Trace closed his eyes and sat in a meditating position. A vibration passed through his body and he let out a deep breath. All the images from his mind vanished only darkness remained.
In the dark, a flame lit up and remained motionless for long. Slowly, the flame was divided into two, then three. The cycle continued till 7 different flames formed and rotated inside Trace's mind.
But as soon the 8th one emerged, all the flames started flickering and a light pain emerged between Trace's eyebrow. After massaging his temple for a few seconds he headed upstairs.
"Master, I won't be able to do the training for sometime," Trace said.
"It's fine, you have other things to do now."
"I still spend some time doing it everyday."
"My apprentice is too good," Master laughed, "do you want me to pack a lunch box?"
"I am not planning to stay there all day," Trace resorted.
"There is nothing wrong with that, why don't you make lunch for her. I am sure little Eimi will be pleased," Master teased.
"Master, what if I become a Level 3 Sorcerer," Trace asked.
"The Federation will simply ignore it but you might become a famous man. Keeping working for now, leave the results for your work to decide. No matter what you do, it will help you in the future somehow."
"Yes, master.
"What if we get any customers," Trace asked.
"I will send over a message. You should go now," Master said.
…
Binpark Message Delivery Service, the unbeatable, cheap and a safe way to send letters that get received in a matter of hours! Don't worry, our carriers are highly professional and selectively chosen after many rounds of tests. Wave two fingers at an incoming Binpark carriage now!
Trace thought of the advertisement poster he saw one day. There were only crude ways to send messages. In the past there were public carrier birds who often failed to reach their destination. Now all the birds in the sky belonged to the Federation, even touching them could get one jail time.
After walking 5 kilometers Trace reached the Swirls house. The shop was still closed, thus he went towards the back. It was already 10 in the morning and Eimi was already awake. Trace was invited to her room again.
"Try this one, I made it yesterday."
Eimi handed Trace one talisman. The talisman was different than the ones from yesterday. Instead of being a long paper strip it was a little box. She put her hand over her mouth and yawned after sitting beside Trace.
The rug was different than the one from yesterday, it was wider and more comfortable. Trace channeled mana into the talisman, he tried to feel the mechanism of the talisman. But after sometime, he looked towards Eimi.
"This one is simple, keep trying to poke it. There are no secrets at this point," Eimi said.
Trace nodded and concentrated on the mana transfer into the talisman. Inside there were two branches and he tried to explore them thoroughly.
But again, Trace gave up and looked towards Eimi. Who repeated almost the same sentence from earlier. She slowly shifted towards Trace to see the talisman.
Next time when Trace decided to take a break, he felt something heavy on his shoulder. On turning, he saw Eimi had her eyes closed and was leaning on him. Without making any sound, Trace resumed trying to get familiar with the talisman.
…
Eimi opened her eyes and tired to see the clock with corner of her eyes. After seven to eight minutes the wall clock buzzed. She got up and walked towards the door without looking at Trace.
"I have to prepare lunch," she said.
"No, let me do it today. I can make lunch whenever I stay," Trace called.
"You know how to cook?" Eimi turned back.
A hint of surprise was visible on Eimi's face. After waiting for a few seconds, she told Trace to wait if he wanted to cook and left the room.
Eimi opened the kitchen door and heated up water. The vegetable prepared were put inside along with other ingredients. She closed the lid and walked towards her mother's room.
"Mother, wake up it's lunch time," Eimi gently patted her mother and patiently waited.
After thirty minutes Geena Swirls sat up straight without any difficulty. The mother daughter's eyes met. Geena leaned on the bed and her emerald eyes turned to look at the curtains in front.
After sitting beside her mother for ten more minutes, Eimi walked out of the room and brought the soup. Her mother drank it and ate the vegetables before closing her eyes and sleeping again.
…
Eimi closed the door and headed toward her own room. Se signaled Trace and led him into the kitchen. Different vegetables were already chopped and kept on a plate. Towards the side there were more vegetables.
"What should I make, Miss Swirls?" Trace asked excitedly.
"Anything is fine," Eimi walked out of the kitchen.
Trace looked around the kitchen, he did not know where the rest of the ingredients were. I will surprise her, Trace thought. He expanded his senses and closed his eyes.
Keeping his eyes closed, Trace brought out a notebook and wrote the ingredients available. He thought of a few recipes then quickly began the work.
The tap was opened and Trace washed his hands. Four carrots were next washed, followed by lettuce, tomatoes, lemon, parsley, garlic and finally the wooden board and a knife.
Trace carefully shredded the carrots with knife, then chopped the tomatoes, lettuce, green onion and parsley separately. Next garlic was minced and spicy sauce was prepared.
Trace put the shredded carrots into a bowl and put in the sauce. A lemon was also squeezed into it. He tossed it before mixing in parsley. The spicy paste carrot salad was done.
Keeping all the materials at the side. Trace put a bowl on the table and mixed flour, baking powder, salt and water to prepare the dough.
Trace kneaded the dough for a few minutes until it was smooth and elastic. Then he divided it into six pieces and rolled them into balls.
A large skillet was put on the stove. After it was heated, Trace rolled the dough ball into a thin round tortilla and placed it into the skillet.
Golden tortilla came out of the skillet. It were placed on a plate and topped with lettuce, tomatoes, onion and spices. Trace also put in some cheeses before folding the tortilla and repeated the process.
Veggie wrap and spicy paste carrot salad were put on different plates and Trace carried them to Eimi's room. The pungent smell of the spicy paste mixed with fresh vegetables filled the room.
Eimi was lying on the bed with back faced towards the ceiling. She was hugging her pillow and had her eyes closed. But the sudden bust aura into the room disturbed her train of thought and she quickly got up and sat straight.
"Let's go to the dining room."
Eimi closed onto Trace and helped him with the plates. They went inside the small room beside the kitchen. Only four chairs were in the small room and paintings were hanging on the walls.
"Mhmm! This is so good."
Eimi took a bite out of the veggie roll. Then with a fork she ate some of the spicy carrots. Her eyes lit up and she looked towards Trace. But resumed eating when she realized Trace was not looking back at her.
The tortillas are so smooth, and not much chewy . Carrots mixed in spicy past are also very tasty. Eimi sometimes ate the two dishes one by one. Other times she would eat them together.
Such a wonderful meal!
…
The training resumed again. Trace was sitting on the ground channeling mana into the talisman whereas Eimi was lying on the bed looking at him.
"I see it now," Traace suddenly exclaimed. "Sending mana in different veins of the talisman leads to different result."
"Despite the complexity you can figure out how they work without a manual," Eimi finished the line.
"I cannot figure it out yet…"
"Don't worry about it, keep practicing and you will get a hang of it," Eimi consoled.
Trace nodded and closed his eyes. He channeled his mana inside the talisman. The veins insides formed a simple network and mana flowed along the nets.
The simple talisman in front of Trace had mana different settings. It could be activated with different type of settings. The instructions were to be given by channeling mana in the right veins.
"I will give you a hint," Eimi interrupted. "All the veins inside have a use."
Evening arrived and Trace bid goodbye to Eimi. He felt mentally exhausted and had a light headache. Walking slowly towards Coiling Cradle Street, he reached his house before the sky turned dark.
"Any customers master?"
Trace said as soon as opening the door. He closed his eyes to save himself from the bright light of the Everglowing lamp. Without any difficulty, he threw himself on the sofa.
"Not yet. You are tired so I will cook today," Master said.
A month passed and the same schedule repeated. Whenever Trace was able to figure out how to use the talisman, a new one would be given to him the next day. In the evening, he would walk back home and take a nap on the sofa before dinner and then sleep again.
No customers visited in the past month and life was settling in again. Trace wanted to try and open the puzzle box. But Eimi stopped him saying he was not ready yet. Thus, the rigorous training continued for another five days before an event occurred!
…
Inside a pub, the dense atmosphere was chilled by the cold clanking glasses. Waitresses were running about delivering food and beverages. It looked like a normal pub but with a sober glance you could tell that every customer was wearing the same dress.
"Brother, ya have been here more often than before," one man said.
"What about ya, I see ya everytime I come," another man replied.
"We both found treasure, why dontya share it to me. Have another drink, here."
Both men looked around without turning their heads. Their voices were mixed in the chatter of the pub. After making sure no one was looking at them, they smiled at each other.
Paying their dues, they walked out of the pub and headed south. Soon the roads were lonely and cold winds blew in the night. Street lamps were sparse and the houses beside were small.
"Ya better not tell this to no one.
"Not tell no one.
"I met this young master.
"Swear, he was hidin. From god knows who.
"But the Feds got his butler.
"Al hail the Federation. B-but
"They got ma young master's butler," the man shook his upper body towards the side before continuing. "Ya know who helped him.
"Me! Your brother helped tha young master.
"We chase tha damn bird and with a swing ma young master knocked tha guts out of tha young chap.
"He then beat the crap outta a Level 2 Sorcerers, I swear tha rings on all were bloody red."