After we had gotten back from the town square that day, I had asked Lucian if there was any way a person could measure their power, if there was some sort of ranking system on which I could see how much power I had compared to others. Lucian had told me about the gemstone test that every child did in order to see what magic they could perform. He told me to get a goodnight's rest and tomorrow he would help me do the test.
I had another good night's sleep that night.
I'm this new world, Arteria, there were only six days in a week. A day for each main category of magic: Day of Wind, day of Water, day of Earth, day of Fire, day of Lightning, day of Dark.
On the day of Lightning the people had the half-day off, and on the day of Dark people had the full day off. It was the equivalent of the weekend back on earth.
Today was the day of Dark, so at midday, Lucian came to the apothecary to pick me up, he took me to the outskirts of the village where a herd of sheep grazed calmly in their pen. We settled a few meters away from their fence. I waited keenly as Lucian pulled a small burlap sack from his pocket and held it out in front of me, he then opened the sack and revealed six crystals, that shined beautifully in the light.
"Each crystal is to act as a catalyst for magical current, these stones make it much easier for magicians to bring forth their latent power, hence you will often find these stones engraved into magical items or set into people's jewellery in order to make casting magic easier."
So, they are like magic conductors.
"These stones are also used to test a person's magical abilities. Since each of these stones was formed with one type of magic, they only conduct one type of magic. Therefore, only people that use the same category of magic as the stone can cause a magic reaction within the stone."
"I understand," I said concentrated on his explanation.
"Let me demonstrate." Lucian picked up a red coloured crystal and held it out in front of him. "I'm going to channel my power into it now." After a moment a brilliant large red flame burned from the top of the crystal. I took a step back because of the sheer heat of the flame.
"This red crystal draws out fire magic. Since I am skilled in fire magic, this crystal catches a flame when I touch it."
"Amazing..." I breathed out as I watched the crystal burn. I suddenly felt really appreciative that I was reincarnated into a world with magic.
Lucian smirked at me. His brilliant blue eyes showing his pride in himself. I chuckled at him. For someone who was always so serious and brooding, he sure loved to be complimented.
"Can you use any of the other crystals?" I asked, wanting to see more.
"Let me explain the way of the world to you first. Every person in the whole of Arteria can use some sort of magic and generally a person can use only one type of magic, but you occasionally find someone who can use two different types of magic. There are some cases where a person can use three different types of magic, however, it is extremely rare and usually triple users are among the Royal families or distinguished nobles. However, there are a few cases where normal subjects are born as triple users."
The way he said that last bit made me a bit suspicious.
"Lucian... are you a person who can use three different types of magic?" I asked noticing the sly grin on his handsome face.
"Yes, I can." He smirked down at me from his height. "It's because I could use all three disciplines, that the Knights Order sent for me from the capitol, a few months ago I travelled there and took the Knights exam, I passed very well. I only came back home to stay with my mother for a few months and prepare for joining the Order."
"Congratulations Lucian! So, you are going to become a knight?"
"Not just any Knight. The Knights Order is a group of elites that serve the King and the Royal family directly." I was beginning to see my otherworldly friend in a new light. He wasn't just some brooding country bumpkin. It sounded like he was about to join some elite part of society. But then suddenly a sad realisation hit me, he was probably going to be leaving soon...
He had just said that the Knights Order served the King directly, and I surmised that in order to serve someone directly you had to be in close proximity to them, in other words, live closer to the King, in the capitol.
"I want you to know that I will be leaving for the capitol soon, the Knights Order are travelling through the forest at the moment in order to subjugate malevolent activity. When they are done, they will stop by this town to fetch me and take me to the capitol."
I wanted to sound happy for him, I was happy for him but the thought of losing my first friend in this world made me sad and lonely. But I put my brave face on because I could tell by the way that he spoke of it that he was so excited to leave this small town and join the knights.
"Well done Lucian! I wish you all the best on your new path." I congratulated nudging him with my arm. "When will you be leaving?" I asked nervously.
"On the Day of Lightning."
"Tomorrow?" I asked, shocked. He was leaving so soon...
"I'm going to miss you," I said softly and looked up at him and smiled and urged myself to hold back the swelling in my eyes. "Thank you for taking me in, and for giving me a place to stay, just thank you for everything."
His face became serious again but was softer and gentler than his other serious looks.
"I'll never forget you, you mysterious girl. Thank you for saving my life." My heart pulled in my chest and I felt the sadness wash over me again. But I didn't want to be sad, I wanted to be happy; this was practically our last day together.
"Well c'mon then hurry up and show me the gemstones." I nudged him back into the lesson.
"Y-yes right the gemstones. So, as you can see Fire magic is a type of magic that I can use. Wind and water magic are the second and third types that I can use. As for you, you should have a very strong reaction when you touch the dark crystal because Healing magic is a form of dark magic."
Lucian took the black gemstone out of the sack and handed it to me. As soon as I held it in my hand and the dark mist seemed to flow out of the gemstone until a black fog formed around my hand. It looked hauntingly beautiful and I was in awe of the beautiful quality of the dark mist.
"Dark magic is the rarest type of magic among all the others. It's a miracle that you can use it in the first place, but to such high quality is unbelievable."
"Okay, let's try the next one." He urged as he took the dark crystal from my hand. He then handed the clear, transparent crystal. As soon as it touched my fingers whirlwind of air gushed from the crystal and blew my dark hair into my face and made the dust on the ground rise and swirl around us. The grazing sheep bleated at us indignantly for causing a disturbance.
"It seems that you are able to use two different types of magic..." He said sounding a little impressed by me. Suddenly my mind wandered to the text message that I had gotten from God's office on my first day in this world. I then remembered the long list of magic that I was supposed to be able to use.
Yes, they definitely overdid it. If the average person in Arteria could only use one type of magic, the went completely overboard by giving me power from all the different types of magic.
Next Lucian handed me the blue coloured crystal which was meant for water users. When I touched it a fountain of water spurted out and splashed on the ground near our feet. I jumped back in surprise. Lucian stared at me with a funny look in his eyes.
"You are a triple user..." He said slowly and unbelieving.
"Yeah, just like you..." I said fake laughing, trying to play it off. He didn't seem convinced at my poor acting skills though.
We then proceeded to try out the other two crystals: Lightning and fire. I had a magical reaction to both crystals. After it was done Lucian turned to me and said, "You are unbelievable. How is it possible that you can use all the types of magic?"
He wasn't actually asking me the question, he was just asking.
Then suddenly the serious brooding look returned to his face. He looked me sternly in the eyes. "Riley, listen to me carefully." I simply nodded.
"You must not tell people that you can use all the types of magic because if they knew they would come after you, many people would try and use your power for their own gain. People can be ruthless and cruel in this world when it comes to gaining wealth and status, please don't forget that."
"I won't," I said, feeling quite unnerved at what Lucian had told. It seemed that people could be ruthless and vicious in this world as well. I would have to be careful.
Then I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. Instinctively I pulled the phone out of my dress pocket and saw the notifications:
Dark Magic Activated
Wind Magic Activated
Water Magic Activated
Fire Magic Activated
Earth Magic Activated
New Title achieved: Prodigal Magic-user
Prodigal magic-user...
"What is that?" My heart skipped a beat at the realisation that Lucian was there. I had forgotten that he was standing right next to me, he had seen my cell phone... I started stuttering, my mind went blank how was I supposed to explain my phone to him. What was I going to tell him? What was I going to do?
"Is that some sort of magical item?" He asked curiously as he peered down at my cell phone.
"Uh-uh yes, it is... I found it on me when I woke up in the forest." I felt bad for lying to him, but I didn't think he would be able to believe that I was reincarnated from another world. One day I would tell him the truth though.
"What does it do?" He asked curiously as he stared at the glowing cell phone in my hand.
"Umm... Not much really." I said.
"Has it sparked any memories from your past?"
"Not really..." I replied.
"May I see it?" He asked, but before I had time to respond he took it from me.
"Hey! Lucian! Give it back!" I said indignantly as he held the phone just above my reach.
"It's very light." He said as he tossed it up and caught it. I freaked out, worried that he would crack my screen if he dropped it.
"Lucian seriously top it!" I grumbled angrily at him. "Gah! Why are you so tall?" I grumped.
I watched with my arms crossed as he poked at the screen like he had seen me do the screen remained black as he tried. It wouldn't switch back on. My mind thought back to the text message from the Gods, it had said that nobody would be able to use it without my permission. I felt satisfied that his efforts were in vain.
"It's spelt so that nobody besides me can use it," I said smugly to him. He raised his perfect eyebrows at me and then handed me back the phone.
"Keep secrets form me all you want, eventually I'll discover them all"
I shrunk under the intense stare he gave me. His tare was broken when we both turned to the side to see a little boy running to us, he shouted out to us.
"Master Lucian, Miss Healer, please come quickly!"
What is it Cyan?" Lucian shouted back at the boy I recognised from yesterday, the boy I had healed.
"Please come quickly a knight has been injured by demons and is going to die if you don't help him!" Cyan shouted breathlessly from all the running.
Lucian and I straightened up immediately at the news.
"Injured by demons? Didn't you say that the Knight's order was sent to the forest to kill demons nearby?" I asked Lucian.
"Yes, I did. One of them must have gotten hurt." He looked shocked, and then he grabbed my hand and started running towards Cyan.
"Will you please heal the knight?" He asked earnestly as we ran together.
"You don't have to ask," I said back at him.
"Yes, that's right, you heal out of the goodness of your heart it seems." He chuckled.
"Let's go!" Cyan shouted eagerly as we reached him.