Multiverse of Magic & Mistakes (Completed)

1.1.7 Chapter 7

Bath, UK, Earth, June 2019.

Rho arrived at Henrietta Park at 8.45 am and nervously glanced around the empty entrance area. In the 3 or so hours since discovering the Fourth Rune and message, he had anxiously skimmed through his notes and knowledge from Verdyn. It was unheard of for the person being tested to calculate the Fourth Rune of their own accord and to try and contact the person leaving the Rune.

For the next step, Rho was supposed to identify the target, approach them, explain the Runes, then see what they concluded. This person, whoever they were, appeared had reached the conclusion all on their own. What would they be like?

Rho did not have to wait long. At 8.55 am a young woman stepped through the park entrance. She wore a knee-length light blue summer dress, with black sandals and carried a small purple bag. Sunglasses were rested upon the top of her head, and her long black hair fell in loose waves down her back.

It was the girl he had seen taking the photos of the Third Rune outside of the bank. Of course. Who else would it be? As she headed over to him, Rho realised he had also seen this girl in several photos from Clara Greene's fateful party, grinning, and hugging others in the group. She looked even cuter here in person than in the photos he thought brashly, before mentally admonishing himself for that thought. Business only. He had lots of things he needed to inform the girl about, and it must be done in the right way, in order to successfully complete his mission.

"Hi," said the girl.

"Hi" Rho replied nervously.

"So, you got my message?"

"So, you got mine!"

"Obviously. So, what do the symbols mean?" she asked eagerly.

Rho smiled, "Let's take a seat, I have much to tell you." He gestured towards an empty bench among the trees and they sat down. "Firstly, what's your name?"

"Violet, but just Vi is fine. What's yours?"

"Rhonan, but please just call me Rho" he mirrored.

Violet laughed mirthlessly. "So, Rho, were you leaving those symbols as messages for me? Am I the only one that can see them? What does it all mean? And what happened to that vase?"

"Slow down, give me a chance!" Rho paused to look at the girl sat next to him. She was twirling a piece of hair around her fingers, in what must be a nervous habit, as she eagerly awaited his answers. This was harder than he had anticipated. Where should he start? Rho thought back to his lessons with Master Reynold, but none of that standard explanations he had learned seemed quite right. He decided to start with the basics and hoped that he would not overwhelm Vi.

"Before we get on to the Runes, the first thing you should know is that I am not from here, I come from a place very far away." He said.

"What like America!?" blurted Vi.

"No, nothing like America. I come from the land of Verdyn, it's a beautiful green place full of vast forests and open meadows. In the centre is the City of Verdyn, and in the centre of the City is the Mages College of Verdyn, where I live and study." Rho paused, whilst Vi nodded for him to continue. "I am an Advanced level Mage, that's the third level in our ranks. I am a Mage and magic is real, you just need to be in the right location."

He paused to allow that revelation to sink in.

"You're not shitting me, are you? Magic really is real?" asked Vi incredulously.

Rho glanced around them. The park had only just opened, so was still quiet, and their bench was secluded, hidden in the trees. Just this once, he thought, he was going to break the rules and perform a subtle piece of magic in public. Something simple and small that would not require much power. He reached into his bag, pulled out his nearly full water flask and held it out to Vi.