MMCYOA: Vaik's Story: Part 6

Not much to say about this part, it's pretty self-contained. The next part is important, you will learn quite a lot about how magic works in this world and you could potentially (depending on the vote result this week) make the most important choice of Vaik's Story to date. So far the story has been moving towards a point, but in the upcoming weeks a choice will split the story into 2 radically different directions. Make sure not to miss it!

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Previous Part: Part 5

Introduction: www.radiorivendell.com/forum/18/3499/

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Vaik's Story: Part 6

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“My name is Vaik.” I said. I decided that I would not lie yet, but I would be very careful in what I said.

“Greetings Vaik, I am Pella Fern.” The girl said with a smile.

The man didn’t smile when he spoke. “Vaik of who?”

I flushed. “Just Vaik.” I told him, deciding to hold my father's name in check just in case this man was a danger. I didn't want my family to be killed like the Killions.

“Very well then, I am the man whose protection you are under.” He said wryly. “While I will never leave any man wounded by the road, now that you are awake and healing, your further protection depends on who and what you are. I will not harbor those of evil.”

I could see in his eyes that he was serious. If he thought I was a criminal, I would have to leave. I knew that trying to rise now would kill me in the current shape I was in.

“I-I had a fight with a wizard.” I finally said.

The man frowned. “You fought with a wizard...” He looked me up and down. “Forgive me if I state that it is unlikely that you would survive such an encounter.”

“I would hardly say he won easily.” Fern commented.

“There’s no strength to his magic Healer, it would be impossible for-”

“But, I didn’t win.” I broke in.

They both turned to stare at me with unsettling gazes.

“To fail and live is even more inconceivable. Tell me what happened.” He said softly.

“I was out watching my shëdons when a strange man appeared...” I began to explain the events of the past few days.

He listened intently and when I described Euless he asked for a great many details. I saw his face get hard so I balked up the courage to ask him if he knew the mad wizard.

“He is not known to me personally.” He gruffly replied. “However, the people he associates with are.”

I continued with my story, but then he stopped me once more when I told him about waking up with the sound of a woman screaming.

“What do you mean you heard someone who wasn't there?” He demanded to know.

I felt suddenly hesitant to explain any deeper. I had never told my family of my odd feelings and I certainly didn't want to tell a complete stranger. In the end though I felt I had to, because the story wouldn't make sense without it. I tried to explain how I thought someone had been in the room but there was no one there, but he cut me off again.

“Are you saying you felt like someone was there you couldn't see?” He asked and I nodded. “Tell me, have you had this happen before or after?”

I started to hesitate again and I saw him nod at my unspoken answer.

“Tell me Vaik, son of nobody, are you a magic user.” He asked, but somehow it felt like more of a statement then a question.

“No, I can't use magic.” I told him.

“Really, I find that hard to believe, for one surviving an encounter with a mad wizard and being able to sense people.” He remarked dryly.

“But I can't use magic!” I said. “I once thought I might have it but-” I cut off at the look on his face.

“What do you mean you think you might have had magic?” He scowled.

“It-it's a long story.” I hedged.

He wasn't having any of that. “Then you will tell me.” He said. “I know many youths who would pretend to have magic, but none foolish enough to try it with a mage. Convince me you are not the greater fool. Who then was your Veneficus?”

“I don't know what that word means.” I said puzzled.

“Then I doubt you are gifted with magic.” He told me with a snort.

Fern touched his arm. “I think he means that he doesn't understand the word.” She said. “Recall that you couldn't guess at his language, it might not be translating correctly.”

“But you speak it.” I was confused.

They both shook their heads. “In fact we do not.” The man told me. “When we found you beside the road you were raving incoherent phrases in your fever. We couldn't understand a word you spoke so I placed a spell on you so we could communicate.” He scowled. “Much as I hate to profess it, my magic in that area is not all that strong, so there will be gaps in its effects.”

I couldn't keep the unease at having a spell cast on me from my face. Fern laughed at the expression.

“It will be alright Vaik.” She assured me. “The spell only effects what you hear and what you say. Later we can cast it into a pendant you can take on and off if you wish.”

“In the meantime allow me to explain through its shortcomings.” The man offered. “Your Veneficus was the wizard who would have sealed you at birth to awaken your magic.”

I shook my head. “There was no wizard.”

“Impossible! Then you have been spinning lies and I have little time for such nonsense. Get him ready to leave camp Pella.” He said angrily, turning away.

“Wait!” I said in desperation as he made to leave. “There was supposed to be a wizard, but he never showed up!”

The man paused with his hand on the tent flap. “I think young Vaik, you should tell me the whole story from the beginning.”

The fear of being cast out of camp overrode any other fear. I had a feeling of stepping over a line into a commitment of trusting these people. I took a deep breath. “I suppose I should start by letting you know who I am. I am from birth Vaik son of Herik, eighth son of an eighth son...” I began.

It took me a good while to tell my tale and I fell back against the cot exhausted after I finished. Both of them stared at me for a long time. Finally the man grunted and leaned forward to stare into my eyes. I felt his gaze burrow somehow into me, as if he could read my thoughts.

“He...speaks truth.” He said, his face going blank as he hid his own thoughts. “He is reseratis .”

Fern's face went white. “How-how is that possible. Surely the High-Mages would've known about him years ago.”

“Think Healer.” He rebuked her gently. “I have never heard the tounge he speaks, I have never seen the way his face looks. I feel that he is from farther away then our High-Mages have authority.”

“What do you mean?” I asked him, nervous from the scared look on Fern's face. “What is a reseratis?”

“You are someone who should not exist.” He said, his face grim. “You are a person in whom exists the possibility of unparreled power.”

Fern looked at him in a way that was somehow a challange. “If you had talked to anyone else it would've been very bad.”

“How so?” I managed through dry lips.

“You would have been killed on the spot.” The man told me.

I supposed you could say those words overwhelmed me, because everything swam and when I opened my eyes again the room was now dark, with the flame from a small saucer lighting the form of Fern as she sat next to my bed. She smiled sadly down at me.

“I'm sorry Vaik. I guess our words came as a shock, exspecially after the trials you have already faced.” She murmmered as she squeezed my hand.

“Why?” Was the only word I could managed, but somehow my tone held the full question.

“Through no fault of your own you are something we fear more then anything else.” She explained.

I opened my mouth to asked another question but she placed a finger over my lips.

“Hush. You are still recovering from being seriously wounded. You must rest and recover.” She said. “Do not worry, you are safe here. We will not harm you.”

Fern reached over and picked up a bowl of a sweet-smelling broth and I was obliged to gingerly sipped it. I wasn't feeling very hungry but I managed to get a bit down before the pains in my stomach forced me to stop. She took the bowl from my hands and snugged the blanket around my form.

“Rest now, your body has much healing to do. If you try to move too much right now you could hurt yourself again. So rest, all will be explained on the morrow.” She said as she rose to leave.

“Wait!” I called as a sudden thought came to me. “May I ask the name of my host?”

Fern smiled queerly. “The mage? We call him Mage Opal. He’s never told anyone his real name, not even me. And I’m his betrothed.”

With that she slipped out, leaving me more scared and confused then when I first woke up. I suspected that there had been a sleep drug in that broth, for I quickly drifted into a deep, dreamless, sleep.

This time when woke up I found myself ravenous and levered myself onto my elbows to see if there was anything nearby to eat. I saw nothing and my stomach protested again.

When I had risen my upper-half had been exposed to the air, which was frigid in a manner odd to the summer weather from home. I rubbed my arms across my chest and shivered. Then I froze stunned. There was still pain, but only a general throb, not the painful numbness caused by the burns. I looked down and beheld my skin was healed and unblemished, if missing the tan it normally retained.

Who was this Fern that she could heal burns like mine and have the skin look untouched? Was this what magic could do? Would I be able to do this someday?

I threw back the blanket and grabbed onto a nearby chair to pull myself to my feet. My legs felt like rotten wood and after a moment I was forced to collapse back onto the cot to recover. I recalled Fern's warning that I was to rest and try not to move, but I did feel a lot better. I was hungry, thirsty, and anxious to get out of the tent and find out where I was, but I knew I had little to no strength. I mulled over whether to try and stagger out and find someone or wait. Surely Fern must check up on me regularly, but it was hard to ignore the hunger pains in my middle.

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The Voices Start to Whisper...

A) Wait and Rest a While More...

B) Try to Leave the Tent...

I know Szczepan, and i know he is an evil, heartless person, and he may be very nasty to Vaik depending on the choice, so i recommend choosing VERY wisely, and i myself shall abstain until i see which way the vote starts to swing.

A.

Hard choice....

I'd say... B)

B - might turn more interesting then A

A, as it is the thing that I would do in his situation...

A.

Pfft. You just wanted to be a tiebreaker Killby.

Posted by Szczepan the RedPfft. You just wanted to be a tiebreaker Killby.

>_> i dont know what your talking about

B

I'mma have to say B.