Darsidian Myths, A Promise Heard

Chapter 23

"So you call these lights portals?" asked Jayden as he studied one of the blue hazes hanging in the air.

"Yes," answered Eldred. "Ever since our incident in Borderland I've been working on teleporting objects to other locations. However I haven't met much success in my work."

Today was another bright summer day at Haven. Eldred had temporarily halted his student's training for the time being so his pupil could assist with the portals. Meanwhile Bastian was off meeting with the other champions while Rufus and Lauren were guarding the entrance to the street.

"Could these portals transport people?" asked Jayden.

"Hopefully," replied Eldred as he scrutinized the two portals in front of him. "That's one of the reasons I created them. I only wish I mastered this skill sooner. If I had perhaps your brother wouldn't have been taken by Elincia in Borderland."

Eldred was right in his assumption, at least that's what Jayden thought. If he had teleported to Haven with his brother then they would never have been forced to confront Elincia. If that never happened Gareth wouldn't have been captured. Everything would be different. As far as Jayden could tell everything would have turned out for the better.

"You may be right," said Jayden, "but how were you supposed to know we would need the portals? The events in Borderland happened so fast I barely had time to grasp what was happening around me."

"I wish I could agree with you," began Eldred, "but I should have been ready for the events that transpired in Borderland." The wizard glared at the clouds of light before him. "If only these portals weren't so difficult to master!"

Jayden started tossing a rock repeatedly in his hand. "What's so hard about controlling these things anyway? I've never seen you struggle with magic before."

"You may not sense it, but I'm exhausting an abnormal amount of power just to keep these things intact. In fact I may not be using enough power to stabilize them."

Jayden stopped tossing the rock in his hand. "Not enough?" he said in disbelief. "If you can't do this I don't think anyone can."

"Unfortunately Sable has already mastered this skill," said Eldred bitterly. The wizard pointed to one of the portals. "Toss the rock into that portal."

Jayden complied and threw the stone in his hand into the cloud of light. When the rock made contact there was a blinding flash of blue. Jayden and Eldred watched the other portal eagerly, expecting the object to reappear. But like many previous attempts, the rock never emerged.

"That makes seven," said Jayden halfheartedly. "Where are those rocks going? Are they simply disappearing from existence?"

Eldred stared at the portals carefully. "Hmm...I don't know. Why don't you jump in and find out?"

Jayden held up his hands yieldingly. "No thank you, I rather not vanish into oblivion."

Eldred fought back a smile. "Let's try again then."

Jayden levitated a second stone off the ground with Vesper. "All right," he said tiredly.

Once again he sent another rock flying into a portal. Like every other attempt there was a flash, but to his surprise the rock reappeared from the other haze of light. It sailed through the air for a moment before landing on the ground.

"It worked," said Jayden. "Why did it work this time?"

"It worked because I poured more magic into the portals," answered Eldred.