Jay's Journey

Chapter 6

It wasn't difficult to lie about the encounter with Madame Midnight, as the forest was clear the very next morning. The fire had faded down into cold ashes, but that was to be expected. After waking up, stretching their legs, and drinking water, that day went as normal.

Thankfully, Madame Midnight didn't visit Jay the next night, or even the night after that. Nevertheless, it was easier to be startled by strange shadows and movement in the periphery.

The passing time and distance transformed the woods more and more. Meadows became more common, and they stretched for several acres. They were filled with perennial wildflowers of all shapes, colors, and sizes. Jay found a special joy in decorating his hair with them, particularly the white and pink ones.

The three were in one of these meadows for their midday stop. The meadow was filled with flora and the air was touched by a breeze. The two were the most common manifestations of magic whenever Jay used it, so he took it as a sign to try and call upon it.

With hands placed deep in the verdant grass, Jay took a deep breath and touched the power of the world.

"Tryna do magic again?" Vayen asked. Jay nodded. He was touching it and grasping it but it flowed through his fingertips like fine sand. As usual, there wasn't any way to manipulate it. It had seemed so effortless during the encounter with Madame Midnight several days prior, but Jay hadn't been thinking about it then. Next time, he had to recall that feeling, to grasp it, to think about what was happening when the power answered its call.

"Trying, unfortunately. It doesn't appear to be working." Zira observed coldly.

"D'ya think it's annoyed at him? Like, what if it's tired of him pokin' at it and ain't answerin' anymore." Vayen proposed.

"Um...I can hear both of you." Jay interjected.

"Do you need to concentrate? Do you think that would help?" Zira wondered.

"Maybe, I'm... not really sure." Jay answered uncertainly.

"Fat chance, Jay's whipped the stuff out in the middle'a battle like twice. He don't need fuckin' quiet concentration or somethin'." Vayen disagreed.

"Jay, what about when we came back to you in the middle of a flowerfield that wasn't there before? What did you do then that worked?" Zira wondered. Jay gulped. It was auspicious the question hadn't been asked before, but he'd never thought of an answer that didn't reveal Madame Midnight's involvement.

"Well uh, I was um, sorta trying things. I decided to throw my mind into the magic and uh, I woke up later so I probably fell asleep. I dunno, I don't think that's reliable." Jay said.

"I'm inclined to agree. Although, currently, there is no easy way to teach you how to use magic." Zira said.

"It's always happened in battle right?" Vayen asked.

"Yes." Jay answered.

"Oh! Then we can fight you 'til you use it!" Vayen said.

"Please don't." Jay begged.

"I agree. Although, simulation of life threatening situations may prove useful." Zira added. Jay shot her a look of betrayal, but was completely ignored.

"So you're agreein' but not." Vayen said.

"I never said that." Zira insisted.

"You just said not to fight Jay then said in fuckin' fancy words it was good!" Vayen said, pointing at Zira.

"What I said doesn't necessarily refer to fighting Jay." Zira deflected.

"Oh right! It's other stuff too. Like, pushin' Jay towards a cliff but not actually throwin' him off!" Vayen realized. Jay rapidly inhaled and buried his face in his hands. What could have gone wrong to land the conversation here?