Val warmed by the fire, enjoying a rich venison stew. His hunger returned in force as he ate. The delicious food was a much-needed comfort after the events and revelations of the past two days. Despite cooking enough to feed an entire family, Karl did not eat much, opting to enjoy more wine instead.
"So why go to such lengths to help me, anyway? If this is all real, I appreciate the explanation, but this information would better serve a leader. The mayor, governor, president, or even the army, any of them would do." Val asked.
"Perhaps, but what makes you think such people exist anymore?"
"I have a rough idea of how bad things are if the wreck in the Bay is true of nearly every major city, but in disasters like this, the wealthy and powerful always find shelter first."
"Exactly the problem, the rules have changed, and I'm not that interested in helping such people. I'm not even too interested in helping many people. Look at me, I am but an old man living out in these quiet woods. My era has passed. Surviving the merging is fortune enough, I've no interest in squandering it playing Don Quixote." Karl explained.
Val frowned. "If you know so much about what's going on, it's only right you at least try to help provide what you know. Huginn and Muninn seem capable enough to find and deliver information to other survivors."
"Maybe, but what good will it bring, anyway? You wished for an answer to the crisis at hand, you have one, whether you believe it is beside the point. Hundreds of millions of souls lost in less than a week, society has collapsed, and the survivors are scattered without tools that once connected the entire globe. Right now, they need to survive, mourn and gather themselves to confront their new reality. If you wish to help them, you are free to do so, but if that's the case, you will want to spend some time here." Karl seemed to show a slight sign of helplessness or guilt, and Val felt guilty himself, realizing he had tried to push enormous responsibility on a generous host he had just met.
"What's so special about here?"
"It is safe, and as good a place to learn to survive as any. There is powerful magic in the air, the ground, the water, the trees. Nature all around us is helping to stabilize the environment and contain this power. Your injuries have all but faded, you should feel stronger than you have before. This is proof you have some compatibility magic. Have you not noticed the vibrancy of the trees? The air here feels good; does it not?"
Val did notice the strange quality of the forest. He had written it off because of his limited experience in the local outdoors. It was also the case that his bruising seemed entirely cosmetic at this point.
"So I'm supposed to camp out here till I feel better, then what? I don't intend to stay here long, I'll help around camp in what ways I can, but I need to find other survivors."
"You can do more than just recover here, you probably don't realize, but magic has been flowing into your body this entire time. Mending flesh, strengthening bones, your every sense should be a touch sharper than they were before."
"I have magic? Does it just strengthen me, or do I start throwing fire and lightning now." Val doubtfully raised his eyebrows.
"Hmph, with study and training, you'll do much more than mere party tricks."
An eyebrow still raised, Val asked, "You said magic flooded into our world, it's everywhere then? People should discover magical powers all over the world then."
"Not everyone has the capacity for it, especially the modern humans, remember the people left behind were weak enough magically to live without it or they were outright incapable of wielding it."
"How am I qualified, then?"
Karl cast a knowing smile at Val, pleased with a question he had been waiting for. "You are a sheep of two flocks; your ancestors on both sides were powerful in their magic. There is much about your roots you are not aware of. How or why your bloodline remained in this world; I do not know, there were hundreds of reasons they may have wished to leave magic behind, but it was surely painful. I cannot help you much with your mother's blood, but your father comes from my own, and there is much truth in those legends for you to learn."
"You can teach me magic from my father's ancestors?" Val asked dubiously.
"Tomorrow, it is late, and it is not a subject easily explored while tired and drunk." Karl replaced the lid on the pot and wrapped it in a large cloth, before heading to his tent.
"You can treat that tent as your own while you're here, best get some rest. There is time for further conversation tomorrow." Karl called back, pointing to the other tent pitched nearby.
Val took his pack and things from the ground, settling into the tent. There was a canvas cot for a bed inside, covered with a few blankets. It was not like home, but was a considerable upgrade compared to sleeping in his car or on the ground. An oil lantern sat in the corner with a pack of matches, which Val lit for some light.
Sitting on the bed, Val fished out a cigarette. But instead of reaching for his lighter, a thought occurred to him. Holding his cigarette in his left hand, he held up his right and focused his attention on the space above it. Val tried to recall everything he had seen or read in stories, video games, and movies. He tried to imagine a small flame, recall pictures of flames. He even started muttering spells in embarrassment. Regardless of what he tried, the only flame in the tent appeared from the lamp in the corner. Giving up, he took his lighter. He sat deep in thought as smoke trailed out into the cold air, doubt and embarrassment creeping through his mind.
Putting out his cigarette, Val put out the lamp and lay down on the bed. The moment his mind wandered, strength left his limbs and fatigue carried him to sleep.
Nearby, outside the tent, a pair of ravens sat, one rolling his eyes and the other shaking in apparent attempts not to laugh.
. . .
Val woke to the blinding rays of sun shining on his face. Propping himself up on his elbows and peering around still half asleep, he noticed someone had opened the tent flap, letting in light and chilly morning air. It seemed to be early morning; the sun had risen just enough to shine over the trees; he sat up and winced, feeling a dull pain squeezing his head.
His mind flew through a blur of events that had transpired the previous day, unsure of how much of it really happened.
He pulled his boots on and walked off towards the trees as if on autopilot, taking a turn off the path to relieve himself.
When he returned, Karl beamed and almost shouted. "Good morning! Slept well?"
Val's head swam as the noise rung in his ears. He clutched his head with a hand and groaned. "Ugh, for the love of God, please, quieter."
Not sparing Val's hangover, Karl erupted with laughter, returning to what seemed to be breakfast in the making, muttering what Val swore was "Young folk are such lightweights these days."
Val wandered closer to the fire and took a seat when Karl paused and handed him a small basin of water and a hand towel.
"Go wash your face, there'll be some oatmeal when you return." He said.
Taking the basin, Val noticed it was warm. It seemed Karl had prepared some hot water for him.
Feeling refreshed and fully awake, Val nursed his hangover with some water and oatmeal, but looking around, he did not see the pair of ravens.
"Where did the birds go?" He asked.
"Huginn insisted on scouting the areas beyond the woods, and Muninn tagged along. They'll return shortly."
"What a diligent bird." Val remarked offhandedly.
"He's a faithful friend — if uptight at times. So, have you decided what to do?"
"You mean whether to stay here and learn something or run off and hedge my bets on other survivors?"
"Indeed. Huginn said he'd even go find where they have gone in case you'd choose the latter."
"I'm pretty sure he's doing that to urge me to leave rather than to help me." Val said, rolling his eyes.
Karl simply smiled. "Regardless of his intentions, there are few better at finding people than Huginn. If he finds someone, what will you do?"
"… For now, I'll stay here, unless Huginn can also find me a working car and a set of keys nearby, I doubt I'll make it much farther than the border of the forest, anyway." Val decided there were still questions he wanted to ask, and despite his failed attempts the previous night, he remained curious about this magic Karl mentioned.
"Excellent, then we'll begin as soon as you're finished eating."
"Begin what exactly?"
"Some training, of course. Your modern sensibilities leave you woefully unprepared for surviving here, to say nothing of wielding the magic of your ancestors. It has only begun to gather in your body, you are 22 years behind, and we'll have much less time to play catchup."
"Hold on, you mentioned this last night. What the hell even is magic exactly? It doesn't seem to be like the stories." Val carefully worded his question to omit all mention of having played wizard with embarrassing results last night before bed.
"Hmm… That's a question that could take years to fully answer, so let this satisfy you for now. Magic is a kind of power, energy, even a force. It is also a resource, permeating all reaches of the realm. However much of it is free, unbound magic, it lacks a will of its own, much like the air. It has one particular property in that it seeks to bind itself to that which carries a will. Specifically, it seeks to attach itself to sources of 'Anima' or anything exhibiting a life force. All living creatures, even plants possess anima, you and I do as well, it can grow, be trained, tempered, and doing so increases your capacity for containing magic within yourself. Once bound, this magic can serve as a fuel for strengthening yourself or exercising magical arts. Magic captured and held in this stable state is typically known as 'Mana.' Storing mana is simpler than releasing it, however… Releasing this power requires mana to be expelled from the stable state it desires. Even if you understand the concept behind a particular art, if you lack the will to force it into being, nothing will happen." Karl explained carefully, gratifying Val by focusing on relevant details to its use.
"So if I train my body, I'll have more mana, but if I lack the knowledge or will to use it, I can't use magic?"
"Simply put, yes. But there's one key detail you must understand. This is both a blessing and a curse. As your body swells and grows more accustomed to mana, exhausting yourself of it will cause a severe imbalance between your internal anima and mana. The effects of which can be illness and fatigue, or even organ failure and death." Karl noted with a grave tone.
Val's eyes widened in concern. His thoughts returned to last night, wondering if he could have seriously harmed himself recklessly attempting magic. He was at least glad he failed, considering the stakes were a convenient cigarette lighter.
A moment later, a pair of ravens alighted from the sky, perching upon a chair next to them. Val noted Huginn was his usual disdainful self, but Muninn did not seem terribly pleased either.
"My lord, the surrounding areas are worsening. Goblins to the south seem to grow in numbers, they have wandered down the highway, looting stores and homes. They're spreading confidently, free of the threats that usually hold them in check." Huginn hurriedly explained.
"What about human survivors?" Val asked.
This time, Muninn explained. "A few towns over in the east, there's a group of humans who have moved cars and fortified a large warehouse, I'm not sure how many are inside, but there were at least a couple dozen looting supplies from the surrounding buildings. On foot, it would take a day or two to reach it."
Before Val could speak, Karl answered. "Val has decided to stay for now. Is there any immediate danger to them?"
"None that I could see. The goblins to the south don't know of their presence, and it would be a few days for them to reach it even if they did." Muninn replied.
"So they are safe for the time being, that is good." Karl issued a small sigh of relief.
Huh, well he does care about other survivors at least. Val noted with some surprise, but more than that, he felt relieved that Karl did care.