The Lonely Thoughts of a Snail in Soil

Hints at the Future

Chapter 6: Hints at the Future

Magic in the realm of the Hidden is determined by two primary attributes: how clever you are and the strength of your will. Nothing else matters.

--Excerpt from 'The Guide to the Realm of the Hidden.'

Lilly

Lilly couldn't believe it. They did it! They found their couch! True, he was a necromancer, and already promised to work them to the bone. But it doesn't matter anymore. Their travels paid off. Their stories, and emotions, and heart, all got them the last remaining piece in order to get into Denver Academy High. Now her mother wouldn't look away from her again.

    Yet she and her friends were now standing outside, a hundred feet away from the house, while the sun went down off in the distance. Trees and brush surrounded them, blocking off the sky and making their surroundings even darker. She was wondering what they were doing as the Necromancer rolled his shoulders, sighing like he hadn't done this in a while.

    "I gotta see what I'm working with. So, before your real training begins at the academy, we're going to do a little sparring."

    He rolled up his white sleeves, revealing many black tattoos written across his arms. Lilly didn't recognize many of them - they appeared to be necromancer symbols - but a few she did. One, it was a combination of a few different arcane symbols consisting of small triangles and circles, being connected by arcane words, and all so small that it barely took up an inch of space, that was a shield generator. Most Hidden could create magic shields to use as defense. The problem with that though is it took away from your concentration and magic, making you open to other attacks. A shield on your arm was smart, as it meant your focus could be turned to different things or opponents.

    Lilly very much wanted to see more of those tattoos. And she very much wanted to meet who made them.

    She'd ask some other time.

    "Wait, you want us to spar with you?" Hannah asked. "Just like, come at you and try to hit you?"

    "Yeah. Exactly that." He placed his hands on his hips. "As your coach, I'll need to come up with a training plan. Presumably, I've got a few months to do it. So, I need to see what you've got. Now, young ones, come at me. Don't hold back."

    Didn't your husband say that to you?

    Whatever. If he doesn't want us to hold back, then I'll bring everything I got.

    Hannah gave each of them a slow nod. She gathered her magic first, but it was Bill that decided to move first. He ran forward, shifting into his goat form, aiming his sharp horns at the necromancer.

    Ditto didn't even flinch. He literally grabbed Bill by the head and threw him, at least fifty feet. Lilly knew her friend would be fine, but that was something she wasn't expecting. Gritting her teeth, Lilly glanced down at the tattoo on her own wrist. It was the arcane symbol for shock, one simple bolt with a circle. With it she could harness her magic.

    Sprouting her wings, she moved left, using her wings to give her an extra push. The Necromancer slowly followed, watching her to see what she would do. Keep him expecting. Make him hesitate. Make him lose focus.

    She lifted her right hand, and made a finger gun, shooting five bolts of lighting while still moving in a circle. The air crackled as the bolts fired. This would have to do something at the very least.

    The Necromancer, with a hand of black fire, stopped her magic as though they were embers. Giving her a satisfying grin, he said, "Electricity. But right now just in its infancy. Please tell me you can shoot more than sparks."