The Unconventional Macy Gray

~2~ Anti What Now?

In any scientific experiment, a scientist must account for the unknown variables which might affect the results. People like me, an unknown variable, had put myself in the midst of an unknown situation and caused an unexpected ruckus. How did that translate to a successful experiment? It didn't. The collapsing tunnels amounted to a failed experiment all because I didn't know how to use my magic properly.

It didn't matter in the long run. What's done was done. The important thing was catching up to Grendel who sped back home with a pace my four feet eleven frame couldn't keep up. How can one gargantuan old man move so fast? He must weigh a ton and a half yet he outpaced me. 

"Slow down, Grendel!"

"Run faster Macy!"

Dust and debris followed us into the tunnels, filling them with a haze that made lose sight of Grendel. I covered my mouth with the sleeve of my shirt, coughing. I couldn't see a thing. My eyes blurred as the fine dust got into my eyes regardless of my glasses. Around the next curve, a gnarled hand tugged me aside. The alcove he shoved me in offered protection until the dust settled leaving a thick layer behind.

"We must go." He led the way back to his home at a much slower pace. We waded through the dust to the stairs, which were also covered with it. Inside his home, we shook the dust out of our clothes and hair.

"What the hell, Grendel? The whole cavern nearly fell on us."

Grendel studied me carefully. He appeared to be deep in thought. I fully expected him to dispense some wise answer but what he said, floored me. "You must leave at once."

"What?"

"Go home. If Mordok learns what you are, he will kill you."

"Just you wait a minute," I said. I hung on to the table for support, restoring oxygen in my lungs. "If he learns what I am? What do you mean by that?"

"Go home," He repeated in an urgent tone. "There's nothing for you here."

"You were the one who sent for me. Told me I had to learn how to use my magic."

"I was wrong. You must go."

"I just got here!" I screeched, unable to maintain the center of calm I reserved for my experiments. Well, hell, this was an experiment too. I should treat it as such, until circumstances dictated otherwise. "I'm not going anywhere until you explain." We had reached an impasse. I folded my arms across my chest and stood there, not budging an inch. "Tell me."

"You must go," said, the inscrutable, immovable, irascible old man.

I sat down and crossed my legs. I took out my phone and began typing my findings on an app where I logged all my notes until I could download them on my laptop. "I'm still not going."

"You are as stubborn as your mother."

"We established that already. Tell me."

He exhaled a loud sigh. "Your magic is different. Nothing like I have ever seen before."

"How?"

"I cannot explain it. Your magic is powerful, yes, but it seems to give off a different type of energy. Nothing like my magic. A kind of anti-magic."

"Anti-magic?"

Grendel heaved a heavy sigh. "Eons ago before time began its march across the ages, our two worlds existed as one. Human and Alluvian. Magic was used as easily as one took a breath."

"So, what happened?"

"There were some who began to be born with a magic that acted the opposite of magic. It was discovered when the two opposing properties came into contact with each other, anti-magic rendered magic null and void. Fear swept through Alluvia, the Goddess herself had gifted us with magic. It was feared within a generation there would be none left. It was decided by the Council of Elder Magicians that those who had anti-magic should be killed. A great War ensued and soon our realm was split into two. Human and Alluvian. Those with anti-magic abilities resided in the human realm while those on the right side of magic stayed in Alluvia. A barrier was created by all Alluvians to prevent either side from crossing."