The Merciless Alpha(erotica)

I reviewed what I had learned about this secular magic. “Okay, so if the words are words of one of these ‘languages of power’… why do you need the hand motions?”

Driveal grinned, “Another excellent observation!” He offered me his cane, and I took it. “I want you to swing that cane at me, really focus on swinging that cane at me, but do it without moving.”

I looked at him confused.

“Come now, surely you can replicate the exact mental processes of swinging my cane at me without physical action?” He pushed.

“So, the physical actions trigger mental states and change the way you think about things to make your thoughts compliant to the prescribed mental requirements for the spells?” I observed.

Driveal blinked. “You… you understood that concept quickly.”

“So if you learned how to replicate the thoughts, without the physical actions, the motions would be unnecessary?” I pressed further. “Now, if the actions are unnecessary, simply a tool to channel thoughts, is it possible that the words are unnecessary too? You would just have to convey your meaning to the universe, and maybe everyone being affected… which means that theoretically you could cast spells on yourself silently, without too much difficulty… Am I in the right ballpark?”

Driveal sat blinking for a minute. “I mean… the theory is sound, it would take centuries of study to verify, but it would be theoretically possible… That could… that could change things drastically on a battlefield… if only the target is the only one who could hear spells being cast, that would make interjection much harder and could increase our casters’ effectiveness ten to a hundred fold!”

His eyes narrowed, “You said you had not studied magic before, right? How is it that you made such jumps to advanced reasoning without advanced study?”

I shrugged, “Maybe it’s the way I was raised? Maybe it’s the way my brain works? Who knows.”

“Well, regardless of your theories, the application will be exceedingly difficult. I expect you’ll take quiet some time before you are casting even simple spells, and being able to do these simple spells without actions, let alone audible incantations will be the work of a lifetime.” Driveal said, more to himself than to me, I think.

He shook his head, “Now… forgive me, I’m struggling to concentrate, you’ve given me much to think about. Perhaps my daughter can further your magical education more once you arrive home.”

I rose, “Forgive me if I was a poor guest. It was not my intention to offend.”

Driveal waved a hand dismissively, “No offense was taken, but your theories… intrigue me. I find myself… absorbed in thought. I fear I’d make a poor teacher if our discussion continued. That you could come to such things so quickly…”

I nodded, “If we’re still good, I’ll leave you to your thoughts.”

Tavorwen took my hand and led me from the room, then from his home.

I glanced back with worry. I was sure I was probably breaching elven etiquette left and right, but Tavorwen didn’t seem concerned.

“Come, we should return home. With any luck the paint I requested for your rifle should be there by now, and everyone will be happy to hear Narusil’s good news, especially Narusil!” Tavorwen declared excitedly.

Her excitement was contagious, and I couldn’t help but anticipate the reactions my matrons would have as we hurried home.

It wasn’t too long of a walk home, and we arrived in time to see Lymarith finishing up with a rune, mildly glowing in the texture of the bark. A couple of engraving tools, pouches of powders and a bowl of some kind of paste on a collapsible wooden table at her side. I couldn’t hear the words she spoke as the rune flashed, and disappeared, blending with the bark around it.

She stood and wiped perspiration from her brow.

“Lymarith! How fare the wards?” Tavorwen greeted, as we approached.

The matron tossed her raven black hair out of her peripheral vision and smiled, turning to us. “Ah! Welcome back. I looked over the wards as Creadean asked. A few of the anchor runes are needing some attention, but this was by far the worst off. I’m just finishing its rejuvenation now. With the weakest link so strengthened the wards fare much better. How was your visit?”

“Educational.” Tavorwen assured with a smile, “We have news the whole house will want to hear. Can we help you bring anything in?”

Lymarith cocked her head in curiosity. “Well, if you grab the powdered stag horn, ground deva residue and crushed unicorn hoof clippings, and Master Thomas carries the table, I can handle my tools.”

My ears perked up at the mention of unicorns and I wondered what sorts of beasts these stags and divas were. There was so much I didn’t know. The world held more mysteries to me than a series of encyclopedias back home could hold. Slowly, I was piecing together bits and pieces, but I wondered if even the long lived elves had all the answers about this world.

I picked up the collapsible table, once my matrons had cleared it off. It was made of a heavy hardwood, and while the fine craftsmanship ment it collapsed easily enough, I could see it being a touch heavy for my matron to carry by herself, she probably had to make multiple trips, bringing the table first and the other supplies afterward. I was still strong enough that the weight meant little to me. And I followed as Tavorwen opened the door to our home.

“Oh, welcome home, master!” Diamiutar called glancing from the kitchen, just down the hall. “How was your visit?”

“Learned a lot.” I admitted, looking around.

All of my matrons were about. Creadean had pulled Lymarith aside and the two were chatting about the wards by the sound of it. Heilantu and Narusil were chatting casually about the distribution of cleaning chores. Tavorwen was still by my side.

“Oh, it was great.” I told my curious head matron, “But it did leave me a couple of things to talk to Naruisil about.”

That roused the curiosity of all of my matrons, Narusil more than most. Heilantu sat back, putting their conversation on hold.

I walked over, pulled a chair up next to my young unknowingly pregnant matron, and near her.

“You see, Driveal, said that while going over the lessons that most elves must go over before they learn to cast magic, he would be the elf to talk to, but as I don’t really have time to spend on the ethical nuances of magic, he recommended you to start teaching me the basics of magic.” I explained.

Narusil seemed to perk up at that. “I’d be happy to teach you, Master Thomas.” She lowered her head bashfully, “Might make me feel worth more than just a cleaner around here.”

I smiled, leaned in and kissed her forehead, making her look up in surprise.

“We’ll have to be careful to balance your duties. After all, I can’t have my first matron blessed with a child overworking herself, now can we?”

Narusil smiled for a moment, then she processed exactly what I’d said. Her eyes grew wide and I heard collective gasps around the room. Narusil put one hand over her mouth and the other rested on her womb.

“You mean…?” Narusil verified.

I showed her my sigil. “That is your sigil, thickened and invigorated by the presence of your child.”

Narusil gazed at the proof on my hand, more reliable than any pregnancy test on earth. Then she flung herself on me, her arms wrapping around my neck. I could feel her joy at the news, she held me and happy tears dripped down her cheek.

Diamiutar smiled at me from the kitchen, then went back to her work. The other matrons gathered round to congratulate Narusil on the news.

Once she had settled, a hand remaining happily on her tummy, she wiped the moisture from her face, “I almost feel bad. Here I am, mostly useless… and the first to be so blessed.” Then she shook her head, “But… I’m too happy to feel bad. It’s a dream come true… I get to teach you magic and bear a child… It’s almost too much. Father, he did tell you I was branded a coward, didn’t he? You would have a spineless nixie like me teach you magic?”

I smiled, “I would absolutely have you teach me magic… But what is a nixie?”

Narusil hung her head, “A water spirit, they hide from anything dangerous and try to beguile and… trick weak creatures into the water where they drown the poor victims. They are invoked as an insult to anyone too cowardly to stand up for what they believe in, since nixies seem to care nothing for anyone but themselves.”

I lifted her chin, “Then I never want to hear you address yourself that way again. I’ve seen enough combat to know that even some of the best soldiers struggled with their first combat. Sounds like you didn’t get a chance to see your second before everyone rushed to judgment. The gods led me to you, and I’m sure they had a good reason.”

I really hoped that logic worked here. It was what I was operating on after all.

“Thank you.” She whispered. “I’ll try to be worthy of your faith.”

“I’ll make a grand dinner to celebrate the good news!” Diamiutar called from the kitchen, “If I start now, I can slow roast some banthir for dinner!”

“I won’t keep you longer from your discussion.” I told Narusil. “Let me know when you are ready and we can start my lessons on magic.”Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.

Narusil nodded, and I stood, hitching my rifle back up on my shoulder.

Creadean and Tavorwen came to me.