A Warrior through and through

Mana and Bread

I walked out of my room with a renewed resolve. My mind ached for Tor's death while my soul longed for my wife's touch. It had been far too long. I walked down the old rickety stairs towards the main library, my bag slung over my shoulder and her sword hanging on my belt. My power flowed freely through my body, yearning for realease as I sensed the ancient magic of the gate fill the air as I clambered down the last few steps. The narrow stairway opened up to the large roon full of shelves. Whisps of blue and green energy floated high above me in a random pattern.

"Hey there," came a soft voice behind me. I turn to see Clementine, donned in her usual black cloth complete with a shadow colored cloak.

"Morning," I tell her with a slight smile on my face. We head in silence towards the small kitchen at the cotner of the library. A sweet smell coated the air as we got closer.

"Do you feel the mana?" an excited voice came form the kitchen. Everard suddenly appeared at the door, a huge grin evident on his face. He spreads out his arms and takes a deep breath with his eyes closed. I chuckled, amused by the sight of his youth. It had been a long while since I had seen a genuine joyful facial expression.

"Is Dara downstairs?" Clementine asked Everard as she made her way to the table. A plate was filled with food that Emmy had given me, thankfully still fresh, as expected form a master chef.

"Yes he is. He wanted to prepare the gate alone," he answered as he sat down behind the counter.

"No wonder," Clementine muttered as she took a large piece of bread and bites it whole.

"No wonder what?" I asked as I took a seat next to her. Her gaze turned to meet mine as she swallowed, realization dawning on her face.

"I forgot you can't feel these things. Dara is using his magick," she answered after taking a sip of what smelled like tea.

I nodded and took a bite of a btown loaf of bread. The taste was wonderful and soft, as expected of Emmy's cooking.

"You can't feel master Dara's power?" Everard asked, his face contorted into a shocked expression. He had every right to be shocked. The ability to feel energy was literally the first thing one learns in mage training.

"He can, but if he does the bubble will kill you," Clementine answers on my behalf as her pale fingers trapped the cup in a deadly embrace. It looked almost strange to see her eating and drinking. Her pale skin and delicate features remind one of a sculpture.

"I do not understand," Everard said, his brows furrowed in thought.

"Well, mages feel the mana in the air by surrounding themselves in an invisible and intangible bubble of energy. The size of the energy bubble entirely depends on the level of power the mahe has," Clementine explained as she rolled an apple back and forth on the table. 

"I know this," Everard said, his head cocked to the side.

"Of course you do. Every real mage does it all the time. Well, he can't do it because it'll kill people," she said, pointing at me.

"Your mana can kill people? That means..." Everard's voice disappears as he stares at me with a wide eyed expression.

"It is purer than most," I said as I take a sip of tea, amused by the look on Everard's face. Mana is potent in large amounts. It can kill if a mage is exposed to it. Unfortunately, I had extremely large amounts so I could only feel old magick or magick directed at me.

"I swear each time I climb those stairs I can feel me back getting worse," Dara's coice came from outside the kitchen. A moment later, the man himself shuffled in, rubbing his spine as he winced from time to time. His blue eyes glowed softly, a sign that he used his magick.

"Hello Dara," I say with a soft smile on my face. He looks up at me, confused for a moment before he grins.

"Just the person I was lookin' for. I have news, but eat up first. I need you to take this one with a full stomach."

"Out with it. What did you do?" I immediately asked. I had a strange feeling that it was going to involve someone who vowed to eat my bones Fifteen years ago.

"I talked to the witch. I have a plan," he said.

I didn't like that plan. Not one bit.