Chapter 259: There Was an Attempt

Chapter 259: There Was an Attempt

We travelled back to the pond we had stopped at to regroup and assess the situation.

How are you going to get good enough to beat him? asked Maurice, a little concerned that his girlfriend was about to get married off to someone with a much better resume than him.

He didnt give us a time limit, did he? I said. You never know, I might be a quick study. Depends how good a teacher the old geezer is.

You want them to wait in there while you spend the next three weeks cultivating your skills in a cave somewhere? He was starting to get a bit shirty, which was more to do with his concerns for Claire than any genuine animosity towards me. We were in the same boat and we both knew there was no option other than to learn how to sail it.

Three weeks, though, was somewhat optimistic.

I dont know how long itll take. Or even if its possible. But its bought us some time.

Dudley started twitching, which was an indication that he was gearing up to say something he had no confidence in. Im not really comfortable with the idea of Flossie being all by herself.

She isnt, shes got the other two with her. Theyll be fine for a bit. Neither of them seemed to be comforted by my words. This was their idea, you know?

They didnt ask you to challenge a god to a wizards duel, said Maurice. There was a definite hint of blame in his voice. And it wasnt aimed at the girls (where it belonged).

They didnt ask at all. Two could play the blame game. If they come up with a plan that only involved them, then youd have a point. But they dragged us into it. You cant just point the way and expect others to take care of the rest. We dont work that way. If I have to do this, then Ill do it my way.

Arent you just pissed off with them giving the orders? said Maurice. He had to be really upset to say something that dumb.

No. I dont even know what their orders are. If I did, I could decide to follow them on merit. Or not. But throwing us in like this was not their finest moment. So well be going with my version. Yolo 2.0.

And what if you cant upgrade your magic? asked Maurice.Updated from novelb(i)n.c(o)m

Well deal with that when its an issue. I turned to the Elder. How long do you think it would take to get me to a decent level?

The Elder stared at me with a blank face, which actually said a lot. None of it good.

Three lifetimes would not be long enough.

I picked up what he taught me. I pointed at Nabbo who was watching with a sloppy grin on his face. He, at least, wasnt upset. I was tempted to cadge an eighth off him and take an early lunch break. Only took me a few days. I was rounding down.

Yes, Im sure it was a sterling education, said the Elder witheringly. Nabbo didnt seem to mind, the grin remained just as sloppy. A teenth would do, just to take the edge off.

Can we just try? Its as much for your people as mine. He isnt the deity you think he is.

The Elder closed his large, bulbous eyes and nodded. I will do as much as I can, but there is no shortcut to mastering the magic only few have access to, and they are trained from a young age.

Im not as old as I look, I said. My healing magic tends to dry my skin.

You can heal as well as create fire? He sounded surprised. Maybe this was the sign hed been looking for, the prodigy who could dual wield.

Yes!

Then theres even less chance. The more disciplines you invest your energy in, the weaker your source.

Thats for your people, I said, sounding quite convincing, I thought. Im a Visitor. Normal rules dont apply.

You dont have a strong enough base. You need to have something you care about. You dont have that, do you? Something you feel belongs to you and only you? Thats yours and that youd never give up?

So I have to be an egomaniac? Make everything about me and dont give a shit about anyone else?

Yes. All powerful men, magicians or otherwise, are that way. It is how great accomplishments are achieved.

He wasnt wrong. Leaders, businessmen, stars of entertainment, they were all fucking awful people. It only helped them reach the top quicker.

It was getting dark on the fifth day when a light blue wisp appeared in my palm. I pushed down my excitement in case it broke my concentration and watched the flame dance. It was very faint and probably only visible because of the gloom of dusk.

I still didnt have a strong base, as the Elder called it, but I had used every other technique he had showed me, fighting through the frustration and desire to give up. The flame lasted a few seconds and then faded away, but I could still feel it. Its warmth was more than the soft glow I was used to. I couldnt help but get my hopes up. Dudley was sitting with his back to a nearby tree, watching me with his sharp eyes.

Did you see it? I asked without looking up.

He nodded.

I turned my hand from palm up to palm out, facing him. I pushed the warmth towards him.

His face tilted back a bit. Oh, thats quite pleasant.

His response was irritating. I was going for something more than pleasant. Not that I wanted to hurt him, and I could have healed him if I had.

Ow, said Dudley, flinching to get his head out of the line of fire. That hurt.

My hand had suddenly tingled when I got annoyed. It wasnt anger, nothing that intense, but it had come from deep within me. Perhaps my source of power was something I could produce in large, sustained amounts after all.

I plucked a stalk of grass out of the ground. It was green and moist, the kind of healthy young shoot my flames couldnt ignite. I placed it on my palm and worked up a flame. The grass didnt seem to mind the flame flickering around it. The flame went out.

My hand felt warmer, but not by much. I focused my mind on how Jenny and the others had forced me into this position when everything had been going so well. The stalk glowed, turned orange and then dissolved. It didnt catch fire, there was no burning smell. A line of ash was all that remained.

How useful would that be? Not exactly a fireball. Still, it showed I was capable of growth, even if it was very little, very slowly.

The One True God wouldnt be too concerned. But then, he wasnt the one I was planning on challenging. Not yet, anyway.

I practised some more, getting better at killing innocent young grasses. The fresher and juicier, the better. It was strange how the heat disintegrated them so completely.

Once I felt I had it down so I could reproduce it easily, I got up and went over to a small group of trees. I had been at it all night and it would soon be dawn. Everyone else had gone to sleep.

I kicked one of the trees. Hey. Wake up. There was no response. Do I need to get an axe?

A pair of eyes opened. Do not threaten us. We are one under the soil. You can always join us.

Big talk from the One True Gods pet guardian. Youve been here the longest, havent you? Youve seen it all before. Knew what he was planning.

The eyes blinked slowly.

So, its time for you to change sides.

Why would we do that?

The sky was getting lighter and the suns first rays would soon be here. I lifted my hand and pointed at a branch. See that leaf? I held up my palm and the leaf glowed orange and vanished. The twig attached to it did the same. I could run the heat from one link to the next. It was so pleasing to do, even though I was holding a litany of irritations in my mind as I did it, I almost forgot the reason for the display.

Stop!

I closed my palm and burnt my fingertips. I swallowed the yell in my throat.

If you burn me down, you will only burn yourself.

I can heal. I showed the tree my red palm and soothed it away with my other hand.

The trees branches swayed and vines shifted around as it prepared to attack me.

Youll just be sending more fuel towards me.

The vine settled down. What do you want?

My irritation with myself and Jenny and the whole world faded away. I want you to help me kill a god.