Marcius remembered Antaigne's teachings, of how his familiar would continue to alter itself, becoming more of an individual, more of an intelligent being within his own mind. Part of him was frightened at the aspect, but mostly he took comfort in it.
There was a certain measure of contentment that comes from having a sympathetic soul to share your life with, someone with whom you can be yourself, where all social pretenses didn't matter.
By the Gods he had missed Faerill.
Alicia clicked her tongue, clearly irritated, and Marcius realized the older wizard had been talking the entire time. "Instructor Dentaige, I'd like to find out what happened on that boat."
The older man shrugged, obviously used to dealing with the female Mage's abrasive personality. He sat on the edge of Marcius's bed and indicated for the woman to take over.
And so Marcius relayed his story, of what he remembered, and Alicia's face was grim by the end of it. "So what you're saying is that you have no idea what got you out of bed and into the water? Sounds like magic to me, and not any low magic either. Enchantments aren't easy to do."
"Alicia," Jared said, interjecting himself, "The important thing is that he's okay."
"No, it isn't. Because we don't know who did this to him, Jared," she said, throwing her hands up in exasperation. She began pacing. "No, we have to find who did this, because we can't be sure if or when they will attack again. Next time you might not be so lucky, Marc."
Marcius felt warmth in his chest, a stirring in the depths. He was surrounded by friends and he had his familiar back. He grinned at Alicia. "It's nice to see you too."
She blinked and then turned bright red, "Sorry," she stammered, "I'm not implying that I'm not happy to see you're safe, but. . . "
That's not exactly fair, Faerril said, sounding put off, she was very worried about you. It is bad when Jared is the voice of reason, but it was so.
"It's alright," Marcius said, trying to contain his laugh. "I understand." And he did, truly. He knew enough about the Mage Lady to understand it was just her way of showing concern.
His familiar seemed to be mollified by the admission, giving the mental equivalent of a huff before curling up tighter. "So, what did you guys do while I was away?" he asked, though Faerill had already shown him everything, he felt that he should allow his friends to tell him directly.
Jared ran a single hand through his blonde hair, letting loose a long breath. "Marc, it was hectic when we lost you, not going to lie. Your familiar was going crazy and we weren't much better. Eventually, and it was Alicia that came up with it, we decided to just head to Aralene, to the Academy. She figured that since your familiar was alive, that meant you were, too. And if you weren't hurt, you'd eventually wind up there."
The blonde man shrugged. "In the end, she was right. We were there when the elven messenger came with the news that you had been captured. Just in time too. Your familiar was getting pretty weak. I wasn't aware that it needed portions of your blood. If it wasn't for that vial that the messenger had on him, I don't want to think what would have happened."
Jared was kind to me, as was Alicia. You have good friends. Without them, I wouldn't be here now.
Marcius nodded, not even wanting to try and process what would happen to him if he lost the familiar that mattered so much. He rubbed the small patch of rough scales under Faerill's chin absently.
"Anyway, Marc," Jared continued, "How are you feeling? Well enough to travel? We've been here too long as is. They were expecting us back over a seven day ago."
Marcius looked around, surrounded by his friends, his familiar on his chest, and found that besides being a little tired, he felt pretty good. "I think so. When do you want to leave?"
"As soon as possible," Alicia chimed in. "We initially gated to the outskirts of the Selenthia forest to get here, since the majority of it is warded against magical intrusion, and whatever isn't is warped by the influx of nether. We won't be porting back, though. We can't risk you, so we'll have to take the long way. I'd like to get started as soon as you're able to."
I missed you. Faerill said, crooning lightly, sending a wave of contentment to Marcius. We must become better, so this never happens again. You are important to me and together we are one. There is nothing we can't accomplish.
Marcius agreed and looked up at Alicia, fire burning in his veins, "I'd like to leave as soon as possible, but there is one stop I must make."
❧ ❧ ❧
"What is this?" Velynere asked, holding up the blackened gem.
"It's what we found at that tower in the Myst." Marcius leaned back in his chair. "I brought it and the amulet back."
"Obviously," the elf said, shrugging as he placed it carefully down on the table.
"Our bargain still stands?"
"Well, I suppose. The gem itself is useless. It has no power now. Now the amulet is another matter. It was difficult to make. I appreciate you bringing it back."
"So, is that a ‘yes'?"
"Aye, I'll honor our bargain. You brought back exactly what you found." Velynere raised an eyebrow, "I hear you go to the Academy now?"
"Yes, Selene and my friends wait outside the gates. I just wanted to get rid of those two things," Marcius said. "It wasn't exactly a pleasant experience."
"I heard little of the tale." The elf smiled, though his eyes were dark, "One day I'll ask you to tell it to me in full. Do you have anything else on your mind?"
Marcius stared at the elf. There were a flood of questions he wanted to ask. Was the elf responsible for the attack outside the tower? How much did he really know? Why did it feel as if Velynere was hiding something? What was it that happened to him in that arena? How could he use magic without his familiar?
But it was the eyes, those pitless traps within that sunken dead face that dispelled any thoughts of asking them. What, really, could the thing in front of him say that would matter in the end? Nothing.
The only place he would find what he sought was now within his grasp. The Academy.
Marcius stood, heading to the door and away from the abomination in front of him. Exposure to Velynere did little to rid the malicious aura the unnatural product of magic exuded. He decided to take the hint his senses were telling him.
"Marcius," Velynere intoned, "Wait a moment."
As Marcius turned around, a flicker of movement caught his attention and he reflexively caught the tiny object the elf had thrown. It was the gem. He looked at Velynere.
"Take it," the elf explained. "At the very least as a souvenir of your time in Selenthia. As a reminder of things lost and gained. Who knows, might be a good fortune charm."
Marcius considered it, and then nodded, tucking the gem in his pouch. He would do just that. It would be a shame to walk away from everything empty handed.
❧ ❧ ❧
"Does he have the catalyst?"
"Aye, now we just have to wait for him to develop."
"I've been waiting for a long time."
"The tear needs time to work. You can wait a little longer."
The sunlight dappled through the leaves above, the tiny trails of pollen swirling about the early morning air. At the edge of the forest, a group of people were gathered.
One had sloppy brown hair and carried himself with the hopeful clumsiness of a person trying to act beyond his age. Next to him, a blonde man slowly continued at a leisurely gait, confidence accompanying every action.
Behind them, two women conversed with the wary touch and feel of predators testing boundaries. The pale one was an elf, the tips of her pointed ears barely revealing themselves through the strands of her wispy blond hair, while the other was the opposite, human and as fiery as her vibrant copper locks.
Bringing up the rear, seemingly amused at the whole thing, was an older man, bald of head and long of beard, who acted like he had all the time in the world. This, most likely, was true in the immediate sense.
"This is the edge of our lands," Selene said as they finally broke through the treeline to the plains beyond. "This is where I leave you. Are you sure you'll be alright beyond? I have heard tales of bandits and such among human settlements and roads."
The three of them looked at each other, sharing a silent understanding. "Well," Alicia said, choosing her words, "There's always the threat of bandits, but we have two wizards. There is little to fear, but thank you for your concern."
The elf nodded, not catching the exchange. "Then I'll take my leave. May Avalene protect and watch over you all."
Her gaze flickered over to Marcius, and she opened her mouth, but decided against it at the last moment. The elf gave a curt nod, turning back and beginning to fade into the forest.
"Marc, what are you doing?" Jared hissed. "Go after her and say something."
Marcius didn't need to be told twice, running after the elf without looking back. He had lost track of her momentarily in the thick foliage. "Wait!" he cried out and it was with no small measure of relief that after a few feet he nearly stumbled into her, apparently waiting for him.
"Thank you for waiting," he said awkwardly, trying to order his thoughts. "I just wanted to talk to you before I left."
Her eyes flicked from him to where his friends were, beyond the curtain of trees and bush. "You waited until the absolute last moment," she said with just a hint of reproach.