For so reason, the Yellow Forest seed a lot less charming to Xerxes. It hadnt changed. He had. When he looked around, the shadows seed stickier. The vines seed like they were trying to choke the life out of the trees. Even the animal sounds seed more malevolent. What had previously seed like the rry chatter of fuzzy animals now seed like the dangerous click of razor-sharp teeth. The fact that the soldiers didnt seem interested in singing songs added an additional level of gravity.
After twenty minutes within the trees, he shook his head and took a few deep breaths. Co on, Xerxes. What are you a baby? Scared of the dark?
It wasnt the first ti he had to force himself to clear his thoughts. Every so often, he shook his head and forced himself to control his breathing to clear his thoughts.
Given the distance between the various rest and camp areas within the Yellow Forest, there was no point in trying to push for greater speed in getting back to Kisiga. They spent the night in the sa spot theyd camped on the way to the castle.
For mages, advancent in the magical arts was a tricky business, especially when on a campaign such as this. And Xerxes knew that every mont spent refilling and refining his lam was crucial. As such, he spent as much ti as possible in ditation that evening, gathering lam from his surroundings and packing into his energy chamber. Gandash and Bel did the sa.
Most ordinary people thought of ditation as strange. A mage would simply sit quietly, eyes closed, hands on knees, breathing in a prescribed fashion. The soldiers in the convoy, however, worked directly for the Mage Parliant, and were used to the practices of mages. They made sure to keep the camp as quiet as possible while the mages went about their work, and made sure they had water and food waiting when their ditation sessions ca to an end.
As a Seer, Xerxes had a single chamber of energy, and if he wanted to reach the next level, that of the High Seer, he needed to form a second chamber of energy. The process of forming that second chamber involved filling his first chamber with lam, then using that entire stockpile to start building the walls of the second chamber. With the existing chamber having been emptied, he needed to refill it, a process that took no short amount of ti. Afterward, he would drain it again to continue the work on the second chamber. Mages referred to that process as Flushing.
In order to advance from the Seer to the High Seer level, a mage had to perform twelve Flushes. Given that ordinary ditation practices would allow a Seer to fill their chamber in two months, it ant that by focusing completely on ditation and Flushes, and not casting any spells, it would generally take about two years to reach a breakthrough point.
Before leaving on the mission, Bel had perford four Flushes, Gandash had done two, and Xerxes had completed one. On the road to the castle, they had spent a bit of ti on ditation, but not much. And now all three of them had cast spells, reducing their stockpile of lam. For Xerxes and Bel, it wasnt as much of an issue. Asgagu and Balatu Seers could both cast twenty spells before draining their single chamber. But for Gandash, it was a different story. It took about nearly half of his total stockpile of lam to cast a single Spawn Duo. And hed cast the spell twice. Needless to say, he didnt hesitate to consu the Concentrated lam Pill his father had given him. That gave him enough lam that he could cast Spawn Duo again in an ergency, but it didnt completely refill his chamber.
The next night was spent in the sa tavern in Kisiga. The coroner there had finished his work, and gave them an ornate box containing Gems remains. Captain Ishki gave the box to Xerxes, who packed it together with the box of money that he intended to deliver to his friends family as soon as they got back to the capital. When he thought of facing Gems wife and telling the story of her husbands passing Xerxes throat felt thick.
What would he say? How would he say it?
All he knew was that it had to be done, and he owed it to his late friend to see everything through to the end.
Captain Ishki had everyone wake up early, go through morning prayer, and then pack to leave. As they gathered in the street outside the tavern, two burning streaks of light passed overhead.
More teors, Xerxes said as he pulled a pile of books out of his traveling pack. What the hell is going on?
Bel stared up at the light. Well probably find out more when we get back ho. The Mage Parliant must have noticed. They probably dug up every old book about teors that exists in the Academy library.
I doubt its anything worth worrying about, Gandash said. I was reading a book last year about planets in other starisles that have recurring teor showers. Sotis yearly.
Xerxes shuddered. Maybe. All I know is that these teors are giving the creeps.
It was only then that Gandash noticed Xerxes books. Say, Xerk, I havent seen you do any book study this entire ti. Are you finally going to buckle down and do so reading?
Xerxes grinned wryly. Matters of energy chambers werent the only things mages had to consider. Book knowledge regarding the runes was also a factor. Yeah, I dont want to fall behind. Once I form my second chamber, I want to have already mastered the Asgagu Sebum rune.
Oh? So youre going to skip Asgagu Sanum?
Yeah. He held up his fist and looked at it. Im getting tired of relying only on this.
Just adding your foot to your arsenal isnt going to cut it for you?
Xerxes dropped his fist. Exactly. Once I can augnt my sword, Im going to be a thousand tis more effective.
Gandash grinned. I can only imagine.
Reviews
All reviews (0)