Draith
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Chapter 26 - Parting Gifts
🕑 Added 2025-03-01 14:00:10 +0000 UTCThankfully I was able to steal Nexxa's grimoire for the rest of the day as she and Hash reviewed the most common monsters she could expect in the region. I listened in at first before finding out most of them would never come to my domain.
The mana density was too low.
I still requested a copy of her notes, but I focused on copying her second order healing spell, Bestow Health. It worked by reaching into the soul's recent memory of how the body should be, and reverting the body to match the soul’s impression.
The downside was that it only worked on injuries taken in the last few minutes. Of course, Nexxa already had notes on how it might be modified to extend that period up to an hour. She hadn't completed her modifications, but I copied her thoughts to my journal after I'd finished copying the original spell.
The next couple days were a mix of language practice with Tresla, storm dancing with Nexxa and copying every one of her first order spells into my grimoire. I now had more first order storm spells than any other in my grimoire.
I really wanted her lightning storm or flying spell, but unfortunately, I didn't have time to copy any of her third order spells.
Did find time to test out Dimension Step though.
Technically, Dimension Step was cast in two parts. The first part of the spell handled the targeting. It could be set to move directly where the caster was looking by pressing any finger against the palm of my hand, then taking a step.
Nexxa and I had decided to venture towards the edge of the valley where the broken high road once lay, where I proceeded to study my grimoire. Of course, as soon as I had the spell slotted, I teleported to the broken pillar across the high road from where we’d stopped. I walked straight into the stone before I could reorient myself. It seemed that my exact orientation and momentum had been preserved.
Opening up my grimoire, I double checked the notes. By holding my hands in a ‘V’ shape, and rotating them, the spell would’ve allowed me to turn around, or even to delay my reappearance by a couple seconds.
“Probably shoulda tried that first,” I said as Nexxa came over and squatted down next to me.
“Was funnier walking into the pillar,” Nexxa said, pushing my shoulder with a smile. “You want a top up?”
“That… would be great,” I said, my gaze drifting towards the set of broken stairs that wound around the pillar, going several hundred feet up the mountain before ending in a sudden cliff. “How far you think I can make it in a single step?”
Nexxa glanced at the grimoire before squinting at the steps. “Hmm. I’d say… thirty steps, give or take?”
I nodded. Thirty steps looked to be around fifty feet, which lined up with my own guess. There’d still be some wiggle room based on my own skill with the spell, but it should be minor at this point.
After Nexxa finished topping me off, I cast the spell again, aiming just past the limit of where I thought I should be able to Dimension Step to. This time I was ready for the continued movement, already taking another step forward. I still stumbled as my foot hit the raised lip of the stairs.
Glancing around, I was disappointed to realize I’d fallen short by several steps.
Nexxa was already bounding up to stand beside me. “Not bad. Twenty-eight steps. A little on the low end, but could’ve been a lot worse.”
“Still need to work on my exits,” I said, sending Minor Heal to work on my ankle.
“Always tricky, getting the hang of sudden relocation spells. Enhanced perception spells like Eagle Eyes help a lot,” Nexxa said, tapping just below her eyes.
“I’ve got it running,” I said, shaking my head. “Still takes time.”
“Yep! Don’t worry Perry, you’ll get it,” Nexxa said, holding my shoulder as she started filling my mana again.
We continued for another half hour as I started using the more advanced variables, before I was satisfied with the spell. Unfortunately, the amount of time it took to slot in meant that I actually kept Memory Palace slotted for the rest of the week.
Finally, the week was up. Technically, it'd been a bit more than a week.
The hardest part was that I didn't have to go. While the pull on me grew stronger each day, as long as I was learning things that would make me a better Magus, it was barely noticeable. Which meant I was the only one enforcing the deadline.
But I knew that if I let it slip, I'd just keep finding excuses.
Luckily, advancing from Astral to Pegasus didn't require the constant influx of mana or stressing my impression slots. I’d still need to do it to increase my affinities, but it was no longer part of ascension. Instead, I'd be building out my Astral body, and that could be done anywhere. It might even be easier in my domain, as Nexxa had hinted that lower mana density meant less degradation.
My thoughts of my next steps were interrupted when I heard the others moving. I'd woken earlier than usual, and was surprised to realize I was the first awake.
I'd even beaten Calbern, who was rising from his bed with the sort of grace most people reserved for… well, most people didn’t move that smooth, ever, so I didn’t have a good example. Ballet, maybe?
Calbern soon joined me at the table, a bowl of oats flavored with fruit in front of him. I'd considered making everyone breakfast, but I knew even less about cooking without a microwave than I did fighting with a sword.
I'd figured out a few recipes back on Earth, but just enough to get by. The old man hadn't complained as long as it wasn't blackened. And once he was gone, I'd found it easier to eat out than improve a skill I'd never cared for.
"Depart soon, you will?" Hash asked as he trundled over to our table, this time in Elinder. I hadn’t been able to stop the chuckle when I first realized he mangled Elinder as badly as Alvian.
He’d laughed along, before explaining that his native language was spoken by all of a hundred people. His tribe had roamed the swamps in the Dominion of Gestur, a country north of Aranor, before they'd been wiped out by an actual hydra. It wasn't that far from where Perth had grown up, but he'd never heard of the Dominion, nevermind the swamp.
Hash had become a hunter specifically to slay that hydra, and he'd succeeded after half a century spent training. He was older than he looked. A lot older.
I took my time answering him, though not because I didn't know what to say. Just because it took a surprising amount of effort to get it past my tongue. "Yeah. We're heading east soon as Nexxa's ready."
"Will good be. Exciting times!" Hash said, waving his spoon in the air like a sword.
"Not too exciting, I would hope," Calbern said, his Elinder flawless despite having started working on the language the same time I had.
"If too exciting, run then," Hash replied, using both arms to mimic the action before chuckling.
"Sage advice," I said, offering the large man a smile.
"For a complete meathead, he's got a few sparks of brilliance hidden away," Nexxa said as she joined us.
"Bone more, meat than," Hash said, rapping a hand on his horns while wiggling his eyebrows at Nexxa.
"Fine. Bonehead. Happy?"
"Much. Strong bonehead," Hash said, hitting his head with a solid thunk.
"That's for sure," Nexxa said, slugging him in the arm before looking towards me. "You ready?"
"Don't much matter," I replied, moving my spoon around my own empty bowl. "We're leaving either way."
"A normal person would've just said yes," Nexxa pointed out.
"Good thing I’m not normal?"
"Our supplies have been packed, and master Perth has finished copying what spells he believes will be of the most use. While there is more that could be done, I agree with master Perth. There is no sense in delaying further," Calbern said, reaching to take my bowl.
I thanked him as he left the table, following to grab my bag.
Tresla stumbled over, rubbing her back as she walked past me. I'd shown her Nexxa's storm dancing the night before. Despite the rapid movements, her cloak hadn't slipped once. She'd enjoyed it, but clearly she was paying for it now.
I cast Minor Heal and she immediately perked up, her hood turning in my direction. "I should have requested that last night."
"I should've offered. But you seemed fine. Guess the cloak makes it hard to tell."
"I imagine so," Tresla said, her head moving to face the corner where Inertia was standing in silence. She walked over and squeezed the Forgeborn’s armored leg. Soon, Inertia stirred, looking around before glancing down to Tresla. Several whistles and a nod later and the Forgeborn was striding out of the cabin.
The rest of us followed, carrying packs that would be loaded on the horses.
Despite my full storage ring, it made sense to bring as much as we could with us. A full cubic yard seemed like a lot until you had to feed three people for over a month while bringing all your magical supplies with you across dangerous mountains.
Inertia didn't need to eat, nor would she be riding a horse, which helped, since the horse we'd brought for her would be used by Tresla.
To my surprise, it took us nearly two weeks to reach the edge of Nexxa's domain.
It didn't help that most of the high road in her domain had collapsed, so we spent a lot of time breaking a new path forward. We couldn’t even follow the high road in most places, because it ran near the top of the mountains when it’d been intact.
However, I was not-so-secretly pleased by the constant obstacles. It meant more time visiting and discussing possible spell adjustments. Not much for copying spells, unfortunately, but we were able to practice the storm dance, on occasion. The occasion being when Tresla and I weren’t exhausted from the day’s hike.
It didn’t matter to the others. Calbern was… well, Calbern, and Nexxa could fly. Meanwhile Inertia was incapable of feeling physical fatigue, whether flying or leaping around.
Minor Heal did a lot to reduce saddle soreness, but like with other exercise, it didn't get rid of the ache completely.
Which meant that when we reached the edge of Nexxa's territory and we agreed we should spend a day saying goodbye properly, Tresla and I were both greatly relieved.
Just beyond the official edge of Nexxa's territory we spied an intact watchtower. The tall stone building stood at the top of one of the tallest peaks in the area, offering a view of several nearby valleys as well as the remains of the high road that ran beneath it.
It was a suitably memorable location to say our goodbyes.
After making our way up, we unpacked for one last feast, the meat provided by Nexxa, a monstrous boar whose shoulder had come up to my head. It had charged us during our ascent, and I’d barely had time to raise my hand before Nexxa had slain it with a lightning bolt.
It was roasted over magical flames, none of us wanting to carry enough wood to cook it the mundane way.
As the day drew to a close, I found myself alone with Nexxa at the top of the watchtower, our legs dangling over the edge as we gazed into the east.
"I'm gonna miss you, you know," Nexxa said, her legs kicking against the old stone. "Never had anyone to talk spellcraft with before."
"Gonna miss you too," I said, leaning back to look up at the stars. After so long in the wild I was starting to recognize a few, though I didn't know their names. "Hey, do you know what that constellation is called?"
Nexxa followed my finger, before shaking her head. "Sorry. Was never my thing. The stars are too distant to affect storm magic."
"You know, some of them might not be that far away. I bet a few of them are planets in the same solar system as us."
"Hmm. I think I remember one of my tutors mentioning something like that. Something about a Dragon-souled having their home out there, just floating in the dark."
"Really?" I asked, looking up again. Were some of those stars secret wizards bases?
"Yep. She said he was a really famous Worlds mage. Can't remember his name… That's gonna bug me."
"Could always use Memory Palace," I said bumping my shoulder into hers.
"That… is an amazing idea! That would've been bugging me for weeks," Nexxa said, pulling out her grimoire.
"I didn't mean now," I laughed.
She shrugged even as she flipped to the pages with Memory Palace, infusing it with energy. I was a little jealous when her stare went blank less than a minute later. It still took me an hour to cast the spell using mine.
It only took a few seconds before she blinked, her eyes clear once more. "Vol'ta Mione!"
"That's his name?"
"No. That's the name of his first Starhome. His name was Morgath Starforge."
"Ha, fair 'nuff."
"Goddess, I only went in for his name, but now I remember all sorts of things about him. Like, did you know he fought on the side of the Forgeborn in their rebellion. They helped him build his first Starhome."
"First?"
"Yeah, apparently he crafted three different homes up there before he stopped talking to the kingdoms of the west. Also, he was opposed to family houses as an institution of magic. Believed it was ruining the master-apprentice relationship."
"Guess he'd be glad to know apprenticing is still around," I said trying to find a star that might be moving differently than the others. If it was in orbit, it might be like a satellite. One of the few lights in the night sky I'd seen back on Earth had been a satellite.
"Not like they used to do it. There was this whole thing of swearing pacts using the Slave-song," Nexxa said, waving her hand. "But yeah, he proved that there were other planets out there. He only told the kingdoms about a couple, though I didn't bother looking up that lesson."
I sighed as I leaned back. "Yep. Definitely gonna miss you."
"Of course you are. I'm a prodigy, remember. Most brilliant person you’ve ever met.”
“You had to use Memory Palace to remember Morgath’s name.”
“Details,” Nexxa said, waving me off. We sat there silently for a few seconds before Nexxa shifted once more. "You know who else I'm going to miss? Calbern."
"I can't leave him with you. Not sure I could get my boots on in the morning without him."
Nexxa looked down at my boots. I looked with her.
They were a monstrosity of laces. There were at least three different stitchings. Possibly four. In addition, there were separate clamps for each set of laces to hold them in place one they’d been laced. They were incredibly comfortable, but I wasn't exaggerating about needing Calbern to get them on. I didn't feel bad about that whole mess either, cause he was the one who’d insisted we bring them. They weren’t even magical like the original clothes I’d worn in the family compound. He had to do every lace by hand.
Really warm though.
"You really don't deserve him. Not if you're putting him through that every morning."
Laughing, I decided it was time. "You know, little miss prodigy, I got you something, but now I'm not sure I should give it to you."
"What? No, you can't get me something and then not give it to me. That's against the rules."
"Because you've always been about following the rules."
"Sure. The important ones, like giving me my gifts," Nexxa confirmed, bumping her shoulder into mine. "Come on, gimme."
I laughed, drawing forth a journal from my storage space. Much as I wanted to, I realized I still couldn’t tell her the truth.
Do I’d done the next best thing. With a little help from Calbern, I'd reworked the cover to look like the green and blue dot I was from. Inside was a collection of my favorite stories from Earth, all rewritten to fit into Ro’an’s world. I'd used Memory Palace to help me recall them properly before transcribing them during the less bumpy stretches of our ride. I'd also included my personal thoughts about each of them, a few rough sketches, and why I thought she'd enjoy them in a short section at the end of each story.
Nexxa remained surprisingly quiet after I handed the book over as she paged through it, pausing when she came across the first sketch. A small smile tugged at her lips, quickly followed by tears.
Before I could say anything, she reached over and hugged me. I brought my hand up and squeezed her arm.
"I love it," she said, giving me an extra little squeeze before letting go. Then she sighed as she looked down at the campfire where the others were sharing stories below. “I missed so much, didn’t I? Off chasing down my magic.”
“You weren’t the only one,” I said, running my hand along the top of my fancy boot. “And magic is something we share, isn’t it.”
“It is,” Nexxa said, leaning forward and tucking her legs under her chin as she stared down at the others. Calbern was standing next to Hash, both of them laughing. “So lucky.”
Even while laughing, he maintained a dignified air.
“Yep, too lucky,” I agreed, though I wasn’t just thinking about Calbern when I said it.
Suddenly, Nexxa pushed to her feet, brushing off the light layer of snow that had accumulated. "Anyway enough of that. Your gift… it was too good, you know? Makes my gift feel so impersonal."
"I mean… what do you get the prodigy who has everything?" I said with a shrug, my eyes still fixed on Calbern.
"More spells!" she declared dramatically before producing a book of her own from her ring, drawing my attention away.
It was a grimoire, and it had half a thunderbird inscribed across the front, cut vertically, with half my howling wolf sigil on the other side.
As I ran my fingers over the front, Nexxa said, "I noticed your grimoire was getting pretty full when we were in Althon. And I knew how much effort you were putting in to adding spells to your repertoire. So I had someone scribe this for you. It's got all my second and third order spells, plus some of the runes I've been working on."
"I… you let me waste my time copying Bestow Health," I said, chuckling.
"Couldn't ruin the surprise, could I? Besides, when I contacted the mage to make it, I didn't think we'd succeed in getting you to Astral. Not by the time I gave it to you."
"This is…"
"Amazing? I know," Nexxa said, flicking her hair while raising her chin. "You can proceed to thank me now."
"Thank you. Truly, thank you, Nexxa," I said, holding the grimoire to my chest with one arm while hugging her to my side with the other. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
"Okay, that'll do. No need to overdo it," Nexxa said, shoving me away.
But I grabbed her arm and pulled her back into the hug. "It's the best gift I could've asked for."
She was blushing when I let her go, waving a hand at me. "Nah. The best gift would've been if I could've wrangled up a spell or two for your Worlds magic. There was a guy who said he was selling Dimension Shift, but that ended up being a hoax."
"Okay, that would've been pretty awesome too. Not better though. These are better, cause they're your spells," I said, flipping the grimoire open to confirm the truth of my statement. For once, I couldn’t focus on the spells, as my gaze drifted to Nexxa, who was staring outward at the evening sky.
I'd gone my whole life without a sister. There’d been times I’d imagined what it would’ve been like to have a sibling. Someone I could’ve confided in, shared secrets with.
Run away with.
It took going to another world to find one.
In that moment, I knew I had more reason than ever to develop my Worlds affinity. The idea of going years without having her around… "I know we’ve only grown close recently. But I’m damn glad to have you for a sister."
"Fair 'nuff," Nexxa said, leaning closer and putting her head on my shoulder.
Mussing her hair as I once more looked up at the starry sky, I nodded in agreement. “Fair ‘nuff."
Comments
Noah
He was an auto mechanic. I’m thinking he’ll try to build a steam engine train or something
Al
Teleport has to be easier than gate
BookDragonling
He'll have to figure out some good Worlds affinity spells so he can travel to see her.
