Mark of the Fool

Chapter 571: What is Here and There

Alex couldnt quite figure out what was happening.

Moments ago, hed been in a deep trance, searching for the Travellers power. Hed managed to touch it a few timeseven gripped and changed its shapebut he still couldnt do anything practical with it.

Hed held it and manipulated its shape in different ways, desperate to learn how to use it properly. If he could at least partially master it by the time the Games of Roal started, his team would have a major advantage.

Unfortunately, wishing for something and making it a reality, were two entirely different things.

Some things had been going in his favour though, making him a bit more hopeful.

As the weeks had passed, the power had increased within his soul, becoming easier for him to grasp. And as it grew, it also became easier to shape. In the last few days, something had changed with it: when he tried to use it, hed started feelingsomething in the air around him.

At first it was subtle, becoming more noticeable the more he experimented. As he moulded the power to his will, he also felt a growing awareness of the space around him, almost like his sense of touch was expanding incrementally.

The feeling of being on the cusp of reaching a new level hung near, dangling just out of sightbut to get there, he needed something, maybe an extra push to touch it.

As usual, the Mark had kept interfering while he focused on casting another summoning spell to take a look at how the power bolstered his spells, when suddenly, he was pulled from his trance by a dull thud.

He looked up to where Theresa, Grimloch, and Hart were practising in time to see Grimloch drop Hart with a single blow from behind, planting the Champion face first in the dirt. The Hero had fallen like a dead tree.

After calling congratulations to the victors, he noticed Theresas distracted mood. She asked him if hed noticed anything odd.

But hed been so busy searching intently for the Traveller's power, hed been nearly dead to the world around him until Grimlochs fist had met Harts head.

After that, his mind had gone to the Games of Roaland what he planned to ask Theresa. The time would soon be there, though he felt nowhere near ready.

He must have been staring at her for too long, because shed suddenly started staring back at him and said, Are you okay?

Since his thoughts had run awayas they often didto the future and his plans for her engagement gift, he looked suspicious.

Hed also inadvertently let his eyes drift over to Brutus who was asleep by a nearby hill, which also drew even more scrutiny from the woman who knew him best. He cursed himself.

Dont give anything away! his mind screamed.

Yeah, Im finejust stuff on my mind, hed said quickly.

Like what?

You know, stuff, Alex said, looking at her earnestly.

I think Im about to make a breakthrough, he said quickly, trying desperately to change the subject.

Really? She looked at him sharply, How close?

Very close. I think I just need to figure out one final thing, and Ill have it. I was just about to try something when I saw your fight end.

Sorry, then, she said, looking down at her swords. Ill let you get back to it.

Again, she gave her blades a puzzled look, worrying him.

Are you sure something didnt happen? Alex asked.

Its okayfor now, she said, giving him a look that said, well talk later.

With that she turned and went back to Grimloch and Hart so they could debrief about their battle. Alex watched her for a while before turning away.

They would indeed talk later, as shed said.

He looked up at the sky, thinking about birds that once spied on all of Greymoor without the expedition knowing they were being watched.

Better safe than sorry, he thought, preparing to start his summoning spell again.

As his mouth opened to begin the incantation, Thundars words broke his concentration.

Not bad, Drestra, not bad at all, the minotaur was saying.

On a hill nearby, he was pacing back and forth in front of what appeared to be five Drestras standing in a row, all acting casual. He was examining them as a general would examine his officers, or a baker his pies.

Hmmmmm, he mused, scanning each Drestra, before reaching out. He leaned in, carefully looking at each of five faces before tapping the fourth Drestra from the right on the shoulder. Here you are, he said. This is the real you.

With a loud groan, Drestra spoke a single word of power, dismissing her illusionary duplicates, they faded away. How did you know? I was sure they were perfect.

Honestly, they nearly were, Thundar congratulated her, taking his hand away from her shoulder. The thing is, you probably would have fooled almost any first year wizard, and you definitely would have fooled like a single monster. Justone tiny problem.

He tapped his brow. The eyes dont lie.

What do you mean? she asked.

Well, its not a big deal. Probably just means you need to be more careful with your visualisation when youre chanting the spell. Remember what I said? Illusion is all about the image you have in your head. The less detailed you imagine your image, the more easily someone can see through it?

Okay, but what do you mean about the eyes? What was it about my eyes that gave me away? her voice crackled with annoyance.

Well, your image was real solid, but the light from the sun was dull in your copies eyes. He pointed to the clouds above. You probably didnt think you needed to take care of that detail because its a cloudy day, but heres the thing: the sunlight was dull in your illusions eyes, but it shone real bright in the eyes of the real you. Always remember that.

He paused, not noticing how silent his surroundings had become. Come to think of it, your eyes are really unique. Almost like jewels or pools of gold: theyd sure as hell catch the moonlight too, so you gotta pay attention to that at night. Got it?

Thundar looked down at Drestra, who was staring up at the minotaur. Her body language had gone completely stiff, and Alex could see the beginnings of a blush creeping up and over her veil.

She quickly looked away. Is that so, her voice crackled, this time with something entirely different from annoyance. IIll be sure to remember that. Imgoing to practise what you said over there, behind that hill for a while.

You sure? Thundar asked.

Yes! her voice sounded high. Id like to figure out these illusions before I show you them again.

I dunno, maybe I could give you some critique while youre doin it.

Justlet me do this, she nearly pleaded.

Well, well, arent we eager! Thundar laughed. Fine, then, take all the time you need! Ill wait here while you perfect your images! Ill be watching you closely!

Drestra made a strangling sound, then quickly cast flight magic and flew behind the hill. Likelyin Alexs estimationto have a small meltdown.

Hed first noticed the Sage of Uldars growing crush on his large friend after shed revealed her true form in Tenebrama. It had only become more obvious as the months passed.

Of course, Thundar hadnt noticed.

At all.

Or maybe he had.

As Grimloch, Theresa, Hart, Alex and even Claygon stared at him, the minotaur scratched the fur on his skull, looking in Drestras direction.

A frown etched his face, and bewilderment his body language.

Had he finally noticed? Was he finally going to say something?

The minotaur opened his mouth, coming closer to his friends.

Huh, you guys think I was too hard on her? he asked in quiet tones. She mightve been pissed off at the end there.

Theresas jaw dropped.

Alex stared at the minotaur as though he suddenly had more heads than Brutus.

Hart looked up at Alex. Your friends an idiot.

I know, right? both Alex and Theresa said as one.

What? Thundar spread his arms. What? Whatd I say?

Grimloch shrugged. I didnt see you do anything wrong.

I didntsee anythingeither Claygon said.

Of course you two wouldnt! Alex cried.

Grimloch shrugged, turning back to Hart and Theresa. Wanna go again?

Sure, I could do with a little revenge, the Champion said, raising his sword.

Yeah, Im ready too, Theresa agreed, lifting the twinblade.

As the warriors squared off again, Thundar sidled up beside Alex. Listen, you gotta tell me what you guys are talking about. I mean, you dont think she likes me, do you? I meanshes an all powerful archwitch in the making and

Thundar, Alex said seriously. As good as you are at seeing through illusions, is as bad as you are at seeing yourse

Hey Traveller, Harts voice boomed. Bless me with a crushing victory.

Suck up, Grimloch accused.

Alexs words died.

Again, the Travellers power flared in his soul. Hold on for a second man, Ive got to deal with something. He said.

Falling into himself before the minotaur could reply, Alex reached into his soul before the energys flare could pass. He grasped it quickly, feeling Hannahs energies coursing through him.

It was stronger than the last few times hed caught it, and he wanted nothing more than to master it right there and then. But he slowed down, examining it, holding it, not wanting to let it go.

He began to think methodically: not wanting to distort its shape and send it fading away again. Alex considered what to do: ways to shape the power and get it to finally do what he wanted it to.

Again that spatial awareness sharpened andfor an instantit was like he could feel every blade of grass around him. Was that a clue? What did it mean?

Think, adapt. Think, adapt, he thought to himself. Eliminate what youve already tried. You reached out with the power like an armthat didnt work. All it did was make the energy slip away. Extending it out like a bridge didnt work either. Another failure. Trying to make the energyteleport out of my body failed. Thinkwhat are you missing? I can feel it inside myself, and more spatial awareness around me. Do I have to spread it out like a field? Maybe its like a net, and I can teleport to anywhere within the net.

He cast the idea aside. No, Hannah teleported to other planets, how the hell would this power reach out and make a net wide enough to reach other worlds? No, that makes no sense. Alright, think about the summoning spells and Planar Doorway. You can feel her power reinforce the spells. And how? Its a connection. It makes a connection: I can feel the power touch other planes. What kind of shape can do that? Connectionsconnectionswhat shape can reach across planes?

Alex strained his mind, trying to link everything together. Distantly, he was aware of Theresa and Grimloch battling Hart as the twinblade clanged against the Champions titanic swor

His thoughts froze.

The twinblade wasn't two weapons.

It was one weapon in two physical objects, but still connected.

Connection he thought. Connection.

At last it hit him: all this time, hed been fundamentally misunderstanding the power. Hed been thinking too much like a wizard, and how mana would form circuits, connections, and paths to complete a spell.

But this had nothing to do with mana or magic circuitry.

It wasnt divinity.

It wasnt alchemy.

It was pure magic.

And how did Hannah describe her power? Did she talk about shapes, connections and complex formulae? No, she simply talked about going from one place to another. She said nothing about reaching out to that place.

Even now, her power was fuelling both her phone and the energy inside him, and that was across a barrier that wasto all methods he had access to besides Hannahs powerimpenetrable.

Yet, whenever he imagined himself appearing in a new spot, nothing happenedbecause hed been only thinking of half of the equation. The twinblade was the clue: one weapon in two separate forms.

One for each hand.

And when someone was travellingeven in teleportationthere were two points of space that were most important: the origin and the destination. He didnt need a bridge, but he needed to focus on both where he was, and where he was going.

Please work, he whispered, falling into himself.

His grip tightened on the power, andthis timehe imagined himself appearing in another point in space, around ten feet in front of him. He focused on the power in his body and that power at his destination at the same time.

The instant he focused on both places

the energy blazed bright.

And he felt the world shift.

Several hills away, a spy from the churchwearing the shape of a common molewatched the Heroes and young wizards practising in the distance.

Suddenly, the one floating in mid-air was gone.

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