9 Truth and Lessons (2/2)
”Just yell if you need anything, there's a well over there if you get thirsty.” She pointed over to the corner of the shack. Will nodded with a smile as he left the shack to find a good place
It took only a moment to find a decent place near a tall tree with plenty of cover from rain. Will made a mental note as he set up camp to see whether it was possible to make a cottage of his own for future use, he didn't see himself sleeping outside for months on end. With a sigh, he finished within ten minutes as he sat cross legged on the top of his sleeping bag. Having had such a day with many events, the recollection was as if he were watching a movie. Thinking back to when he made the fire appear, Will decided to experiment a little before bed.
The only thing that had felt different to Will since he got to this new world was the warm aura that had surrounded him at all times. It almost felt like a safety blanket to him, it kept him warm and dry in many occasions, though he knew from the flames earlier that it wasn't just used for comfort. He could also use them for protection and to fight back. Will's mind wandered to the black cloaks that Michael had fought. He remembered that Michael had been able to conjure up his own flame within his sword. It was that thought that made Will realize how weak he truly was, but at the same time he was given the opportunity to get stronger.
Closing his eyes, Will focused on the aura. He felt the warmth all around him, it almost felt like a second skin. 'skin huh?' Will thought. Under skin was muscle and bone, under skin there were joints. If it were anything like a second skin, maybe he could move it. He imagined the aura circulating, moving as if it were a real thing. To Will's astonishment, he felt the aura moving with his thoughts. Not losing concentration, Will raised a palm upward. He directed his now living aura to circulate into the palm of his hand. All the extra heat from the aura left the fullness of his body and traveled to the hand in which he instructed. He could feel the heat of the aura pushing itself to the palm of his hand. The aura was stuck just beneath the surface of his palm, it took all of his concentration for it to break through to bring it to life.
When Will opened his eyes, without breaking his concentration, he looked at the palm of his hand. Will's eyes grew wide as he saw a ruby red flame the size of a candle flame in the center of his palm. Will stared at the flame and the light it cast just a few feet in front of him. Only within moments the exertion became too taxing for him to keep the flame lit, moments later the flame went out.
The feeling that he had just ran a marathon quickly set upon Will as the aura once again wrapped itself around him. Though the familiar warmness returned, though it was weaker. A light sheen of sweat coated Will's face as he steadied his breathing.
Will quickly took out his phone, switching it to his kindle. The book he had just been reading was about a boy in which just found out he could do magic. Will read for only a few minutes, wishing to conserve his battery life. He brought the book to the section he was looking for.
'Quickly realized that his magic was like a muscle. The more he used it, the stronger it became, but it was also easy to over exert himself, which left him without much strength and put him in danger. In order to truly wield this strength, he had to train this new muscle, to make it grow stronger and at the same time, make him stronger.'
Will read only that section before he turned the phone off. Now deep in thought, Will sat on his makeshift bed for an hour, drinking water from one of his summoned canteens. Before long, he felt the strength of his aura return. It had been as if a flood of energy enveloped him, leaving a feel of completion setting over him.
Yet again, Will closed his eyes and circulated his aura to his hand, and yet again the ruby flame appeared from nothing. This time he timed himself with the flame lit. Staring into the strange flame, Will felt as if it had always been there, though his old world had not allowed it to exist. The magic itself wasn't as other worldish to him since he grew up reading, watching and listening to nothing other than these worlds within fictional novels and movies. In a way, magic had always been a part of his life.
Within fifteen seconds, Will felt the pull of his strength once more as the flame returned to his aura. He picked up the canteen once again drowning out his exhaustion. He sat yet again for an hour waiting for his strength to return. As soon as he felt his aura strengthen, he summoned his flame once more.
Twenty seconds, twenty five, thirty. By the time Will was done, he was able to keep the flame going for two minutes. Though he could still continue working, the sun was already rising and he had to get to work. He had promised Maya that he'd get firewood chopped for breakfast, and Will wasn't one to go against his word.
With tired eyes, Will made his way to the shack. ”Well dad, I wish you could see me now.” Will said as he looked up to the already fading stars. A faint smile dawned his face as he thought of his father, one day he would return, but right now he had to work hard to make him proud.