The Unbidden: A Nocuous World (3) (Long Parts)

Chapter 5 (Part 1)

The first couple days after we got back, I found myself unable to really sleep much. It felt like we were going to get attacked at some point, but that time never came. When my body finally calmed down, I passed out for at least a few days, only getting up to eat some fruits and drink some water Yol'Vaein graciously procured at some point.

Feeling my leaf bed again was truly like heaven. Apparently Rosalise replaced the leaves every week after the first month I was gone just in case I came back earlier. Yol'vaein also told me that Tristan practiced his magic every bit of free time he got. All that time apart made them both eager to show me the many new things they'd learned, but they were keen enough to see how exhausted I was.

After finally being back for a couple weeks, I felt a bit more adapted to my home once again. Felt and Liliana had their own leaf-bed that Tristan and Rosalise made at Yol'Vaein's direction. It actually looked better than mine, not that I cared too much.

"..." I furrowed my brows while staring at my bed in thought.

"Something wrong?" Felt asked, approaching from behind.

I didn't turn to look. I was focused.

"Maybe I do care a little," the idle remark escaped my lips.

Felt emitted a low 'hm?' as he reached my side.

His echoed footsteps were drowned out by the sounds – and light shaking of the ground – as Tristan, Rosalise, and Hargen played. Their laughter echoed even more heavily against the walls inside, but it wasn't too loud that we couldn't converse.

"Yeah, I think I'll do it," I reaffirmed aloud.

"Do what?"

Without answering, I rose my hands, palms up, parallel to my side. The leaves within my bed lifted in a breeze strong enough to pull some of the hot air from outside in. I pushed them just behind the bed and reached out, touching the frame with a few fingers.

As I ran my fingers along the roughly cut wood, I imagined the frame taking a new, more regal shape. Yet, nothing happened. A sigh of annoyance left me.

"How do I transform stuff again?" I clicked my tongue.

"You mean the actual incantation?" Felt's arms were crossed, and one brow was raised in curiosity when I glanced in his direction.

"Yeah. The words you have to say."

I glanced in his direction once more, only to be greeted with a slight smirk.

"I did not think you of all people would forget how to cast magic."

"It's been a bit of a rough year," I chuckled, wiping away the beads of sweat forming on my forehead.

If there was one thing above all others that I missed right now, it was my damned robe. I'd almost forgotten what it was like to even have it on, so I couldn't help but grimace when I remembered it. That piece of clothing kept me the most comfortable man in the world.

My eyes snapped to Felt as he picked up a loose stone. The light from outside backlit him a little as my eyes started to adjust to the bright cave entrance.

"mutatio en ye'voli petram ul'trove figura altaris mortra hasta caput," purple mist appeared around the rock, closing in and compressing it into the shape of a spearhead.

"That doesn't sound like the same incantation I used with Hargen," I pursed my cheek.

"Because it is not."

"What are the differences?"

"Everything, depending on the spell you are trying to cast. Though, I suppose not much for this specific magic," he tossed the spearhead away lazily.