of a groggy fight and we ate breakfast in peace.

"The town is a bit from here. Before we get there, I need you to try and practice relinquishing your control over magic. Try and learn to let it pass through you as though you have no control over it. If any mages approach you, tell them you are unaware of your ability yet. It's not uncommon to find mages in Etherea who still don't know their talent." As Aton spoke he threw everything back into his bag. In a short amount of time we were once again making our way along the stream that had guided us this far.

“How long have you been aware of your ability?”

Aton's gaze never met mine while he walked in front of me. “I’ve known about my ability for years now.”

“How’d you figure it out?”

“I was always a thief, just like you and your friends. One day I was almost caught stealing when the shopkeeper suddenly couldn't find me. I was scared out of my mind. It just came naturally to me at that moment.”

It was a relief to know that we had something in common. He had started out just like me, but look at him now. He traveled wherever he wanted. Stayed in nice inns for weeks at a time. Had amazing lunches every day. If he was able to change his life like that, then so could I—one day. Until then, I could learn from him and hopefully follow in his footsteps when I was ready.

“Stay close,” Aton ordered.

It was a struggle to keep up with him. He walked fast with his long legs, and I was busy focusing. I had managed to learn how to stop my ability to control magic. It passed through me as it did Aton now, just as he had wanted. No one bothered to take notice of us. I saw a couple mages look over at me in Etherea. Their gazes met mine and then passed over me, as though I was not worthy of their attention, which was good right now. Aton and I had reached the center of the town when he slowed his pace and started looking around the various stands and shops for what he needed.

As Aton shopped around, he would periodically look back to check on me, making sure I hadn't left his side. It did not take more than a second for the two men that grabbed me to wrap their arms around mine, gag me with their meaty hands, and carry me out of Aton's sight. The hustle of the market drowned out any chance of my abduction being noticed.

My eyes darted around, searching for someone, hoping that they could somehow signal for help. I kicked my legs through the air. My heel met with one of the men’s shins a few times, but it didn’t slow him down.

He tightened his grip. I couldn’t breath.

They carried me away.

The room that they dragged me into was void of any personal items. Anything that would indicate that one of these two men had a soul. Nothing but a chair, a dusty dresser, a tatter and unmade bed.

They tied my hands and legs together. I watched in horror as one of them produced a chain of glowing red magic in Etherea, which he used to tie my limbs together just as they had to my real body. I was trapped in both worlds. The men stood up and walked to the other side of the room.

Attacked by a flurry of dreadful thoughts, I found myself struggling to keep from going hysterical. I envisioned every possible horrible way this nightmare could end. I saw myself thrown into a shallow grave with a few shovels worth of dirt tossed atop of me. Abandoned in an alleyway. Fed to a pack of wild dogs. Who knew what these terrible men had planned for me. They would probably have no difficulty terrorizing me. The two stood tall and looked as strong as they did brutal. Both were dressed in tracker gear, hunters, men who lived on stalking prey in the forests, only this time I had fallen victim to them in place of a rabbit or fox.

They whispered as they spoke and I couldn’t hear what they were saying. It looked like they were debating about something, probably how to dispose of me. They went on for some time, and talked just loud enough for me to make out a few words several times.

"She's with him"

"How do you know she's—“

"I'm telling you, this is different".

Their conversation went on, but I couldn’t make sense of it. When they had finally finished, I wished they hadn't.

The taller of the two looked over at me. His face was emotionless, a stone carving of a stoic man. "I'm sorry, but we cannot—“

He stopped mid-sentence with a look of cringing pain struck on his face. A few grunts of pain and the man fell to the floor, his body a limp ragdoll. Aton stood behind where the man once had, a bloody knife in his hand. The other kidnapper stared in horror as his friend fell to the ground. Aton was hidden from his mind.

The other man looked at me, "You did this? That can't be, you're—“ He stopped as Aton pushed his blade into the man’s chest.

I could not bear to see Aton do this, but at the same time I was relieved that my life had been saved. As the second man's last breath left his lungs, the chains that held me in Etherea disappeared with his life. Aton walked over and untied me, his eyes large and filled with worry.

“You okay?”

Having dealt with yet another traumatizing experience in a short period of time, all I could do was nod in response.

With that we left the building where the two men had taken me. Not a word was spoken as Aton grabbed the additional bag of supplies he had purchased. He then gave a smaller one with camping supplies to me to carry, and we made our way out of the town.

Once we were clear of the town and back on our way to his home he finally spoke. "I am sorry for how much trouble you have gone through. I can imagine this is quite the change for you." I remained silent, unsure how to word my response. He continued, "This is something you’ll unfortunately have to expect with the life of a channeler. You’re in Etherea now.”

"How would I leave Etherea?"

"If your spirit in Etherea is killed, your connection to that world is lost forever." He paused for a moment. "However, once your body enters Etherea, it gains a dependence to the magic there. Losing that connection shortens your life considerably."

And like that, any hope I had to return to a normal life was gone. Had I really changed my mind this quickly? A couple bad encounters and everything that I had hoped so desperately for and risked so much for was now considered a curse to me? I had spent my entire life wanting more, and now that I had a chance for it, I couldn’t give up. I must become stronger. If my new life of adventure places me into danger, then I will learn to defend myself, just as I had learned to survive on the streets as a child.

"How far is it to your home?"

He looked to the north for a moment, staring at the mountain range that spans in both directions as far as the eye can see. "Not too much farther, only another day's hike or so." He then pointed into a mountain in the distance, "It's nestled on the other side of that mountain."

"There’s a town there?"

"No, I live alone to avoid any complications from other mages. I’ve made some enemies along my quest to save my brother."

"Does your brother live there with you?"

Aton continued on ahead without turning back to look at me as he said, "He’s being cared for in a city far from here. It’s the only way he can stay alive for the time being. It takes a great deal of effort just to keep him going as it is." A soft hint of sorrow laced his words.

As the night grew near, we made camp once more. The following morning we continued on our way. We didn’t talk during this time; instead we exchanged knowing glances back on forth. The trip was easy going until we reached the base of the mountain.

I found myself short of breath as I struggled up the steep path. The way was tattered with small stones and wayward branches that strived to knock me off of my shaky legs. Aton marched in front of me without breaking a sweat. With each step I took, a small cloud of dust was spewed up, clogging my already dry and desperate lungs further.

I was relieved when we arrived at Aton's home. It was larger than I had expected, given its location. Before me stood a three-story tall marble tower that was probably close to fifty feet wide. The outside walls were dark green with silvery white streaks running along it like streams down the side of a snow covered mountain.