The First Mage

Reurig hadn’t learned anything new about Gean’s whereabouts, but apparently there were rumors going around about a girl that had escaped through the east gate and headed into the forest. The incident didn’t make quite the same waves as the last escape, because nobody knew who the girl was, but people were pointing out the similarities to how the “criminals” had left town.

“I overheard an old guy who almost sounded depressed. He was wondering why young people were suddenly trying to commit suicide by going into the Wildlands,” Reurig said.

‘Huh? They think I killed myself?’

If you took into account that we were some of the very few humans who would be able to walk outside without worrying about getting killed any minute, the thought that they believed us to be suicidal was kind of funny. Less amusing was that they were apparently moarning us.

“Did you hear anything about how we got past the guards?” I asked him.

“The rumors say that the guard who tried to stop you was soaking wet and had somehow stumbled and fallen, but there’s no details.”

I had to assume that the guards would have an inkling about what was going on with me. That Tomar and Lilana were similar somehow. The soldiers who had pursued us at various points in time had all been briefed, and prior to joining us, Reurig had also heard a lot of rumors about what we could do. However, it seemed like none of this had made its way to the general public yet, which was good. If Lilana had been bunched together with Tomar and the others already, it would be more difficult to make her shine in a positive light.

“Thanks, Reurig,” I said.

Next, I brought him up to speed on the plans we had discussed this morning after he left. About how we wanted to start by introducing ourselves to the people we could meet out here. I was hoping for some insight, but Reurig was more of a quiet type.

“It’s a good plan,” was the only thing he said in response at first. I was surprised when he suddenly did start talking of his own volition, and more than usual as well. “Hey, Miles... Why all these elaborate plans? Couldn’t you just take over someone important with a new script? Maybe even the king or the High Priest, and then control them to do everything we need? Wouldn’t that be much easier?”

“The thought crossed my mind,” I said, “but there are too many unknown factors.”

In theory, this would actually be a great plan. Assuming that I could get close to the king somehow, I could move to his mind and then I could try to control him from the shadows, or we could expel him, to make his body mine. Even with my newly discovered values, I would probably not lose sleep over someone who was trying to kill us after he got everything we could give him.

However, we had absolutely no data on what this transfer would look like. So far, we only knew that I had gone from a white stone to a person twice and that I had left a host once. We could assume that moving me into a new host would work, but we didn’t know what the expel script would do to a person if they owned the body they were getting expelled from. Or worse, what if the body can’t even survive without the original owner?

We also didn’t know what would happen to someone who already had a Calling. The ritual platforms didn’t allow for a second Calling to be used, and there was probably also a reason why you had to wait until you were fifteen. Aside from the fact that it’s the typical age to become an adult, in like any fantasy novel ever.

Infusing people with new knowledge and abilities couldn’t be easy, and your brain and your body probably needed to be developed to a certain degree for it to be safe. And that was for only one Calling. It was possible that there would be no place for me in the mind of someone who had already had their ritual. I might not be a typical Calling, but there were similarities, and if multiple normal Callings were a problem, I was probably no different. Before we tried to do anything like this, I wanted to do way more research, to ensure that I would at least survive the ordeal, otherwise it would be pointless to stake all of our futures on that plan. Of course this research would be tricky to conduct though, seeing how you would need to risk people’s lives for it.

Reurig nodded in understanding and we continued going over our immediate plans for the next day. When we finally finished, the sun had disappeared completely and the clearing was only illuminated by the moon and our campfire. Reurig and Berla were playing some card game, while Riala and Tomar talked about the snap script, which she seemed quite enamored with.

Before everyone went to bed, I had to discuss our sleeping arrangement with Lilana. I had already stayed up one night, and I was getting quite tired, so we would have to sleep tonight. Were I to stay in control, she would probably learn that she’s able to control her body while I‘m asleep sooner or later, and she might guess that I had known. I knew that that wouldn’t go over well. Alternatively, I could convince her to take sleeping duty, saying that I’m used to sitting around on the backseat all night. However, she might decide that we should take turns or something, and then we’d be back at the first option. I came to realize that honesty would probably be the best route to take. Unsurprisingly, she had responded well to it so far, and even though she was still being pretty quiet, I hoped she wouldn’t mind me being on my own for a few hours.

“Hey, Lilana. There’s one more thing I need to tell you.”

‘... what now?’

“It’s about sleeping with two minds. While the one who is in control is out, the other one, in this case that would be you, is able to move the body.”

‘Eh? ... so I’m in control while you’re asleep?’

“Yea, pretty much.”

‘...’

“So... I was thinking—”

‘You were thinking you shouldn’t tell me, in case you need to use it against me...’

That’s a little more insight than I was expecting... Should I stick to being honest...?

“Honestly... yes. It was a contingency plan. It... served me well in the past. Kind of. But...” I started. But I didn’t want to lie to you anymore? No, that would be a lie, I thought and then continued. “But I wanted to be honest with you because it wouldn’t really work very well out here anyway. It’s easier to work together.”

It’s curious how my immediate instinct is to lie, even though I want to do better...

‘So you’re going with total honesty now?’

“Maybe? Let’s call it an experiment.”

‘That sounds really reassuring,’ she said, and I kind of felt as if she was smiling just a little bit.

“The thing is, I could get a lot done overnight, and I’m used to staying up and doing guard duty. I wanted to ask if you would take care of the sleeping part.”

‘You would give control to me once more then.’

“Yes.”

Today had been a lot for her, and I couldn’t be certain what she would do once I did relinquish control. A few hours ago she was ready to walk, and she might do so as soon as she was able to move her own legs again. By this point she probably believed me that she would be relatively safe out here, and if she had paid attention, she understood that she could use the new snap script I had come up with without stones or being able to do mana to water conversion. However, if I stopped cooperating, her only option after that would be to go back to Alarna, and she wouldn’t be able to sell the angel story without me, meaning she would be going back as a criminal. And now she also knew that I would still be able to control her at night. Her resigned sigh sounded like she had come to the same conclusions.

‘Okay, whatever.’

“Ready to take over then?”

‘Already? Oh... alright,’ she said with light surprise, and I let loose to switch control with her.

‘There we go,’ I said, feeling the tiredness wash away. Being back here definitely had its advantages.

“By Shae! How were you still moving!?” she said, struggling to keep herself upright on the log she was sitting on.

We had used a lot of mana, stayed up for almost two full days, and had also run and walked a lot in that time. Maybe it was because I was used to twenty-four hour days, or that I could go two or three earth days without sleep if I really needed to, but I had been fine. Lilana sounded as if she had never been more exhausted in her life, however.

‘Heh, I didn’t think it was that bad. Sorry,’ I said with a chuckle.

The others had been surprised by the outburst and looked at her, with Riala immediately jumping up and walking up to Lilana.

“Hi! I’m Riala!”

With sleepy eyes, Lilana looked at the small girl standing right in front of her. “Uh... Hello. Lilana.”

Tomar, Berla, and Reurig greeted her in person once more as well and they all talked briefly for a few minutes. It seemed like she didn’t have a problem with the girls, nor with Reurig, who she already knew from the temple. However, she kept glancing at Tomar, who she was apparently wary of. I was hopeful that their relationship would improve once she got to know him though. It wasn’t long before Lilana excused herself and laid down to sleep. She was out like a light, and I took over once more.

Hello, backseat, old friend.