Mark of the Fool

Chapter 550: Searching for Inner Power

Alex wondered where the days had gone. A week ago, he was in the Hells fighting demons, rescuing the Travellers artefact, and meeting her in person. It was a lot to think about. Now, he was back to his life in Generasi with an evolving plate of things to do.

It was odd seeing the new Lucia; knowing how much shed transformed from the sullen sky-gondolier shed been a short year before, to an open, confident, entrepreneur who wanted to partner with him.

Hed hired a local shipbuilder for an afternoon to give Lucias ship a thorough inspection before signing anything and he was thrilled when the shipwright gave her caravel a ringing endorsement. With that out of the way, he and Lucia had spent the rest of the afternoon discussing details of their plans, and after shed agreed to the trial agreement that Alex had wanted, shed returned to her headquarters in the Rhinean empire, and he had returned to his work at Shales, his tasks with the expedition, preparing the bakery for its grand opening and, of course, school.

Classes wereactually a nice break from everything hed been through recently. At the university, some of his fellow students were moaning and looking ready to claw their own faces off as exams loomed on the horizon. The workload was high, with no sign of decreasing. The more advanced the coursework, the more work the professors piled on.

Professor Jules was taking particular pleasure in designing a project so devilish that Hobb would have been proud.

Your assignment is to craft a wand, she had said during a lab one day. And while this has been a group project in previous years, it will be a solo project this year.

Groans of misery rippled through the entire lab, to which Professor Jules had only rolled her eyes. Dont complain, shed said, not hiding her glee. If youve been studying and reviewing your labsas I have heavily instructed you tothen you should be fine. Now, your wand will have to produce the following effects

Shed then gone through a list of things that the wand was expected to do, as well as a boatload of things that the wand should not be able to do. Crafting the wand would require a lot of precise engineering, and depending on a students fondness for minute detail, most softly muttered about how Jules was inclined toward torturing her students, and about being driven mad by the woman

but not Alex.

Hed already crafted a staff, so this wand assignment should be childs play; he was actually looking forward to it, and was expecting to have it finished in a night or two. Then hed have two magic tools: his staff, and the wand to give to a cabal-mateor possibly someone else.

His magic lore and summoning courses were painless as well, and he was always prepared for class since It didnt take him long to read the material. Summoning? Well, because he had such a knack for it, he loved that class. The Travellers power was stronger than everand the edge it gave him had grown. But now, he also felt a connection to Hannah whenever he walked into his summoning class.

That magic was almost as natural to him as breathingdespite the Mark. A handful of classmates kept up with him, but he was squarely one of the top three students in the entire class, even in the practical part of the course. Something else to thank the Traveller for.

The Mark had made studying magic lore so simple that at times he was tempted to skip the rest of those lectures. If he didnt show up in person, hed only miss the odd fact that the professor quoted that wasnt in the textbook. But since he could speed read and process information so well when he used the Mark, a few minutes going through supplementary papers in the library would easily fill any gaps, and even give him information that wasnt in the class materials.

Of course, an alternative would have been to ask a classmate to trade notes. Most would have gladly given him their lecture notes in exchange for his.

But, he couldnt skip. His sense of responsibility kept him going to class; the professors spent a lot of time preparing proper lectures and if Selina saw him skipping class, shed think it was a good idea, and also, it wasnt like he neededthe extra time. These days, classwork was the least time consuming thing in his life.

A lot of it was spent expanding the bakerys business plan, working with Shale, the expedition, or practising the power that was a part of him.

This evening was dedicated to the latter.

Night found Alex on the roof of his home, floating cross legged in midair under the power of a flight spell. Many of his practise sessions found him there, and this night was no different.

For the moment, he was alone: Selina was asleep; Brutus and Theresa were out on a hunt with Thundar and Claygon, and the neighbourhood was quiet. An excellent night for the exploration of unknown powers.

In one hand, Alex clutched the Travellers artefact, feeling her power flow through its inner workings. Its energy would serve as a beacon as he began exploring her legacy.

Here goes nothing, he took a deep breath, falling into his meditation techniques.

He disengaged his mind from his surroundings, counting his breaths as he slowly drew in cool, night air, then exhaled. Alex noted the feeling of his clothing against his skin. The pulse of mana through his pool. The scent of newly sprouted herbs in the rooftop potion garden. The sounds of activity coming from Shales workshop across the road.

There wereno thoughts in his mind: he became simply an observer in a sea of sensation, letting the world and all his tiny judgments fall away. His mind stilled, and there was peace.

For a time, he stayed in that state, letting the sensations wash over him.

Then he directed his attention, diving inward, searching for Hannahs power within him.

It was tricky, what he was trying to do, since he only truly felt the Travellers power when he cast teleportation and summoning spells. Lately, though, when he prayed to Hannah, he felt a spark of her energy in his chestbut he had no idea of how to actively find it.

Slowly, he examined his body and soulwhere the power seemed to resideseeking out the teleportation power. He felt his heart beating. He felt himself breathing. He felt his mana coursing through his mana pool and pathways.

Yet, he couldnt feel what he was seeking; the Travellers power within himself.

He slowly moved his sensesthrough his body again, searching for the energy, but finding nothing.

Alright, time for the next step, Alex whispered, closing his eyes.

Quietly, he whispered a prayer to the Traveller: Please, guide me to your power.

There was a spark within his chest as the power coursed through his being. Instantly, he reached for it, trying to grasp the energybut it vanished before he could touch it.

He reached for it again, unsurprised that a power based on transporting someone from one place to another in an instant, was difficult to grasp. Again and again he tried, but there was no map to guide him on how, or where to begin, and Hannah hadnt had the time or chance to explain even the beginnings of how her power worked.

Kelda had used the Mark to master Hannahs power, mastering it even faster than Hannah had been able to, but shed also had one on one instruction from the Traveller herself. A definite advantage. For Alex? It felt like he was trying to learn how to fly when hed never had wings before.

He didnt even know how to find those wings, in this case.

But, at least he could cheat.

After a lot of wasted time fumbling around within himself, he called on the Mark, expecting lots of images of what hed done right.

But, the images were sparse: the power would flare when he said a prayer to the Traveller. And then nothing. Shit, I hardly did anything right, Alex opened his eyes again. Alright, let me try something different.

This time he tried moving his mana in the direction of his power, while praying to the Traveller. He tried to connect the mana to the power. Yet again, the power proved elusive.

He called on the Mark once more, looking for guidance. Again, no images came to aid him.

Whats going on? Alex wondered out loud. The power comes to me when I cast the right spells, but I cant seem to grasp it. Why

He paused.

The power sparked, reacting, but he wasnt praying.

Curious, Alex uncrossed his legs and floated downstairs into his apartment. Silently gliding down the hall, he felt the power within growing in intensity.

He stopped, pausing down the hall from Selinas room, cocking his ear toward her door; from within came the quiet whisper of a young girl in prayer. He smiled: she must have been praying to the Traveller when the power reacted in his chest.

Alex wasnt going to stay and listen to his sisters private prayers, so he turned and began floating back upstairs to return to his rooftop perch.

With power sparking from his sisters prayers, he kept searching long after those sparks faded.

Huh, he murmured much later, trying to apply his mana manipulation techniques to the power directly. For a breath, he did touch something, but it quickly slipped away.

Still, he wasnt discouraged. Its a startIm starting to find a wing.

Calling on the Mark, it began showing him images of what he had done right. Each time he tried using mana manipulation techniques on the power directly, the Mark showed him an image of that attempt.

He was finally on the right roadthough something still troubled him.

Theres something missing, Alex frowned. Im not doing something quite right. Maybe I need to modify the technique, this isnt mana, after all.

He glanced at the position of the moon, yawning. Well, Ive taken a step forward. And thats good for one night.

Lowering his head, he uttered another prayer to the Traveller, letting her energy flare inside him. He hoped his faith would empower her as she had empowered him.

He hadnt found the power he was seeking that evening, but he'd taken a few steps forward.

###

The divine servant had spoken in the First Apostles mind, granting him revelation of threats on the horizon, and knowledge that servants of Uldar would be coming to their aid.

He had meditated on it for a time, but now he must call on Izas.

He would need the Third Apostles faith.

###

May my faith be your succour, Third Apostle Izas prayed. May my life be your nectar. May my soul serve you in this life and the next. In Uldars name, I pray.

The elderly man lifted his head from his clasped hands, letting himself fall out of his trance. With a deep breath, he allowed his senses to turn outward once more, bathing himself in the incense and quiet wind chimes within the chapel of Uldar.

He pushed himself to his feet and it was only then that he noticed a strange change in the rooms shadows.

Eldin, have you been here long? he asked, turning to find the squat, powerfully built priest kneeling just within the doorway.

I arrived after your hymn had begun, Third Apostle, Eldin said. I did not see fit to disturb your prayers.

Thank you for respecting my sacred time with Uldar, Izas lowered his head. How might this humble servant of our god help you?

The First Apostle has called for you, Eldin said. He wishes to speak to you urgently.

###

As Eldin closed the door in the First Apostles sanctum, Izas was left in the dark. Ahead, he could feel the presence of the most holy member of his church within his alcove.

Yet he could not see him in the dark.

Third Apostle Izas, came the First Apostles voice. What are you willing to give to Uldar?

Everything, the Third Apostle said without hesitation. He fought and sacrificed for us; it is our duty to do so in turn.

You are utterly convicted in this?

Yes.

Swear it on your faith.

I swear it on my faith.

Swear it on your name.

I swear on my name.

Swear it on your soul.

I swear it on my soul.

Swear it on the life of our god.

Izas startled, looking around the black alcove in shock. First Apostle! That is blasphemy!

It is not, the First Apostles voice was stern. If you are true of heart and soul, then Uldar will have nothing to fear. There will be no falsehoods in your oath and thus no blasphemy. Unless you doubt your faith.

I do not doubt my faith. I The Third Apostle muttered. I swear it on the life of our god.

Silence followed.

Good, the First Apostle said. You were gifted The Third Truth upon gainingyour position. The truth that the cycle must continue. Nowyou are ready for The Second Truth.

But that is only given to you and the Second Apostle.

Normally, yes, the First Apostle said. But these are abnormal times. And I have received a revelation from a divine servant.

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