Born of Magic (Channeler Series) Read online

  He hesitated, wiping away another tear that had built up in his right eye. His voice was shaky as he spoke, “My brother, Yurios.”

  Yurios? I pulled away and looked at him, “Your brother is Yurios?”

  His eyes widened, “You know him?” He was starting to believe me now.

  “Yes,” I shrugged. “I'm afraid he doesn’t like me very much though. I took his place for apprenticeship with one of the elder mages. But yes, I know him. He helped me escape slavery.”

  “Slavery? Escaped? Apprenticeship? What've you been doing this whole time?”

  I laughed, knowing it would take far too long to explain all that had happened to me during my travels. “I’ll explain that some other time. I came here to see you. It had been too long.”

  “How?”

  I could tell that now he knew it really was me. We could have the conversation I was so desperate for. “I traveled through the dream world. I know a mage that can…”

  “How are you doing? Is everything going alright for you? We’ve all been debating over what you're doing these days. Ralph is sure you're just traveling around as someone’s pawn. Tori and I are convinced you’re making something of yourself and you would come back to see us someday. I take it we're right.”

  My story seemed more compelling to me now, and the idea of telling Edgar about everything I had been through, but in this moment that wasn’t important to me.

  “I'm doing well, and you and Ralph were both right. But that’s not important. That’s not the reason I came.”

  “Then why?” He looked confused.

  My heart raced, I knew the true reason I had traveled this distance to see him, and there was no turning back now. His hair blew like short blades of grass over his forehead, and the moonlight sparkled off of his beautiful reassuring blue eyes. I placed my hand on his cheek, my thumb caressing the welt where he had been slapped. I leaned over to him and placed my lips against his, kissing him.

  He wrapped his hands around the back of my head, his fingers laced through my hair as he returned the kiss, his lips pressed firmly against mine. I had always suppressed my feelings for him, but no longer did I feel as though I had to, much less like I could contain it. He had held back from me as well, it seemed.

  Our lips parted as he pulled away, “When will you be coming back?”

  I turned away, not wanting to answer, just happy to enjoy the time with him. “I don’t know… I fear not for some time.”

  “Why?”

  “There’s a war coming to the North, and I'm not sure what’s going to happen. The enemy is supposed to possess powerful mages. They need me.”

  “What? You? Jasminis, you're still just a kid, how can you be expected to help fight a war?”

  “My ability. With it, I can make a mage more powerful than they ever could be alone. They feel I could turn the tides of this war.”

  He pulled my face back towards him. “You have changed a lot since you left, haven’t you?”

  I nodded, pain coming into my heart as I remembered that I wasn't really here with him. “I’ve grown up some, caught up to you.”

  He laughed. “You didn’t have any catching up to do. I’ll wait for you to come back someday. Just keep in contact, if you can. This way is perfect,” he said as he brushed my hair aside, kissing me once more.

  I knew some time had passed now. Day would be coming and he would soon be awakened by the rustling of the streets. “It’s best we say bye while we can. I’ll be back again, someday.”

  He nodded and held me close one last time, kissing my cheek before he let go. “I’ll see you again.”

  I left his dream and returned to my horse that waited for me in the dream world. We had a journey ahead of us back to the mage academy. I hadn’t gotten any sleep tonight, and knew I would feel it tomorrow, but it was worth it. I made my way back East, the horse going at a more hurried pace as she knew the way back well now.

  We arrived back at the valley in half the time it had taken us for the first part of the trip. When I entered Maaryn’s dreams, she was in a very deep sleep, and her dream was pitch black. I found it difficult to grab her attention and had to hit her to get her to respond. She wasn't coherent as she allowed me to channel magic from her and bring myself back. I gave her a very drawn out, thankful hug and left her to sleep the last bits of night that remained and returned home to do the same.

  I awoke to find Tevon shaking me in my bed. He reminded me that Helendra had requested my presence in the tower this morning, which made me get up in a hurry and get ready for the day. We once again made our way up the long spiral stairway. I had only been up it a handful of times, but already I had grown tired of it.

  We were greeted with serious expressions as we entered, and we took our usual seats. To my discontent, Yurios was seated next to me, a brief glare shot in my direction. Helendra and the other mages wasted no time getting to business.

  Helendra stood up, as she often did, and said softly, “It's time we prepare the people for war. We must make sure every city possible is aware of the situation. While the war is still a little while away, it is very likely we will be seeing more of these ‘messengers’ sent our way. We can only begin to imagine what form in which they will arrive. Tevon, Jasminis, and Yurios, we'll be depending on you three heavily.”

  My heart grew numb. Did she intend for Yurios to work with me in some way?

  Helendra continued, “We would like you three to begin training together. You will be the flagship for the academy. Tevon,” she said as she turned to him, a look of reverence on her face, “you are well respected throughout the lands. See if the people will listen to you; show them what benefit there is to be on our side.”

  Tevon stood up, “With all due respect, Jasminis is not ready to be sent out yet. She needs much more training.”

  It stung a bit, to hear Tevon express such a lack of faith in me like that, but I knew that he was right.

  One of the other mages stood up and interjected, “The timing is unfortunate, we agree, but we need you out there as soon as possible. How long until she is ready?”

  Tevon leaned over to me and whispered in my ear, “It's up to you, how long do you think you need?”

  I wasn’t sure how long until I would feel comfortable, or if I ever would. I responded with the only dimwitted estimate I could conjure. “One week,” I whispered back.

  “We will need one week to prepare,” Tevon announced.

  Before anyone else could respond, Helendra spoke, “One week it is then.”

  “Where should they start?” One of the mages added.

  Another one added—I had yet to learn most of their names—“I think we need to prepare the Southern most regions first. They will take the blunt of this war. They'll need our help most, and we'll need their cooperation equally.”

  “The empire of Ordana should be our first target. They control a large portion of the Southern border; we will need them more than any other,” the eldest female mage added, her voice as uneasy as ever.

  “They have never been kind with us in the past, gaining their alliance for this will prove difficult. Tevon will have to use all of his talent there. Whatever you can,” the mage speaking focused on me with great intensity, “to gain their respect and trust.”

  The debate went on for some time about the tactics of rallying the many cities of the North. I found it tiresome that they were all so divided. One day, I thought to myself, I will unite them.

  “We all will unite them, Jasminis. You’re not alone here,” Helendra said.

  I must have thought that louder than I realized.

  I looked over at her; she had a coy expression on her face as she remained quiet for a moment, her eyes set on me. “You will do great things, Jasminis, just as I have always believed. With your strength and power, we will unite these lands.”

  I thought to myself for some time while the debate raged on, only half hearing what was being said. After a great deal of the morning had passed,
Tevon interrupted two of the mages that were discussing the lack of trust some of the rural farmers further West have for the academy, “We must get to training now, if we are to be ready in time.” The three of us were excused and Tevon lead us out of the castle. Yurios ensured he was the one right behind Tevon instead of me, following him like a lost puppy.

  I smirkeded as I started to notice some of the similarities between him and Edgar. I had always wondered how Edgar never noticed when Yurios hired me that day in Saltren. I now realized it was because Yurios had ensured his face remained hidden from Edgar. Yurios knew Edgar was there and didn't want him to notice.

  Tevon took us to the area in the forest where we had practiced my magic blocking ability before; the patch of grass was still there, and had grown even more since we were last here. Tevon looked at it with satisfaction. He seemed proud of all of his creations.

  Yurios, however, had little regard for the puddles he created. I could tell he was envious of Tevon’s ability, which is why he was so desperate to remain his apprentice.

  “All right, we'll need to work on both Jasminis’ physical defense, and magic defense.”

  Yurios gave me a confused stare, “Magic defense?”

  “Yes, this little channeler can cut a mage off from their magic entirely, and even steal some of it from them,” Tevon answered, almost boasting for me.

  Tevon handed me a long object wrapped in paper. “A present,” he said. I opened it to find a short sword. It was very light, but felt like a claymore in my small hands. I was still able to wield it with ease. The blade had a slight curve to it. Tevon said it was easier to deflect attacks that way.

  The three of us started training by sparring with each other. Yurios was very aggressive towards me in his attacks. It was frightening, but I found that I progressed much faster as a result. In a short period of time, I was already blocking some of his attacks. He threw a punch at me and I ducked out of the way, coming up with a jab to his gut. After a while longer my attacks were able to catch him off guard.

  "She's getting better," Tevon commented. He seemed to enjoy taunting Yurios. Perhaps Tevon knew just how much of a brat Yurios was.

  The sun had painted the sky crimson red by the time we were finished, and I was exhausted after all of the combat practice we had done. Tevon and Yurios had taught me to fight unarmed as well as with the short sword that Tevon had given me.

  When we decided to call it a day, Tevon said that tomorrow we would focus on my channeling abilities. I found this relieving as that was somewhat less physically draining. I doubted I would be up for any more combat training. Every muscle in my body ached. Even muscles I didn’t know I had before were now coming to my awareness in the most unpleasant of ways.

  When we all went our separate ways, I moved at a slow, tired pace, allowing my muscles to relax a little bit. I arrived at my home to find both Denarah and Maaryn there waiting for me. As I walked up they both ran to me and hugged me. While I enjoyed the gesture, as they squeezed I could feel every muscle they touched throb in pain.

  “We heard you’re leaving in a week.” Maaryn’s voice trembled and she was on the brink of tears.

  “How?”

  “News like this travels fast through the students. It’s said you’re going to the Empire of Ordana to arrange an alliance with them. Is that true?”

  While I felt I should check with Tevon or Helendra before revealing such information, I had never received any indication not to, and they already knew anyway so I was just confirming. “Yes, Yurios, Tevon, and I leave in a week.”

  “I heard he was going as well. The two people closest to me are leaving at the same time. I can’t deny that I didn’t take the news very well,” Denarah said, her voice filled with grief.

  Both Maaryn and I now focused our attention on Denarah, realizing this trip would take a toll on her as well. We tried to comfort her. It was good to see my two close friends care for one another.

  They must have waited for me for some time together as they seemed a little familiar with one another now. They knew each other’s backgrounds, powers, interests and even their love interests. I found it amusing to hear that they both had a crush on Yurios, even though Denarah had the upper hand with him, it seemed. Denarah had grown to enjoy being sought after by men now, so long as they didn’t try to cage her like Caspere had.

  The three of us sat outside, looking up at the sky. Maaryn promised to visit me at night while I slept. She had grown far more comfortable with revealing her power to others now.

  “I remember doubting you when you said we would be rescued that night in Caspere’s dungeon,” Denarah confessed, reminiscing of the time when we first met. “You seemed so sure of yourself. I thought you were just being naive. Sure enough…”

  Maaryn interrupted, a curious look on her face, “How long were you there, Denarah?”

  She shrugged at the memory, “Five years.”

  We both looked at her in amazement. It was a question I had never bothered to ask her, afraid to know the answer, with good-reason now that I did know. “How did you survive that long?” The idea of enduring that hell for so long sent spikes through my heart.

  “I got stronger. That's the only way you can make it by, living the lives we do.”

  While we all talked, I watched the grassy fields around the outside of the academy turn into a sea of dark emeralds in the moonlight. The trees danced together in the wind, their branches reaching out to each other as they swayed. I could feel the soft breeze glide against my cheek and exposed arms. It soothed my sore muscles, and the throbbing faded.

  With everything that had happened, it all seemed worth it for nights like these. I took solace in the friends I had made, the home I had, and the role I now played in this world. In such a short time I had grown so much. There was much truth to what Denarah had said. The only thing you can do with a life like mine is grow stronger, and I had. Everything that had happened to me had shaped me in some way. I grew more resilient from Caspere’s dungeon, more thoughtful from my time with Tevon and Helendra, more cautious from my time with Aton, and more joyful from my time with Denarah, Maaryn and even Aldred. I knew I was ready to put everything I had learned to the test when it was time to leave on my first real mission.

  Rather than my stomach housing a thousand butterflies from fear and loathing of what lay before me a week away, I found myself excited. For as long as I could remember, I had always had something compelling me to make more for myself, assuring me I had a big role to play, and now I was. I had even acquired a loosely formed family, Helendra being my mother, wise and caring, always there for me. Tevon being like my father, watching over me and preparing me for the world. Denarah and Maaryn were my loving sisters.

  This was worth fighting for, I thought to myself, to the very end.

  “I think it’s time to call it a night,” Denarah said as she fought back a yawn. We had talked until the night air grew too cold to bear.

  We all agreed and parted ways after saying our goodbyes. I stepped into my home and prepared for bed. Tonight I felt as though I would rest well, more content with the way of things now.

  My dream was focused around reliving the events that had taken place earlier that day. I found myself sparring with Yurios again, but in my dream I was much more proficient. He could not lay a hand on me. I then lost my concentration and took a blow to the head, when I saw the red eyed mage standing behind Yurios, cloaked by the shadows of a tree. His eyes locked onto mine and he knew I had noticed him. He waited for me.

  I knew this was my world, my dream, and I could defeat him once again. Walking over to him, fists clenched, he signaled for me to stop when I was ten feet from him.

  “I'm only here to talk,” he said with a look of conviction.

  He seemed almost frightened, with good reason, but I still did not trust him. “Speak then, while you can. This time I'll give you something to remember, since you apparently didn't learn the last time." I was surprised at how stern and
commanding I sounded.

  “You know not what fire it is you are playing with. Not of me, but of my people. But we are here to make you and only you an offer.”

  “I won’t hear it.”

  “You best be, this is your only chance for survival.”

  His words intrigued me, perhaps this may be an opportunity to at least gain some knowledge of those that prepared to rage war with us. Perhaps I could unveil our enemy. He saw I remained silent and continued, “We know what you are. You are not like the others, but not like us either. You don’t belong with these people though. You belong with us. We are the masters of magic. We do not swindle it or meddle with it as the Northerners do. Wretched misbegotten children that they are."

  “We'll cover these lands with fire and ash. No magic found in the North can stop us, and they will be slaughtered. You included.”

  I grew impatient of his threats, “Do you have anything useful to say?”

  He fought back his annoyance, but I could see it, “We wish to offer you sanctuary with our people. Where you belong. Magic was born in the South, it be only fitting that a child born of it go to the South as well.”

  “Born of magic?”

  He left with an ominous look, disappearing with a whisper that rang in my ears as if he were next to me, “Consider it.”

  While I had managed to fend off his attacks on others, I had also made them aware of me. I could only hope this would serve as a warning, more than a new tactic for them, and that my message had been properly received.

  For the following week I spent my days with Tevon and Yurios, practicing combat, self-defense, magic defense, and becoming more familiar with channeling magic. They were both ready for these types of missions; it was me who needed the most training. Every day we would practice until it was near night, and then every night I would visit with Denarah and Maaryn, though some nights Denarah would disappear with Yurios.

  The routine was tiring at first, but by the end I had grown accustomed to it. We were working more like a team now, and Yurios had relinquished his angst with me, now that we were both working with Tevon.