A New Light (The Astral Wanderer Book 1) by D'Artagnan Rey (best romance ebooks txt) 📗

forest relatively clear. There isn’t much a single man can do about that, in all honesty, but I was entrusted to eliminate anything too dangerous.” He approached the dead flayer and retrieved a large sack and a dagger. “With that done, I have to return to Fairwind, where I was given the task.”

“Oh, so you’re heading that way?” he asked with a smile. “That would be very helpful. I’ve made the trek alone, for the most part, but it would be nice to have company for the rest of the journey.”

“Agreed.” The mori severed the head of the flayer and shoved it into the sack, which he tied to his belt. “We can probably be there by tomorrow if we hurry.”

“Do you know a quick way out of this forest?” Devol inquired and looked around dubiously. “To be honest, I don’t think we’re even that far in and I feel a little disoriented.”

“A skill to work on, then,” the man reasoned and drew his hood over his head. “Later, though. I do know the way out of the forest, but we still have much ground to cover today.” He hopped a few times and the boy noted that he had kept his Mana flowing the whole time. “I wonder if you can keep up.”

Devol smiled and let his Mana flow a little. “Back in Monleans, I was the best user of Vis amongst all the kids, even the older ones.” He hopped a few times as well to loosen his limbs and muscles. “Show me what you can do.”

“All right.” Vaust spoke from behind him and he spun in alarm. The mori had seemingly teleported and now laughed at his reaction. “Sorry. I was merely having a little fun.” He walked a few paces ahead toward the edge of the clearing. “It shouldn’t take us very long to get out and from there, I’ll let you set the pace. I’ll do so until then.” He looked over his shoulder, his face shadowed by the hood. “Let us see how much you can push yourself.”

He composed himself and responded with a challenging grin. “Let’s go!”

The mori made good on his promise and they were out of the forest in no more than ten minutes. Devol kept pace but it had been a long time since he had been pushed this hard and he almost lost sight of his guide a couple of times before they stepped beyond the tree line. Not since his races with his father—the serious ones, at least—had he felt so winded. Once they were a few miles out, Vaust stopped to let him catch his breath. They then plotted a course that would be almost a straight line to Fairwind and set off with the boy leading the way.

After several hours of travel, his companion noticed a cave and they decided to make camp. After a good rest, they could start early and possibly reach the town before noon the next day.

They split up to prepare their camp. Devol cleaned the area, made a fire, and fetched water from a nearby spring while his companion went to hunt their dinner. They both finished their respective tasks in under an hour and soon feasted on a young boar the mori had killed, along with some berries and nuts. He chose the ribs and flanks of the beast while Vaust seemed to prefer other parts of the animal such as the eyes, cheeks, and even a few pieces that made him somewhat skeptical as to whether an average person should eat them.

Either out of curiosity or the desire for conversation, the mori decided to question him. “So, Devol, tell me,” he began and leaned back while he held a piece of boar cheek between his fingers. “How much do you know about Mana?”

He finished chewing a large mouthful of boar flank and considered the question thoughtfully. “I think…a fair amount. My mom has a degree in the arts of Mana, and she has taught me ever since I was a toddler.”

Vaust nodded slowly, picked up the gourd next to him, and removed the stopper. “So how would you define it?”

Devol took another bite of his food and tapped his chin as he thought. “My mother usually said that it is the ‘second blood’ of the Magi. It flows like a river through you, one that you control. It is crucial to think of it as an essential part of you, not as something to perform silly party tricks with.”

His companion chuckled, finished the meat hanging between his fingers, and swallowed some of the liquid from the gourd before he straightened. “Believe it or not, Devol, if you have taken your mother’s words to heart, you are already far more prepared for the life of a Magi than most.”

“So you think the same way, Mr. Lebatt?” he asked.

The mori shrugged and sipped his water. “It is not how I would put it, but your mother’s advice is similar.”

The boy finished the flank and placed the bone beside him. “Then how do you think of Mana?”

Vaust shrugged. “I could speak for quite some time on that subject, but we need to rest soon and I don’t wish to bore you. I would put it simply like this…” He held a hand out and formed a ball that hovered slightly above his palm. It was a white core of light surrounded by a red shell. Devol had never seen Mana like that and was enchanted.

“In the realms,” the mori continued, “Mana is the birthright of all who live in them, but that does not mean all truly understand the gift we possess.” The orb grew in size and changed from the shape of a single grape to that of a cantaloupe. “To most, it is simply power—energy, or as your mother put it, something to perform silly tricks with. But a true Magi knows better.” The orb changed shape and took on a humanoid form before details etched themselves in