Shards of Old

With that I was finally left alone in my room.

First, I checked the door. There was no lock on the inside, but there was a small piece of rope, almost a vine, hanging by the doorframe.

-Good enough - I said to myself and tied it to the door handle, effectively locking the door.

I moved the desk and the chair so that I would not be seen instantly if someone was to try and open the door, and sat down.

I pulled out all the papers I had along with the journal from the tree and started copying the parts I found most interesting. I started with the actual "journal" part that I already read. Now I had all the time in the world, so this time I read everything carefully. Sadly, besides the last part, it was pretty boring. No names, just bits and pieces of experiment results, or rather failures. And what was more important, no interesting formulas or incantations. I copied what looked important and shoved back in my bag, along with the journal itself.

During that, I managed to go through the most paper I found. With what I got left I tried remembering some spells that I was working on back before all this and some that would be helpful now. Like, some attack spells.

Until now I resorted to using basic stuff, and even then some of my spells worked a bit differently than expected. If I was to leave the city again and look for that dumb armor, I'd better be prepeared for the eventual encounter with those creatures again. Or maybe something different, who knows. Even in my city, after magic appeared, streets got dangerous, who knows what might happen when you remove police and add uninhabited forest to that equation.

Without my office the process was a bit daunting. First, I had to think of the result of the spell, let's say for example my fire shield. I used it before just because I remembered the work I did very vividly, since it was the last spell I created while I still worked on the elemental magics. The effect was basically a field that burns everything that is in designated radius. Easy. But you always have to add some safety measures, like - in this case - don't burn me or whatever is that the shield is protecting. Usually it is a long and tedious process, but I was one that developed a way of combining the safety measures into one simple word - Nus. It took a lot of time, but I managed to create a spell, or a piece of spell, that was added to almost every spell created afterwards. There was one negative, though - it was too effective. Since it worked with virtually every elemental incantation, I basically removed the need for my job. Anyone could create any elemental spell and slap my safety on, and it would work.

What was interesting though, it also worked here - in this word. Meaning, someone had to discover it as well, which would be hell of a coincidence. Or there was another scenario. Someone else from my world appeared here before, and copied my job.

How am I so sure about that? To answer that I have to explain how spells work, as far as I know.

When you cast a spell, you always use some kind of incantation - the more complicated the spell, the longer it gets. Quite logical, really. But you can bypass that. You can write the whole thing in advance and have it on your person, and when you want to cast the spell, you just have to use the name that you gave for your work. But it has negatives - since what you are making is just a piece of paper, it will get destroyed in the process. You can of course use different materials, so the scroll will survive the process, but that is not easy nor is it cheap. Honestly, I was not sure if that was even possible here, since technology is a foreign concept.

But there is another way, which is more risky and a lot more permanent. If you take a spell prepared in such a way and place it near a place of power, or even better - connect it somehow - you are giving the access to the spell for everyone using mana originating from such a place.

That is exactly how my "safety" was shared with the world.

If all this worked the same way here, I had to dig into the history of this world, and if I was lucky, I would be able to find out how I ended up here. Not that I am complaining, so far my stay was more than entertaining. Okay, maybe a bit too entertaining at times. Well, maybe I was complaining, but just a tiny bit.

I spent most of the night, I think trying to recreate some spells. First, the flight spell.

Since it started failing on me I didn't expect much of a result, but I wrote everything I could anway. I was not stupid enough to try and experiment inside with that magic, so the theory had to suffice for now.

Second was the fire spell I used before, the so-called flamethrower. Since I managed to successfully cast it a few times, although with a few alterations, I thought I would try and make it as good as it gets, and maybe even make it universal to other elements. What I thought would be an easy process started to look more and more complicated. It was kind of my fault, since I started expanding on the spell out of sheer habit, forgetting that I do not have infinite resources. About half way, maybe not even, I ran out of paper and was left with two unfinished spells.

As I was in the process of cursing myself, I heard someone knocking on my door.

-Yes?

-It's me. I have stuff you wanted.

Quickly putting all my notes aside I opened the door, letting Bert in.

He carried a rather large bag with him and as soon as I closed the door, he started pulling its contents out.

-First, here - he handed me a leather bound book. It was a bit smaller than that the kid had, but still pretty thick and heavy. - It's the best they had on hand. The ink is sealed and the quill is brand new.

-The hell? Quill? Don’t you… Nevermind. It will have to do.

-And second, set of clothes and some protection.

He started pulling out clothes and pieces of leather armor.

-I think I will be fine…

-I know it is not the best quality, but that is all I can get right now.

-Not what I meant…

I was not very keen on wearing some weird armor, but he insisted anyway, so I had to indulge him.

The set was surprisingly well made. It was pretty plain, no inscriptions, markings or anything, but I felt weird and standing out anyway. The dark brown leather was sewn together with thin green fibers, fitting for the town I was in, and it was at least comfortable. On top of that, he brought me a coat, dark green, with a large hood, that, on the other hand, I was happy to wear, since it covered the armor.

-You ready? - I heard from outside the room, just as I was trying to stuff my old clothes into my bag.

-Yeah - I replied, giving up and instead put everything back in the bag he brought the stuff in.

Bert entered the room again and looked me over.

-I know it might not be to your taste, but that is all I can provide at this moment.

-Yeah, yeah. So, what now?

-I have contacted the men that guided us and one of them accepted my proposition. You are to meet with them in an hour by the entrance of the city we arrived through and he will guide you to their camp, from where you are to guide him to the place where we hid the armor. Transport will be provided.

-Already? You work fast…

-Fast? It's dark already.

-Oh. I guess I got caught up in my work…

-I am sorry that I interrupted, then.

-No matter. Give me a second to pack myself.

-Of course.

He left the room again, taking his bag with him, and so I started sorting my notes. I took the book and stuffed all the papers inside. For a second I wondered what I should do with the ink, and almost called him back to give me my old torn clothes back. Then I remembered that I still had a few scraps of material that I wrapped the old crystals from the site of the accident, so I checked If I had some spares.

That is when I noticed something wrong. I picked up one of the bundles of cloth that should have a shard inside, but it was very light. I quickly unwrapped it and… there was nothing inside. I started looking for another one… also empty.

I tossed all the contents of my bag out and every single bundle of cloth, where the crystal shards should be, was empty.

Frantically, I started thinking back. I have never left my bag unattended. Honestly, I treated my bag like that kid his book - I did not let anyone look inside, I don't think I did even let someone touch it. First thing I thought was that maybe someone robbed me during my sleep? Then I remembered - I have not slept in a long while, night or not, so that was not possible.

-You ready? - I heard from behind the door.

-I said I need a minute!

-Please meet me in my room when you are done. I would like to deal with this as soon as possible.

Apparently I was running out of time, but that was not what I was concerned about. Quickly I took the biggest piece of cloth and wrapped the bottle of ink and the quail, but then I noticed something sticking to my fingers. It was like sand, or dust, dry and colorless, and as I started to look for the source, I noticed that it was all over my bag. I only noticed because when I unwrapped the largest bundle it started pouring out of it, shimmering in the light of the glowing crystal.

I focused on the dust, trying to inspect what I was dealing with. What I felt was hard to describe, and I am not sure what to make of it. It was like someone flashed me with a bright light right in the eyes, to the point that it was almost painful. Reeling back from the table, I almost fell down on the floor, surprised, but I managed to catch myself. What I did not notice at first though, was that the dust started… smoking? Or rather vaporizing, as soon as I pulled out from the "vision". I only noticed because of smell - one that I knew very well - mana.

It was unusually strong, to the point that it made me shiver all over, and my arm itch.

Quickly I straightened up and started observing the unusual event.

It was like someone set the whole table, hell, the whole room on fire, although there was no heat. It made me realize that there was a lot more of that dust than I initially thought. I guess I was a bit rough when I was digging through my bag and had to scatter it all around me without noticing. Everything was glowing with a bright white light that slowly started getting brighter and brighter - to the point when I had to close my eyes. For a second, it was exactly as I saw it with my magic sense - pure white all around me - and then it suddenly stopped.

I slowly opened my eyes, adjusting slowly back to the normal amount of light, trying to see what happened.

Along with the light, the dust was also gone. I started feeling around the table with my palm, to check if it maybe was just transparent, but no dice. I hesitated for a second, but I attempted to use the magic sense again. Since I had no visible target, I tried focusing on the area in front of me, but instead I just managed to feel the wooden table instead.

The dust vanished without trace. Even the smell of mana was now gone.

I leaned back on the chair and sighed heavily. The last remnant of my old lab and the failed experiment that I had was gone. "Well, not exactly true. I still had my crystal stump." I thought to myself, scratching the wrapped crystal wound.

That's when I noticed something was different. I already got used to the size of the crystal stuck in my body and its weight, but now it felt… larger… and heavier?

Unnerved by this sudden realization I started unwrapping my arm. To be honest, I was not doing a good job keeping it clean and properly sealed as I probably should, so now I expected to see some kind of swelling, or even worse.

To my amazement, that was not the issue. The wound was as clean as I first saw it, and the flesh around it was nice and smooth, to the point that you could think that the wound was long healed. What was unsettling though, was that the crystal itself was larger. Before, it was just enough to cover a wound that was there after the missing arm, but now it has grown a lot thicker, maybe a few centimeters more. It was also slightly glowing, but as I was unwrapping it, I could see how it was getting dimmer and dimmer, and by the time I finished, it was completely dark already.

I fired up my magic sense again, and the crystal replied in kind, starting to glow once more.

I could feel how it was pulling the mana from my surroundings to itself and then spreading it through my body. I don't know if it was my imagination or not, but it felt like now it was absorbing the mana through a larger portion of my arm, even a bit further up than the crystal was.

Amused by this development I sat on the bed for a long few minutes, unsure what to think of it.

After a while, I decided that there was no time to try and figure this out, since someone was waiting for me right about now, and I started liking the way people were constantly offering me money for some easy tasks that hardly can even be called jobs.

I started wrapping my arm again, this time trying to cover it a bit better. I finished tying one of the sleeves of my coat in a knot, and gathered all my belongings that I managed to scatter around the room in the process, and soon I was ready to go. I touched the glowing crystal that was lighting the room. It flickered and flamed out, if you can say that about the crystal, leaving the room in the complete dark.

Seconds later I was by the other door, knocking. Immediately, the door opened and Goldie let me in.

The kid was sitting on the bed, in the furthest corner of the room, with his chin on the book, looking tired. On the other end was Bert , impatiently stomping his foot on the wooden floor.

-Ah, finally. Come on, let's go.

-You're coming with me?

-No. Just want to check one last thing...

-Uh-uh…

We promptly left the room and went upstairs to the main room of this "inn", if you can call it that.

As we entered, from the darkness emerged a shadowy figure - the innkeeper of this establishment.

-This is the one that will be going out?

-Please, mind your manners, but yes. How are the preparations?

-The issues have been resolved. Everything is in place and waiting for the arrival of your people - he bowed slightly in my direction.

-What issues?

-You don't need to worry about that - Bert quickly interjected. - Nothing important.

-Sure… - I couldn't help but think that it was gonna be quite the opposite.

-Then good luck and farewell. If you have any questions, direct them to him - he gestured to the innkeeper and walked downstairs.

-So what was the issue? - I asked as soon as he disappeared in the darkness of the bottom floor.

He shrugged.

-Nothing important. Just had some issue getting you mounts, that's it. Now, I am sure you have been briefed already, so if you don't have anything else to ask, I will just be leaving…

-Yeah, I actually have one question.

-I'm listening then.

-I think I know you from somewhere.

-I am afraid you are mistaken. From what I heard you are new to this city and I have never been outside its walls so that is impossible.

-Huh. I could've sworn that I heard your voice somewhere before.

-A coincidence.

-Uh-uh…

I was not convinced. Don't know why I was so curious, I guess you could say I had some gut feeling.

-Say, mind showing your face? Maybe that will ring a bell.

He visibly shuddered.

-I would rather not. In my line of trade, secrecy is imperative, you see…

-I heard that one before. Can't I somehow change your mind? - I asked, shaking my bag a bit, just enough for the coins inside to make a sound.

He didn't reply, but I saw his head move side to side under his hood, like he was wondering about something.

-Ten gold.

I'm not going to lie, it caught me off guard that he actually agreed.

-Pricy.

-Deal or no deal?

-Sure, deal.

I pulled out the gold and handed it to him.

He pulled back his hood, and I finally realized why he seemed so familiar.

-I hope it was worth it, he said grinning.

From under the hood emerged a balding, short black-haired face of a man in his 50', a very familiar, unshaved face.

-Motherfucker. Should’ve known it was you…

-Greetings - Jack was grinning at me, very happy about himself.

-How did you even get here?! I mean sure, I was not in any hurry but… How did you cross the water?

-Trade secret.

-Ah yeah, bullshit if you ask me. And what happened to the "yes sir" treatment from before? Owing me your life and all that?

-Oh I still owe you, I know. But we have a deal now and that balances the scales quite a bit, don't you think?

I looked around, checking if Bert, or anyone else was nearby and lowered my voice.

-By the way, what happened to "our guest", so to speak?

He immediately stopped smiling.

-Still as you saw him last. No change, which is annoying.

-Where is he? Don't tell me you brought him here?

-And how else am I gonna try and wake him up?

He also looked around, nervous.

-After you left, and he did not wake up for a few days, I brought him here with me. I was looking for someone to try and wake him up in the city when you showed up. I must say, I did not expect to see you that fast.

-See me that fast? I still can't get over you being faster than me. Did you have some handy portal that you just forgot to mention or something?

-As I said, trade secret.

-Bullshit.

-Okay, we can spend the next hour catching up and shit, but I think you have places to be right about now.

-Yeah, yeah… Well at least I don't have to travel all the way back if I learn something new.

-Speaking of, anything you learned? - he piped up at the mention of the topic.

-Where? If you didn't notice, the only place I've been in this city is here, and this is not exactly a place where I can get anything besides overpriced rooms.

-Oh, come on, it's not that bad. And I kind of have to somehow get my money back, I overvalued you a small bit…

-First, fuck you.

-Pff.

-Second, well yeah, I warned you. I don't know why you people treat me like some kind of royalty whenever you see my magic…

-Heh. You'll find out soon enough.

-What?

-Nothing. Come on, or your employer will scold us both.

-Riight…

With that we parted ways and I left the dark inn along with its owner.