Almost

I slowed my chewing down and swallowed slowly.

"That was amazing" I said and I wasn't lying.

It usually takes me a full minute for a couple of fireballs and I have to concentrate heavily on them

Fire balls are different from grenades, for me I would try and control the flow of oxygen while timing my mana pressure with small pre-made grenades.

But hers looked like hundreds of tiny grenades above her palm being controlled perfectly, the fire slowly changed color from blue to the green of her aura.

She took only ten seconds and she wasn't even rushing.

Also she was relaxed, the arrays guided the energy fully allowing Kata to focus on other things.

"Why are you telling me this"? I asked suddenly.

"Because it's the truth" she said the fire winking out of existence.

"Also because when I looked at you naked earlier I could see you already have a mana core at such a young age".

"It would be beneficial if you served me directly instead of going to the Mage Association".

Her answer made sense, telling me the truth now she would secure herself a young mage with a long lifespan.

It's a good thing I circulated my mana throughout my body hiding the aura.

"And if I decline"? I asked while eyeing the way out.

A crisp laugh filled the air and her white teeth gleamed as she threw her head back.

Her laughter was as sensual as everything else about her.

"I will not force anything on to you, I don't trust you and you don't trust me only time can fix that".

"But I am willing to share basic information... mainly so you don't kill yourself and others with your mana" she rested her cheek on the palm of her hand.

"What comes after foundation establishment"? I asked taking advantage of the opportunity.

She sighed, "It is called Xian, it means pure" I nearly choked on my food recognizing the word from the Chinese dialect.

"Unfortunately that realm is closed to us mortals... ever since the mana less age seven hundred years ago".

'She must be talking about the 'eternal cold' that I read about' I thought.

It was described as punishment from the gods.

I thought it was an ice age.

"Do not worry yourself over such things, I am one of the more talented mages with a spiritual root blessed by three gods and it still took me eighty years to reach the third stage of my foundation".

My eyes opened wide, making her giggle.

"What's a spiritual root"?

She shrugged, "It's not something I know about, it is tested when one is accepted into the Association".

"Who does know"? I asked calmly but my heart beat like a snare drum.

"I don't know and I don't care, those who study the spirit are all obsessed with becoming immortal and waste their life" she said indifferently.

A long pipe flew into her hand and she sparked it with a small fire the size of her thumb with no need of any array.

If someone was to tell me a spirit or soul existed prior to my time in the blender I would walk the other direction.

But now the thought that I could find some answers got me hot and bothered like no woman ever could.

An aged native man announced himself before entering.

"Go with Ho'thaw, I know you have questions and I will answer them, but remember I give nothing for free all knowledge about mana will cost you" she smiled.

I would have been suspicious if she taught me for free, not even on earth is there such a luxury.

"What is this place"? I asked while standing up.

"This is Luca, territory of House Inka you would do well to remember that".

"No I mean why are Mages stopping here" I thought about the Terra boy with the attitude.

"Missions are taken on by mages for mana stones, by providing passage for Mages with that robe on I accomplish my mission" she said pointing to the dirty cloak next to me.

I was beginning to build a picture of this fabled place that withstood the test of time for centuries.

It seemed like a cult at first but that was for the wea.

For the strong who can gold their own it truly is an Association.

I'm sure they would use us as more than just slaves, I thought thinking about the experiments I conducted.

'If only I had a mage to experiment on' I eyed Kata a bunch of thoughts running through my mind.

I didn't linger.

I grabbed my things and followed behind after bowing towards my host.

"Come back here when the sun is setting" she said as I was stepping out.

I nodded and followed behind the old man.

He walked out and back towards the outer rim where a smaller boulder was pointed out from a distance.

Ho'thaw walked back wordlessly and I walked in finding the same flat ground but with no arrays or furniture.

It was enough for me, I laid my head down the sun high in the sky couldn't get me today so I dosed off.

I only intended to sleep for an hour at most but since nothing disturbed me I woke to find the color fading from the sky.

Making my way back to Katas residence I notice many people going in the same direction

Once her large boulder came into view I saw a bunch of tables and chairs strewn about as people are cooking and eating outdoors while a string instrument was being played.

As soon as I came into view the laughing and noise stopped and all heads slowly turned to look at me.

I stopped, thinking it was best for me to leave now.

I turned and took a step but heard a voice call my name.

The same voice that made the blood rush to my loins.

She was sitting on a lone table with a cloth on it nearest to her residence.

The people giving her a huge space around her.

She didn't call my name loudly but due to how quite it is she didn't have to.

I walked over as the volume began to increase again slowly.

A huge bonfire was burning bright in the center with other smaller fires where people are cooking and bringing food to different tables.

Sitting down she offered me a drink from a tin jug.

Looking around I see everything made out of metals even the spoons used to eat.

'Makes sense, no lumber in the desert'.

I took a swig of a sweet alcoholic drink, it tasted like the huge strawberry I ate earlier.

"We must talk the price for your stay and your passage of you choose to leave that is".

'Here it is' I thought ready for the slave contract.

"You can read and write Terra"?

I was stumped for a moment wondering where she was going with this.

Nodding my head while swallowing I eyed her wearily.

"Teach the people of my land the language of Terra and in return I will consider us even for your food and lodging".

"Also I am going to need some items" she sent me a piece of white cloth with scribbles on it.

"Get these items for me and I will tell you what you need to know about the Mage Association" she added before I could open my mouth.

"As for mana manipulation we will talk about that before the sunrises tomorrow".

I read the white cloth with neat writing and took a deep breath.

"This is a tall order, I don't even know half of these things".

It seems as if she is testing me.

Items such as Ums heart and bones are easy but Idematoo eyes and Popoo fur are foriegn to me.

I saw Jun antenna as well making me wonder what this stuff is used for.

"I can't get this stuff I can barely control my mana as it is" I lied making sure to downplay what I can do.

As if expecting that answer she smiled "Well then let me see your mana core".

I hesitated, "Would you ask anyone else that"?

The smile wiped off her face so fast it made me wonder if it was ever there.

"Any mage that came into my territory without prior notice from the association would be considered an enemy, I would do much worse".

I swallowed my food letting out my outer core keeping the bright white inner core inside my diaphragm.

Due to Ava my inner core could syphon all the energy leaving my outer core a hazy blur.

She peered at it curiously.

"I see what you mean..." she looked dissapointed.

"Meet me at first light right here" she said.

"What for"? I asked

"A proper education".

"Why can't you teach them the Terra language"?

"Because to them I am a god, the bringer of life and death".

"They would be too intimidated to listen, trust me I tried with there forefathers" she said stretching her body.

That made sense, the hysteria the villagers had when seeing a mage was fresh in my mind.

"Which begs the question why you are so different, why arn't you scared of me boy"?

"I am... I'm just more hungry than scared" I said stuffing my mouth again.

"Can you tell me how that well works" I asked thinking about the water pouring out of the air

"Not until I get my supplies, but I can tell you that it is clean water and you are welcome to it, just don't squander it".

I nodded, I was set on leaving for the Association but before I left I wanted to know how that worked.

I already made up my mind, what she can teach me here is limited and what I wanted to find out involved getting my hands on any any information about spirits and souls.

In the meantime extending my lifespan is just as important.

"If you add the use of a forge along with some ore I am willing to agree to your terms about educating the people of Luca".

She shrugged, "I don't mind at all".

I spent the rest of the time eating and drinking getting up when I was done and walking back to where I slept.

Ava was awake and inside a bottle tied around my neck.

She moaned as the spicy flavors are still in my mouth, 'It's so much better than a memory' she said.

'Show me' and she did, the taste for her was something earth shatteringly delicious.

It was so good I almost missed the figure coming up behind me.

Almost.