Sanctum and Teleportation
"You two go inside with Araval. I need to speak with my son privately, if you don't mind." Lillian asks as she extends her arm for Kyra and Garrick to enter the Sanctum.
Garrick looks sceptical but moves into the room with Kyra as the archway slowly fills from the bottom with dust, turning back into stone, becoming smooth and undetectable as a door.
Meanwhile, Lillian walks with Meetlemire through the halls.
"Have you thought about our discussion over these last two days?" She asks.
"Yeah. I should move my family here. It'll take a while to get back to them safely and then back to Volmyr again." Meetle says anxiously.
"Leave it to me. You may be stubborn and not wish your parents' assistance using our teleportation magic, but I refuse to allow your family to travel dangerous roads. I will begin the ritual." Lillian commands.
"Are you sure? It's so expensive to do." Meetle timidly asks.
"Any price is nothing compared to family safety. You think about how you'll explain your injuries to them." Lillian speaks with love about her son's family but also with seriousness about his injuries.
"I think she'll ban me from leaving the house." Meetle chuckles worryingly.
"I think so too; she's clever. You should learn magic again, Lalrin. Even if you oppose it, it's valuable for safety against the rabble that plagues the roads." Lillian coaxes.
"I know. On the way here, I decided to take up studying magic." Meetle says.
Lillian beams with joy. "Good, take this book and read it closely. It'll do you good."
Meetle grabs and holds the book that is half the size of him with difficulty.
"Uhh..this'll take a while to get through." Meetle worryingly chuckles.
"Read it carefully until you can perform it flawlessly; this is the most crucial spell you'll ever know." Lillian asserts.
Lillian kisses Meetle on the forehead and takes her leave.
Meetle walks back to the mural and places his hand on it, saying the phrase 'Oskal', but nothing happens.
"Uhh, open up? Please?" Meetle asks nicely to the wall.
Meetle runs his hand along the wall, trying to feel a button to open the door, but nothing. Looking up and down the empty hallway provides no benefit either.
"Uhhh, how am I meant to get in? Dad!" Meetle shouts and bangs on the mural, but nothing happens.
Meetle slumps down in a sulk beside the mural and opens the book. It reads 'Apparating Limbs: Magic Holds Us Together'. Meetle looks at his stump and then back at the book.
Back with Garrick, Kyra and Araval inside the Sanctum.
"Here is where you'll stay. Of course, you can leave whenever you like, but this is where you'll train and learn how to control and utilise your magic correctly. I hope you can both read because it is fundamental to understanding magic. This room is considered the reading room or the central chamber. Any variety of books is available to learn from, well, almost any. I've prided myself on gathering what I have, but even some are too elusive for me. To your left is your sleeping space, Garrick and to the right is yours, Kyra. Ahead of you is the training area. If you join me, I'll show you what's in store." Araval talks with confidence and authority.
They walk towards the front room.
"Quite the effort to keep this ticking time bomb off the streets." Kyra raises her eyebrow, looking at Garrick.
"Moreland shoulda' finished the job." Garrick mumbles.
"HEY, I HEARD THAT!" Kyra snaps back.
Entering the training area, it expands wide, with a large sandy fighting area in the middle, a training dummy set up in the centre, and a row of weaponry at the other.
"Some amount of weapons for a mage." Garrick ponders out loud.
"If one cannot cast, they should be equipped with the knowledge of hand-to-hand combat. Here, you will practice and test all the weapons and find the one that suits you best. But magic comes first. Come with me, and I'll guide you both to your first book.
"I don't use magic." Kyra bluntly states.
"You know magic?" Garrick curiously asks.
"I used to, but I don't anymore." Kyra quickly voices, almost trying to take the focus away from herself.
"Someone who can't control his magic and someone who refuses to use theirs...what a pair you make. However, you don't 'forget' magic; it's always there, just waiting to be unleashed. Now, both of you come with me." Araval states as he dismisses Kyra's objections.
"No." Kyra replies with a cold, emotionless face.
"Very well, I can't force you. You can stay here. Garrick, please come with me; I have a book to get you started.
Garrick looks back at Kyra, sulking before carrying on.
In the main chamber, Araval uses magic to float a book from the shelf to his hand and gives it to Garrick. The book reads 'Magical Basics: Mana and How To Use It'.
"This seems a little...-" Garrick looks at the book with boredom, but Araval interjects.
"Basic? It may seem insignificant, but learning even a simple spell like this teaches fundamentals that will translate into higher-tier magic. Trust me, and finish the book, it will become clear." Araval reassures.
"Okay, you're the mage here." Garrick shrugs as he flicks through the book.
"I appreciate your understanding. I need to take my leave, but remember if you wish to exit this place, then channel your magic and use the chant on the wall, and the door will appear." Araval voices.
"Channel the magic I can't control? You sure I won't destroy the wall?" Garrick says with a sarcastic tone but also with a hint of seriousness.
"Far from it, you'll be fine. Try to convince your friend to learn magic, too; I can tell she has a knack for it." Araval adds.
Araval takes his leave from the Sanctum. He sees Meetle twenty feet from the door reading, who notices the door open, springs up, and tries to rush the doorway, but it closes before he can reach it.
"Dang it! I've been trying to get in for ages!" Meetle disappointingly says as he hits the wall in frustration.
"Keep trying. Your mother is an intelligent woman; she knows what she's doing." Araval smirks as he walks away.
"Yeah, yeah, I'll stick with it." Meetle waves Araval away.
Araval continues walking to Lillian, who is in a dimly candle-lit room preparing a sigil.
"Their first day has officially begun. What do you require of me?" Araval attentively queries.
"I'm setting up a teleportation circle to bring Lalrin's wife, Jessolyn and his daughter, Symeera, here. I need you to work your charm at the Academy and see what information you can drag up around 'Jarathus', 'Xzeralaki', and 'Primordial Artefacts'."
"Xzeralaki? And Primordial Artefacts? I don't like this one bit. This situation is quickly spiralling into something we may not be able to control." Perturbed, Araval nervously rubs his beard.
"Just focus on getting that information for now. Any information is better than where we're currently at." Lillian states.
"I'll get right on it." Araval decides not to push the matter as his wife, Lillian, is stressed and worried about this situation, so he must be supportive and helpful, not combative.
"Thank you, dear." Lillian smiles as Araval smiles back before leaving.
Hours have passed at the Sanctum entrance, and Meetle is still reading his book. One page reads: 'One major benefit to Apparating a limb for oneself is that due to the nature of funnelling mana to maintain the shape and function, it becomes the arcane focus for oneself. So, if one is unfortunate to lose their limb, this is an excellent way to turn it into a positive that greatly benefits the user.'
"Huh, that's interesting. Let's give this a try, then."
Meetle stands up and reads from another page titled 'Apparation in action'. It speaks of how to summon an 'apparating limb' or a 'magic arm'; both are interchangeably used in the book. Which sounds easy on paper, but correctly channelling the right amount of magic is difficult for someone. Standing with his arm stump extended, he stares at it, focusing intently on it. Sweat drips down his forehead as he attempts to channel the magic into his missing arm. Meetle Shakes with strain as a blue outline forms down his arm in a stuttering fashion until, eventually, his arm appears, a copy of his working arm, just blue and transparent as it falters slightly before Meetle focuses more intently, keeping control.
He places his apparition hand on the door and says, ' Oskal'—the vines of the mural twist in the archway like before. The redwood leaves sparkle, and the field starts swaying in the wind as the doorway opens for Meetle. A massive grin spans his face.
"YES!! This is incredible!" Meetle can barely contain his excitement as he squeals in joy, his limb stuttering and fading as he loses concentration. He quickly grabs his book and runs into the Sanctum as the door disappears behind him. Meetle can see Garrick sitting in a chair by the bookcases, clearly struggling with his task.
End chapter