7 Chapter Seven: Journeys (1/2)
Alex, Zia and Siran began traveling back towards Seeira. They planned on finding a way far away from Omnia, but wanted to see at least one familiar face during the journey beyond the borders.
”So where exactly in Seeira are we stopping by?” Zia asks.
”To see a familiar face” Siran replies. ”A friendly face would be a good change of pace, as well as it's a good place not only for us to rest, but to get some new clothes and even wash ourselves”
”Who's the friendly face?” Zia asks.
”A girl named Vivi” Alex says. ”Friend of Siran's to be precise, since she doesn't exactly like me. She just kind of tolerates me”
”Her name is actually Violet, but Vivi is a catchy way to remember her by” Siran says. ”She's kinda like a sister to me, and she has trust issues”
”Would she have problems getting used to me?” Zia asks.
Siran just pauses for a moment to think and says ”probably not. I don't see why she would”
After a long journey, Alex's car breaks down near the border of Omnia, leaving them several hours away from Vivi's place. Unable to receive assistance due to being outlaws, they continue on foot.
”Does something else want to go wrong this week?” Alex asks.
”Things can always go wrong” Siran says, ”and something will always go the way you won't want it to. That's just a part of life. Especially with that attitude”
Zia giggles a little then says ”I guess now wouldn't be a good time to say 'it's not the destination that counts, it's the journey' now is it?”
Alex fills a few supplies in a backpack and slings it over his shoulder and says ”well I hope you like journeys. Because it's really going to be a long one”
”Cheer up” Siran says.
”Why should I?” Alex asks, exhaustedly.
”It can always get worse” Siran replies.
”Has anyone ever told you” Alex says, ”that you are the worst person with motivational speeches?”
”No” Siran replies, ”that's an oddly specific thing to be bad at”
”Well more people should tell you that” Alex says, ”because you are terrible at making people feel better”
”I don't know about that” Zia says. ”Problems are always harder when you know there's no one there to support you. And now that you guys are here, it's a little easier to take a step forward, even if just a little”
”You sound SO damn cheesy” Alex says. ”I don't like this touchy-feely bullshit!”
It stays silent for a minute or two as the three walk before Siran breaks the silence. ”Someone needs a nap”
”I swear” Alex says over his shoulder, ”I will hurt you”
Zia starts laughing really hard and Siran couldn't help but to join in on the laughter. Eventually the three decide to take a break because ”you need a break to cool down, you're going to pop a blood vessel at this rate” Siran says to Alex. The three build a small campfire and Siran starts testing Alex on his magic abilities. Alex tries his best to perform basic elemental magic and succeeds on everything until he starts trying any other form of magic or heavier forms of elemental magic.
”Try forming a large fireball one more time, but keep it in the palm of your hand” Siran instructs.
”For the last time” Alex says, ”I'm not good enough for that at all! I suck with magic!”
”Then I think I know what the problem might be” Siran says.
”And that is?” Alex asks.
”It isn't that you don't understand magic” Siran replies, ”it's that you don't have a good enough connection to a source of magic. Try this”. Siran reaches out his hand and the same shadowy essence that he gave to Zia appeared. He held it out for Alex, but Alex only looks down in skepticism.
”And that is?” Alex asks.
”A source of self regenerating magic” Siran replies, ”courtesy of yours truly”
”First off” Alex begins, ”I've never even heard of something like that. Are you sharing your magic or something? Because I've never thought that was possible”
”It's possible” Siran says.
”Secondly” Alex interjects, ”that looks sketchy as hell”
”Are you going to use my magic or complain all night?” asks Siran.
After a while of debating with himself, Alex eventually accepts the magic, then sits still for a good minute waiting to feel a side effect that never came.
”What do I do now?” Alex asks.
”Try making a fireball again” Siran says. ”As big as you can but keep it in the palm of your hand”
Alex pauses for a second, closes his eyes, raises one hand into the air and wishes for the best. When he reopens his eyes, he sees an enormous fireball floating over his hand, about the size of an average bedroom.
”Holy shit!” Alex panics, ”what do I do with this!? How do I get rid of it!?”
”Calm down, calm down” Siran says. ”Focus on slowly dispersing the energy until the fireball completely disappears”
Alex closes his eyes again and the fireball slowly shrinks in size until it becomes nothing. After the fireball is gone, Alex nearly jumps for joy.
”Whoa!” Alex exclaims. ”That's amazing! That's probably even bigger than one you can make, Siran!”
Siran laughs a little and says ”you wish” and then pats Alex on the back. ”Congrats Alex. You're now proficient in ballistic magic!”
The next day, the three continue their journey. They've passed the border between Omnia and Seeira, but still have a couple hours to walk before they arrive at Vivi's shop. As the three walk, Alex is still staring at his hands, dumbfounded, as Zia and Siran walk ahead of him.
”You holding up okay?” Siran asks Zia.