The Currents of Magic

Chapter Twenty-One

The days turned into weeks, and soon Meyer had spent over a month at Eldrin's Dale. Mostly his routine had not changed since his early days as a tempest, but since beginning his supplemental training with Trant, he spent less time with Ander, Cade and Damian. He still ate meals with them, and sat with them during the Ajah practice sessions, but with his supplemental training sessions meeting three times a week, he was hardly free in the afternoons. Further, each lesson with Trant left him so exhausted that he usually retired straight to his room after dinner, even amidst Ander's fervent protest.

Following his fifth meeting with Trant, he was so drained that he didn't even bother going to dinner. The session had been a particularly long one (the lessons had no fixed duration, instead continuing indefinitely until Trant released him) and by the time Meyer reached the dormitories, the sun had already set. Upon entering his room, he didn't even bother uncovering his glowstone lamp, instead making his way across the shadowy confine and collapsing into bed.

The supplemental training required no physical exertion, and yet the strain on mental stamina seemed to take an even greater toll. Meyer felt tired but not sleepy, worn but not fatigued—neither food, water, stretching nor muscle relaxation providing any relief. Indeed, while there seemed to be no therapy to ameliorate the lassitude following Trant's lessons, at least the mental depletion departed more quickly than any physical exhaustion.

And so Meyer lay in bed, waiting, feeling, recovering. The light of his room faded around him, and his thoughts blurred, his mind hovering in a semi-conscious state... Until suddenly he was staring at the black ceiling. He felt awake, more alive than he had in days.

Meyer rose from his bed and pulled the velvet drape down from the glowstone lamp. The room was bathed in light, and he sat down at his desk, reaching for his green spell book. Opening it to the middle, he began practicing his first-order shrinking and enlarging charms on a small pebble. He stopped. He wanted to do something exciting, to relive the thrill of his early days casting magic. He flipped through the green book looking for an intriguing spell, but then he had a better idea.

Closing the spellbook, Meyer reached for the corner of his desk where the star and skull emblem along with the triple gemmed ring lay inches from the edge, untouched since his first day in the Dale. It was time to see if they were more than mere trinkets. Lifting the tokens, Meyer walked to the foot of his bed, pocketing the star and skull emblem. He would start with the ring. It had already exhibited signs of magicality.

Collecting himself mentally, Meyer brought the ring to his finger, savoring the rush of excitement. He remembered the painful and disorienting sensation of wearing the ring the first time, but he also remembered the wonderment that magic has once awakened in him. It had been too long since he had appreciated the unpredictable awesomeness of the Currents. And this time he knew magic—could channel the Currents freely. Taking a deep breath, Meyer placed the ring on his finger, sliding it over knuckle.

Nothing happened.

He waited, then walked across his room and sat down in the arm chair. He was disappointed, though also relieved that he didn't experience any smothering disorientation and pain. Maybe the strange sensations he had experienced in the High Manof had been no more than an aftereffect of the Trance... Meyer shook his head. There was another way to verify the ring's magicality, or lack thereof. Taking the ring from his finger, he held it out in the palm of his hand, probing with his magical sense.

After his supplemental training, during which he was forbidden to use a Talisman, connecting with the Currents while wearing the enhancing artifact was seamless. Meyer plunged through the void, diving into the kinetic Currents, their ever shifting tessellation enveloping him in their infinitude. But instead of grabbing hold of the power, Meyer spread his awareness... searching... diving... sifting through the non-dimensional space...