Chapter 2 Chapter 2
“Our country is facing a crisis, and we need magicians . Do you want to help?” asked the soldiers’ leader . Now I was interested . It’s funny how perspective changes everything; I feel different about him now that I know more . Even the way he looks at me is not so jarring .
“What do I get as payment?” I tried to look nonchalant so I could bargain . I actually preferred jobs with a lot more pay . Of course there would be risks, but such is life; risks made it more exciting .
“Well . . . ” My blatant demand made him hesitate, but he quickly recovered . “The king himself will talk with you about it! Come with us!”
I followed the soldiers and felt very eager suddenly . I had achieved my childhood dream—leading a fleet of guards on the street . Even if they weren’t real guards, no matter, I would pretend they were .
The palace wasn’t hard to find . We got on a boat and before long, we had reached the palace exterior . Someone who may have been a greeting official received me, guiding me to a garden-like space . He told me to “Wait for me to announce you” and abandoned me; I’d not have tolerated it if I didn’t think the upcoming payment would be great .
Just as I was waiting aimlessly (or as I’d described, like an idle ox) for that palace lackey who was delayed by some official rule or another—I knew royal rules were tedious; I had no idea how tedious—there was a voice behind me .
“Are you a magician?”
The voice wasn’t loud, but it almost made my heart and stomach merge, or more precisely, it made my heart jump into my stomach . Someone had come up to me without my noticing! I reacted instantly and darted aside, a powerful mantra jumping into my mind . I never underestimated enemies who could get this close . Even if they didn’t mean harm, it was a threat!
The mantra quieted in my mind when I realized a girl stood in front me .
“Are you a magician?” the girl asked again . Innocence was written in her eyes . She looked to be fourteen or fifteen, an age when girls became teenagers, but her eyes told me she was more like a four or five-year-old in maturity . Maybe she wasn’t good at ambushing, but I was too anxious to be on guard earlier .
“Yes!” I answered and turned around, hoping to see that official . Was I here to babysit her? I was not a nanny!
There was no sight of anyone else, so I had to turn around and look at the girl again .
She watched me with flickering eyes, seemingly having made up her mind . Her expression gave her away, like the way a child would, and while biting her lips and using a voice she probably thought was stoic but I found to be ridiculous, she said:
“Can you teach me magic?”
Her request was so direct, it shocked me . I recovered quickly . Who was this kid? Her clothes—a dress which would have been elegant on a grown-up, but adorable on her—her smooth hair, and her porcelain-white skin, told me she was from a royal family . It didn’t matter to me though; if she was an adult, I liked to differentiate who was a commoner and who was a royal, but kids were all equally annoying to me . I turned around, wanting to get away, in case a vicious old lady came out later; in my experience, one usually followed the other .
Something held onto my robe . I looked down and saw the kid’s hand was tugging on my clothes and wasn’t letting go .
“Can you teach me magic?” she asked again, her tone holding no room for refusal .
“Can you teach me magic?” she asked again, her tone holding no room for refusal .
“In another three years . . . no, five years, I could teach you some bedroom magic . ” I wanted to use a lewd joke to make her run, but she didn’t understand .
“Bedroom magic? Another five years? No, I want to learn right now! There’s no time for another five years!” Her hands held on .
“You’re too young now!” I couldn’t get away with my usual methods with this hothouse flower, so I tapped my knuckle on her forehead, and while she yelped in pain, pulled my robe free .
I walked a few steps, hoping she would not follow . To be honest, I felt happy having bullied someone .
Too bad even a royal garden wasn’t big enough . The annoying youngster caught up to me . I stopped, knowing I couldn’t get away now .
“I’m already fifteen! My grandfather said he’d teach me by now . So I can learn magic now . Teach me magic, please!”
Please, you’re at most a five year old; if anyone just stalked a stranger and begged to learn magic, their age would be only five years old . What do you think magic is, playing house? I didn’t say my thoughts out loud, knowing they wouldn’t convince her, so I turned my head around .
“Please teach me?” she begged again, watching me with hope . It looked like I had to resolve this since I got into this quandary in the first place .
“Why don’t you look for your grandfather? I demanded . “Why are you bothering me? I won’t teach you!”
“Why don’t you look for your grandfather? I demanded . “Why are you bothering me? I won’t teach you!”
“My grandfather . . . ” She looked like she was in tears, and that made me panic . I wasn’t afraid of rumors, but if I made a little girl cry, it’d be mortifying . It would be mortifying to all magicians .
“He’s gone!” She stopped her tears, while I could feel sweat rolling down my back . I hated kids crying; it was torture to me .
”Is he dead?” I think I understood . Her grandfather must be pretty old if she was this age, so no surprise if he died . But why leave behind some weird promise, which was trapping me here?
“Can you teach me magic?” Her earnest gaze made me shake my head .
“Why not?” She was ridiculous to not understand the reason . Fine, I would make up something to tell her .
“Magic can only be studied by people of certain bloodlines . ” I realized my mistake as I finished talking .
“I am! My grandfather was a magician, even though my mom isn’t . I should have the bloodline!”
“I’m a wandering magician; I won’t do anything without being paid!”
“I don’t have money, but . . . would something expensive work?” she suggested shyly, stunned .
“I don’t have money, but . . . would something expensive work?” she suggested shyly, stunned .
“What kind of things?” I was greedy . May the gods forgive me; I actually wanted to swindle some pricey baubles from a girl . I figured all royals were rich, so maybe this girl had some priceless antiques around . I actually did something so lacking in self-respect at that moment .
“Like this?” She took out a bangle . The giant blue jewels on it almost blinded me with their glamour .
“Blue gems? These are huge!” I looked over the gemstones . I didn’t obsess over money or jewels, but gemstones of this size made me drool . To a regular person, blue jewels were the same as any other jewels, but to magicians, blue gemstones amplified magic . They may not be helpful in battles, but in magic research or experiments, they were essential, and giant blue gemstones were even rarer . I was traveling now, but one day, I’d tire of this kind of life, and now, this gemstone had made me pause .
“Why do you want to learn magic?” I put down the bangle and asked . I was questioning her but really just wanted to distract her .
“All magicians were defeated by that necromancer, even my grandfather . There’s not a single magician left in this kingdom, so I want to learn magic to fight the necromancer!”
“You’ll die!” I told her, then chanted my mantra in a low voice . I'd stolen many things with this trick, even though it was a despicable thing to do .
“I’m not scared . My grandfather told me I was gifted, and I could be a great magician . As long as I learned magic, I could avenge him and the others, too . ”
She kept talking, but I hardly listened . I focused all my will on the mantra, and when I finished chanting, a hologram bangle appeared in my right hand . It looked the same as the actual bangle; as long as it wasn’t attacked, it’d stay this way for twenty-four hours .
Chapter 2 Chapter 2 Our country is facing a crisis, and we need magicians . Do you want to help asked the soldiers leader . Now I was interested . It s funny how perspective changes everything I feel different about him now that I know more . Even the way he looks at me is not so jarring . What do I get as payment I tried to look nonchalant so I could bargain . I actually preferred jobs with a lot more pay . Of course there would be risks, but such is life risks made it more exciting . Well . . . My blatant demand made him hesitate, but he quickly recovered . The king himself will talk with you about it Come with us I followed the soldiers and felt very eager suddenly . I had achieved my childhood dream leading a fleet of guards on the street . Even if they weren t real guards, no matter, I would pretend they were . The palace wasn t hard to find . We got on a boat and before long, we had reached the palace exterior . Someone who may have been a greeting official received me, guiding me to a garden like space . He told me to Wait for me to announce you and abandoned me I d not have tolerated it if I didn t think the upcoming payment would be great . Just as I was waiting aimlessly or as I d described, like an idle ox for that palace lackey who was delayed by some official rule or another I knew royal rules were tedious I had no idea how tedious there was a voice behind me . Are you a magician The voice wasn t loud, but it almost made my heart and stomach merge, or more precisely, it made my heart jump into my stomach . Someone had come up to me without my noticing I reacted instantly and darted aside, a powerful mantra jumping into my mind . I never underestimated enemies who could get this close . Even if they didn t mean harm, it was a threat The mantra quieted in my mind when I realized a girl stood in front me . Are you a magician the girl asked again . Innocence was written in her eyes . She looked to be fourteen or fifteen, an age when girls became teenagers, but her eyes told me she was more like a four or five year old in maturity . Maybe she wasn t good at ambushing, but I was too anxious to be on guard earlier . Yes I answered and turned around, hoping to see that official . Was I here to babysit her I was not a nanny There was no sight of anyone else, so I had to turn around and look at the girl again . She watched me with flickering eyes, seemingly having made up her mind . Her expression gave her away, like the way a child would, and while biting her lips and using a voice she probably thought was stoic but I found to be ridiculous, she said Can you teach me magic Her request was so direct, it shocked me . I recovered quickly . Who was this kid Her clothes a dress which would have been elegant on a grown up, but adorable on her her smooth hair, and her porcelain white skin, told me she was from a royal family . It didn t matter to me though if she was an adult, I liked to differentiate who was a commoner and who was a royal, but kids were all equally annoying to me . I turned around, wanting to get away, in case a vicious old lady came out later in my experience, one usually followed the other . Something held onto my robe . I looked down and saw the kid s hand was tugging on my clothes and wasn t letting go . Can you teach me magic she asked again, her tone holding no room for refusal . In another three years . . . no, five years, I could teach you some bedroom magic . I wanted to use a lewd joke to make her run, but she didn t understand . Bedroom magic Another five years No, I want to learn right now There s no time for another five years Her hands held on . You re too young now I couldn t get away with my usual methods with this hothouse flower, so I tapped my knuckle on her forehead, and while she yelped in pain, pulled my robe free . I walked a few steps, hoping she would not follow . To be honest, I felt happy having bullied someone . Too bad even a royal garden wasn t big enough . The annoying youngster caught up to me . I stopped, knowing I couldn t get away now . I m already fifteen My grandfather said he d teach me by now . So I can learn magic now . Teach me magic, please Please, you re at most a five year old if anyone just stalked a stranger and begged to learn magic, their age would be only five years old . What do you think magic is, playing house I didn t say my thoughts out loud, knowing they wouldn t convince her, so I turned my head around . Please teach me she begged again, watching me with hope . It looked like I had to resolve this since I got into this quandary in the first place . Why don t you look for your grandfather I demanded . Why are you bothering me I won t teach you My grandfather . . . She looked like she was in tears, and that made me panic . I wasn t afraid of rumors, but if I made a little girl cry, it d be mortifying . It would be mortifying to all magicians . He s gone She stopped her tears, while I could feel sweat rolling down my back . I hated kids crying it was torture to me . Is he dead I think I understood . Her grandfather must be pretty old if she was this age, so no surprise if he died . But why leave behind some weird promise, which was trapping me here Can you teach me magic Her earnest gaze made me shake my head . Why not She was ridiculous to not understand the reason . Fine, I would make up something to tell her . Magic can only be studied by people of certain bloodlines . I realized my mistake as I finished talking . I am My grandfather was a magician, even though my mom isn t . I should have the bloodline I m a wandering magician I won t do anything without being paid I don t have money, but . . . would something expensive work she suggested shyly, stunned . What kind of things I was greedy . May the gods forgive me I actually wanted to swindle some pricey baubles from a girl . I figured all royals were rich, so maybe this girl had some priceless antiques around . I actually did something so lacking in self respect at that moment . Like this She took out a bangle . The giant blue jewels on it almost blinded me with their glamour . Blue gems These are huge I looked over the gemstones . I didn t obsess over money or jewels, but gemstones of this size made me drool . To a regular person, blue jewels were the same as any other jewels, but to magicians, blue gemstones amplified magic . They may not be helpful in battles, but in magic research or experiments, they were essential, and giant blue gemstones were even rarer . I was traveling now, but one day, I d tire of this kind of life, and now, this gemstone had made me pause . Why do you want to learn magic I put down the bangle and asked . I was questioning her but really just wanted to distract her . All magicians were defeated by that necromancer, even my grandfather . There s not a single magician left in this kingdom, so I want to learn magic to fight the necromancer You ll die I told her, then chanted my mantra in a low voice . I 39 d stolen many things with this trick, even though it was a despicable thing to do . I m not scared . My grandfather told me I was gifted, and I could be a great magician . As long as I learned magic, I could avenge him and the others, too . She kept talking, but I hardly listened . I focused all my will on the mantra, and when I finished chanting, a hologram bangle appeared in my right hand . It looked the same as the actual bangle as long as it wasn t attacked, it d stay this way for twenty four hours .Chapter end
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