Learning About The Sages

Author's Note: Please show your support by voting for this story if you're enjoying it so far.

-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-

Victor had hoped for a glimpse of a bright future, a sign that his newfound ability would lead to great things. Instead, he had seen a vision of being exposed and captured...

Well technically, he exposed himself and got captured.

He set the orb down carefully, trying to steady his breathing. "It was just a vision," he told himself, though the fear lingered. "The future is never set in stone... I just need to make sure, I avoid some things."

However, the orb's power was immense, and he had barely scratched the surface of its capabilities. What if he was already on a path that would lead to the exposure he had seen?

"Clearly it looked like I revealed it myself which wasn't a smart decision. But why would the sages come for me? It isn't a secret that magic still exists..." Victor was bothered but he felt there must be something that he was unaware of.

Either ways, he decided that he needed to understand the orb better, to control its power rather than be controlled by it.

The thought of what he had witnessed pushed him to action. He pulled out his notebook and began jotting down everything he had learned so far, detailing each experiment and its results. He would approach this methodically, just as he did with his writing.

Hours passed as Victor documented his findings and planned his next steps. His fear gradually turned into determination.

---

Victor woke up the next morning with the vision of his future still fresh in his mind. He couldn't shake the image of being taken into custody by the sages, and it filled him with a sense of urgency.

He needed to know more about the history of magic and the abilities of the ancient sages. Perhaps understanding their powers would give him insight into his own and help him avoid the potential dangers he had glimpsed.

Sitting down at his desk, Victor powered up his laptop, relieved to see it functioning normally again. He opened his browser and began searching for information about the divine sages and the types of magic they wielded. The more he read, the more fascinated he became.

The sages, he discovered, were legendary figures who had wielded incredible powers centuries ago. Their magic had been diverse, ranging from elemental control to healing and space manipulation.

But despite their abilities, the sages had always operated within certain limits. Victor needed to find any mention of magic that resembled his ability to bring fiction to life.

After hours of sifting through articles and ancient texts, Victor stumbled upon references to "Creation Magic." This type of magic allowed the caster to create objects out of nothing, but it had been extremely rare and difficult to master.

Only the most powerful sages, those classified as S-tier, had been able to use it. Even then, it had its limitations.

'Why are sages even called sages? Instead of mages?' Victor stared at a particular reading.

'Oh, mages are lower-tiered. Sages are called sages because they can cast magic without having to utter incantations... Well, not the information I need right now, back to the creation magic.'

Victor leaned closer to the screen, reading with growing interest. Creation Magic could manifest objects, but the process was taxing and often required immense concentration and energy.

The objects created were usually simple and temporary, fading away after a short period. No mention was made of creating complex or permanent items, let alone bringing fictional creations to life in the way Victor could.

"So, my ability is similar to Creation Magic, but much more powerful and lasting," Victor mused. "No wonder it's unheard of. This kind of power would definitely draw attention."

He continued reading, hoping to find any clues about sages who might have had abilities like his. But the more he searched, the clearer it became that his power was unique. No sage in recorded history had been able to do what he could—bring detailed and complex objects from stories into reality.

Victor sat back in his chair, processing this revelation. The sages' powers had been formidable, but his ability seemed to surpass even the most legendary of them.

He understood now why he needed to be cautious. If anyone discovered what he could do, it would attract attention not just from the curious, but from those who might see him as a threat or a resource to be controlled.

He glanced at the Orb of Eternity, sitting quietly on his desk, its glow subdued in the morning light. The orb had been his first creation, and it had already shown him glimpses of the future and allowed him to manipulate time. The possibilities were endless, but so were the risks.

"I have to keep this a secret from the outside world," Victor said aloud, feeling the weight of the decision settle over him. "I can't let anyone else find out."

He closed his laptop and pulled out his notebook, jotting down his thoughts and the conclusions he had reached.

Since he had the day off, Victor spent the rest of the day refining his writing and testing his abilities in small, controlled ways.

He brought forth simple objects—a perfectly ripe apple, a pristine sheet of parchment, and a small crystal with a faint inner light.

He noticed that he could bring other normal objects to life from stories he had already taken stuff out of, like fruits, boxes, and even clothes.

Each creation filled him with wonder and apprehension. He had yet to test its limits but for now satisfied with his level of understanding so far.

The power at his fingertips was incredible, but it was also a responsibility he couldn't take lightly.

As the sun set and the room grew dim, Victor made a silent vow to himself. He would continue to explore and develop his ability, but he would do so discreetly.

"Well, now that I know what to avoid... I gotta refine my story. I can't become a famous author if I never publish a story, now can I?"

With a deep breath, Victor set aside his notebook and returned to his writing.

---

A week after refining his new story and sending it to Sarah for her review, Victor found himself back at The Cozy Quill. The familiar scent of coffee and pastries filled the air.

He spotted Sarah at their usual table, her laptop open and a steaming cup of coffee by her side. She looked up as he approached, a warm smile spreading across her face.

"Hey, Victor! Over here," Sarah called out, waving him over.

Victor slid into the seat across from her, feeling both nervousness and excitement. "Hey, Sarah. How's everything?"

"Great! And even better now that I've read your new manuscript," she said, her eyes twinkling with enthusiasm. "I have to say, Victor, this is your best work yet."

Victor felt a rush of relief and pride. "Really? You liked it?"

"Liked it? I loved it!" Sarah exclaimed, closing her laptop to give him her full attention. "The characters, the plot, the way you brought everything to life—it's fantastic. I honestly believe this will get the attention of publishing houses."

Victor's heart soared at her words. "Wow, that's amazing to hear. I put a lot of work into it."

"And it shows," Sarah said, nodding. "I've already picked a publishing house that I think would be a perfect fit for your story. They're known for taking chances on unique and innovative works, and I think they'll see the potential in yours."

Victor leaned forward, his excitement palpable. "Which one?"

Sarah pulled out a folder from her bag and handed it to him. "It's called Crescent Moon Publishing. They've published some really great fantasy and sci-fi novels in the past few years. I think they'll love your story."

Victor flipped through the folder, looking at the information about Crescent Moon Publishing. "They seem perfect. What's the next step?"

"I'll help you submit your manuscript to them," Sarah explained. "I've already formatted everything and written a cover letter. All you need to do is sit tight and wait for their response. It might take a few weeks, but I have a good feeling about this."

Victor felt a surge of gratitude. "Thank you so much, Sarah. I don't know what I'd do without your help."

Sarah smiled, reaching across the table to squeeze his hand. "You've got the talent, Victor. I'm just here to help you get noticed. And I really believe this is your time."

Victor nodded, feeling a sense of calm and hope. "I'll try to stay patient. It's just… this is so important to me."

"I know it is," Sarah said, her tone gentle. "And I'm confident you'll get a favorable response. Just keep doing what you're doing, and don't lose that passion."

Victor took a deep breath, feeling the weight of anticipation lift slightly. "Alright. I'll try to stay positive and keep working on new ideas in the meantime."

They chatted for a while longer, discussing potential ideas for future projects and catching up on life.

As they wrapped up their meeting and said their goodbyes, Victor left the café with a lightness in his step. The road to getting published was uncertain, but for the first time, he felt like he was truly on the right path.

The next few weeks would be a test of his patience, but Victor was ready to face it.