Mana in the Modern World non illustrated version (11 page)

It was as if their bodies were meant to be
conjoined, both of them in tune to the other’s needs and wants;
each pleasuring the other with precision. No words were exchanged,
no clumsy mishaps that sometimes happen during sex; this was
everything that Anna and Jack wanted, needed to happen, every
little detail was addressed, right down to speed at which Jack
matched his thrusts to hers.

So out of their minds with bliss neither
could think beyond the waves and waves of pleasure.

The next time that Jack opened his eyes, it
was morning, and with the warm body of Anna curled up against
his.

Grinning, ‘Not a dream then.’

Jack and Anna, so it would be easier to make
their morning meeting with Hiy-u, had previously decided on a nice
motel close to the Smithsonian. After a lite breakfast they arrive
by taxi about 15 minutes early and, like the numerous other early
birds, they also cup their hands around their eyes to peer thru the
doors at the lobby exhibits.

A security guard, standing close to one
exhibit inside, finally glances at his watch, comes over and opens
the doors. As the small crowd step inside loud, but muffled,
screams are suddenly heard. Two bound and gagged men are now seen
on the floor about ten feet from the doors. They appear terrified.
Turning to look at the men the guard pulls out his radio and says,
“Hey Joe, looks like another delivery. Send for the paddy
wagon.”

Now a very curious Anna shows the guard her
Texas Ranger badge and says, “A bit out of my jurisdiction but I
think we all,” waving to include the gathering group, “would really
love to hear the story behind this.” A lot of loud YAH’s came from
the crowd. “Sure thing Ranger,” says Jeff, the senior guard, having
just walked up. As he starts the story a small and older looking
man of apparent Asian decent quietly approaches and stands well
back and to the side of the listening group.

Jeff explained, “From time to time, but for
many years, thieves and others up to mischief, are found here,
bound and gagged with fine silk, scared about out of their wits.
Most are so scared they gibber on and on and on about ghosts and
stuff. Occasionally they come with the odor of messed clothing so
guess they were scared rather badly.

They readily confess to every bad thing or
crime they have ever done or in one case, simply what he had ever
thought to do, and then beg to go to a nice safe jail cell. The
most curious thing about all this is that the bound intruders are
never seen, heard or smelled until the first visitors actually
physically step thru the doors. Even the time, now hum…. almost six
years ago now, when there were five of them! Boy were they a
mess!”

The crowd was leaning in, enthralled by the
story. “Sometimes it makes the news and for a short while crime in
the area seems to decline.” Jack, out of the corner of his eye,
noticed an elderly Asian man who seemed to be wearing a slight
grin. He also now had what looked like a faint Aura about him. ‘O
….K’ thinks Jack as he notices Anna is now staring at the man. Anna
nudges Jack and quietly says, “Jack, he’s glowing too, but it’s
gradually getting brighter than ours!” “Yeah, I noticed, but he
wasn’t glowing at all when he walked up. Something tells me that’s
Hiy-u.”

The old fellow quietly walks up to Anna and
Jack as the police arrive to pick up the relieved thieves. With a
slight bow, he introduces himself as Hiy-u. Asking them to please
follow, he leads them downstairs to a large but little used storage
area. As he approaches a janitor’s closet with an out of service
sign on the door Jack and Anna share a look of bewilderment.
Opening the door Hiy-u utters a series of Chinese words, some Anna
recognizes as something about a room, place or space.

He waves them to precede him and, as they
look into the closet, they see an opening at the back wall to a
very large room with furniture with more doors and other items.
“Cool,” says Jack, a connoisseur of hidden areas. Anna is
speechless as she stares at the revealed room. “Definitely well
hidden,” states Jack. Smiling; Hiy-u holds up the preverbal ‘pause’
finger and says a phrase that Anna catches as something about
close. The room disappears and a standard janitor’s closet and sink
appears. “Oh ….dear,” gasps Anna. “Oh man; I gotta get me one of
these,” exclaims an astonished Jack.

“Did you understand the phrase I used Ranger
Stone?” asks Hiy-u. Anna closed her mouth, swallowed and answered,
“Only a few words, a room and maybe close was about all, my Chinese
is rusty. Wait…. how did you know I speak Mandarin?” “I know a fair
bit about you both. Some about you and Jack through the internet
and some by other methods. Let us go inside for refreshments and I
will explain. Anna, think you can repeat the phrase I used to open
it?” “HA! No way do I want to even try, might blow something up!”
she replies. “Not likely,” says Hiy-u with a chuckle. Then he again
speaks the phrase and the room reappears.

All seated comfortably and sipping tea Hiy-u
explains that, with the advent of science and technology, he has
discovered that the ‘magical things’ spoken about in ancient myths,
legends and times was an actual energy radiating from outside our
solar system. He knows of legends that speak about magic, called
Mana during those times, declining.

He believes that, something somewhere, waving
a hand, …out… there, the movement of various solar systems or
something had ‘blocked and now has unblocked’ this energy flow.
When the public becomes aware of this energy and that only a few
people will have the ability to use it may well cause panic.
Possibly cries for imprisonment or death of the wielders. Things
must be handled with care to prevent this.

This energy’s use was probably the source of
the many fairy tales, myths and legends. Horse loving Anna sighs,
thinking, ‘Unicorns’. Even now, the energy ebbs and flows as the
earth rotates, but overall it is now slowly getting stronger and, I
believe, quite possibly never disappeared entirely.

However very few individuals will have the
mental ability necessary to use this energy. Of those who do, some,
with weak minds, it may drive insane. And others to what some would
call the evil or, chuckling, the dark side. These selfish people
are usually very dangerous and were usually referred to as
Warlocks.

It is clear that both Jack and Anna have
stable minds and have at least some ability to use and control the
energy. In fact, they were close enough that Hiy-u had felt the
telekinetic manipulation of the energy when Anna and Jack were at
the restaurant moving the glasses. He politely did not mention
anything about the energy they gave off later.

When he first heard of Jack’s blog and then
the dream pictures, recognizing the symbols in an ancient journal
and, knowing the legend why they are close together, he replied in
hopes that Jack might potentially be another Mage. Now that he has
felt and seen both Anna’s and Jack’s auras, he requests that they
allow him to instruct them in the use of the Mana. They readily
agree.

“O, one more thing. Before you leave I need
to teach you how to ‘dampen’ your Auras. As you grow in Mana
ability your Aura will show the increased strength. Auras can, as
they say in the films, be a dead giveaway that you are Magi and
also the strength of your ability. Note that you can no longer see
my Aura. At other times you may want to allow a faint Aura to
deceive a possible enemy Mage; and eventually there will be some
enemy Mages and dampening your Aura can lead to him or her into
underestimating your abilities.

Dampening may well save your life one day. It
is easy to learn but, from legends, seems unknown to or at least
rarely used by most Magi. I personally think that most Magi
preferred to ‘flaunt’ how powerful they were to those with lesser
ability. Ready to learn dampening? It does not hurt….. much.” An
hour or so of instruction accomplishes their learning the damping
task.

Hearing this explanation and during the
lesson, Jack begins to suspect Hiy-u may need to be informed of the
new agency and wonders how to broach the subject without breaking
security. He makes a feeble comment that the creation of something
like a Warehouse 13 might be a good idea and is surprised by the
reaction he gets. With what may have been a short laugh; Hiy-u
explains, “I had sometime previously arranged for Jack to be called
to Washington for induction into the International Marshals Agency
(IMS) which was first started over two years ago.

Much classified discussion, with occasional
minor fights, are still ongoing among both believers and skeptics
as to what laws and regulations will be needed. Making laws and
especially their enforcement will be no easy task. Minor charlatans
are beginning to be active worldwide and will hinder the process. I
personally believe it is necessary to license the mages as doctors
are now. Hopefully the general public will continue to remain
blissfully ignorant about magic returning and its possible
consequences, at least till things are further set in place. No one
has a clue on what laws and regulations will be necessary,” Hiy-u
explained. Jack and Anna are stunned by this information.

Hiy-u looks directly at Jack and says, “And I
am also a one of the sources of funding for the IMS.” This causes
Jack and Anna to look at each other in surprise. “Yes I too, as
Jack is want to say, do have a few dimes.”

Turning slightly, looking directly into
Anna’s wide eyes he questions, “Texas Ranger Anna Stone, the pay is
somewhat meager compared to the possible dangers, but might you be
open to a career change?” Swallowing with an audible gulp, Anna
quickly replies, “O my yes indeed; but I will need to give several
weeks notice to the Rangers. Although I do hate to leave the
Rangers.”

“Very well Anna, I will see what I can do to
speed up the process. Possibly even arrange for you to also retain
your Ranger status if you want.” “O yes I would love that,” Anna
quickly states. A smiling Hiy-u continues, “By the way, this next
piece of information is just for you two and one other, well
technically two as they are twins, currently in the IMS. In the US,
IMS works’ directly for the President and Attorney General tho as I
said, that is very confidential for now.” “O my God no,” stutters
Anna. “Well, that certainly explains a lot,” says Jack.

“Now Jack, those two symbols, dream and
death, are not normally found together. Might you tell me where you
ran across them?” asks Hiy-u. Jack glances at Anna who nods yes to
his unspoken question.

With a sheepish grin Jack fills in the rest
of the details from his accident then slowly, and very carefully,
pulls the stone from his cargo pocket. He holds it out to Hiy-u,
who finds he must breathe deep to keep from expressing the
excitement he feels at the sight of the stone.

“Ah yes. I know the legend of this stone,”
admits Hiy-u. Then, seeing a band-aid at one end, he looks at Jack,
“A band-aid Jack?” “Well, yes, to cover the death symbol. That
sucker hurts! I didn’t want to accidently touch it.”

“Ah so, would you two be interested in
hearing the legend and read the two condensed journals that I have
translated to English?” Jack and Anna do not hesitate a second and
both quickly say, “Yes!”

I have received a very large advance payment
from the leaders of my province to kill the Khan. Without his
leadership the leaders believe they can defeat the attack expected
in the next year or so. I quickly accepted as great wealth and
power is to be found in the chaos of war. I believe it will be best
if the Khan appears to die from illness.

I have finally located the perfect stone to
contain the spells needed. The mage that had the stone foolishly
refused to give me the most beautiful stone I have ever seen and I
sorely had to have. He now rests with his ancestors.

After several more months of searching I have
finally located all the right materials and will combine several
powerful spells into the stone which will carry the spell. I must
be very precise with the preparations. The spell paints required
several rare materials and required more weeks of time for the
proper blending. I am now about to begin the carving an extremely
tiny but very precise death symbol at one end of the stone. The
painted symbol must be small enough to escape notice by the Khan’s
many advisers, guards and especially by the Khan’s new Wizard
Aiguo, yet be strong enough to accept the spells. I have felt his
power several times and he may be almost equal to mine so I must
ensure he never sees me for he will know instantly I too am
Magi.

The stone is now in place in the Khan’s
favorite fountain. It was simple to disguise myself as a small ugly
child playing amongst the children and place the stone, symbol
down, among the stones of the fountain. The spell will work very
slow to mimic death by an unknown disease. He will weaken with
death following in month or less. I will stay close in case
something happens and I have to kill him by more direct means. Also
for the chance to gather more riches during the chaos caused by his
death.

It has been 10 days and the spell has now
taken hold of the Khan and he grows steadily weaker. Soon someone
may kill him in his weakened condition but I think Aiguo has become
suspicious. I have much enjoyment watching the Khan’s stupid
physicians attempting to cure him.Trouble. Aiguo has found the
stone and informed the Khan’s advisors and guards who watch even
more closely so I have been unable to get close enough to fire a
spell to directly kill the Khan. Aiguo has removed himself and the
stone to a hidden location Tho the Khan continues to weaken I must
make plans to flee as I can feel that Aiguo has somehow found a way
to counteract the Death spell.