We Three Mages (Editing)

Chapter Seven: The Key is a Memory

“D-did we lose h-her?” Nadia asked outside of the East Central Library.

“I think so.” Jared was breathing pretty hard. “Come on, Mari’s going to be waiting on us.” Jared and Nadia headed inside where a very impatient Mari was waiting.

“We were supposed to meet up twenty minutes ago.” She scolded as Nadia and Jared took a seat.

“Sorry, it took us a bit to lose Lieutenant Pain in my ass” Jared complained. “She’s been watching us since she got here.”

“I still can’t believe the school approved of this, giving teacher jobs to Military Police.” Mari said. “It’s ridiculous.”

“And it was probably that Lieutenant’s idea too.” Jared groaned.

“W-well we might as well s-start.” Nadia said as she pulled out several books from her bag.

“Yeah.” Jared agreed. He already had all his research out. The three of them met up after school the day the Lieutenant showed and agreed to research independently and meet up as little as possible. A week has passed and they were ready to show each other what they had found.

“Guess I’ll start.” Mari placed a huge book on the table and opened it up. “The text is pretty much faded, but you can still make out a few words.”

“What did you find?” Jared asked.

“Basically is mentions the Legend as a last resort type thing. That it should only be used if the situation calls for it. I know a friend that knows a way to restore books like this so I’m going to see what they can do with this.” Mari very briefly explained. “There’s some other stuff too, but I can’t be certain until the text is readable again.”

“My turn I suppose.” Jared laid out various different books. “I concentrated my search around Aftemath. There wasn’t much to go on, but I think I know who he is.” Jared opened a book and pointed to a picture. It showed three cloaked figures in a triangular formation. “I think he was one of the three original mages who used the Legend.”

“So you just confirmed what we already suspected?” Mari asked.

“No, not just that.” Jared opened another book. “I also found this!” He pointed a passage. “One of the first versions of the Legend itself.” Nadia started to read it aloud.

 “We Three Magics are not three but One. We Three Magics are not separate but Together. We T-Three Magics will fuse to Become. We Three Magics will be something More. We Three Magics are Lore.” Nadia finished then looked up at Jared. “Jared this is incredible.”

“I know right?” Jared had a huge grin slapped on his face.

“But what does it mean?” Mari asked. His grin was then gone.

“It’s one of the first recorded versions ever of the Legend. Isn’t that enough?” Jared asked honestly.

“It means squat until it proves that we have it.” Mari crossed her arms. “Once we confirm that these books are in fact the Legend then we’ll have something, but until them it’s nothing but a nursery rhyme told to children to chase away nightmares.” She was very blunt about it all.

“T-Then I guess we’ll have to pr-prove it.” Nadia took up Jared’s side.

“But how?” Jared asked a bit unsure of himself now.

“L-Like this.” Nadia laid out a bunch of scrolls and lose leaf paper. “It took me a while to sort this all o-out, but basically, the Legend consists of nothing but ancient magic.”

“Well not to be rude or anything, but that was obvious enough.” Mari slumped her shoulders.

“N-N-Not what I meant!” Nadia raised her voice slightly. “I-I don’t mean the magic we pra-pratice now. I mean o-outdated ma-magic.” Nadia did her best to try to get her point across, but it was a bit difficult through her stutter.