The duo walked for miles, but only one of them showed signs of fatigue. It had been many years since they had been to a mortal world and the mana here was different.
In the heavens, where most immortal mages try and find their place, mana is boundless and powerful. But here the mortal mana was full of life and vitality. It swirled around the land, changing, and growing.
It made Aleius feel at peace, he had forgotten how suffocating the heavens truly were. The mana there dominant, it easily resists the push and pull of weaker immortals.
However, as they entered the forest, he felt the mana gave life to the land, the air, the wildlife.
Easily swirled and manipulated.
It was freeing.
The scent of nature embraced his nose.
His wolf senses peaked; a slight smile revealed his fangs.
The birds in the sky, the bugs in the dirt, the sway of the trees, the colors, the smells, the feelings.
He felt at home.
Memories of a little white wolf in a pack of eight, they followed the Den Mother through the snow-covered forest looking for food.
One of the earliest memories he could remember, it was funny this forest could evoke such a thing.
Maybe he was homesick.
"We've been walking for a while now, and the sun is still high in the sky. I wonder what the cycles are like here." Baltar said slightly fatigued, as their feet crunched through sticks and leaves.
Aleius was shaken from his thoughts, "Hmm." He didn't really notice.
Baltar stopped and held his arm out in front of him, he seemed to concentrate for a moment then…
Nothing.
Aleius looked at him awkwardly.
"What are you doing?"
Baltar's face scrunched, then turned to a pout.
'Lords, he really does look like Balshana.'
Baltar turned to him, "I just realized. I have no idea how to use mortal magic."
"Huh?"
He was confused.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, I can't figure out how to cast anything. I feel the mana surrounding us but when I pull it into my blood and try and manipulate it. Nothing happens."
Aleius facepalmed.
"Of course, nothing happens. That is not how mortal magic works."
Baltar's face turned sour, and Aleius watched him sympathetically.
"Were you never taught?"
He shook his head, his long auburn hair dancing in the sun.
Aleius raised his brow, 'Balshana always spoke about how he saved her before.'
"How did you fight for Balshana if you didn't use magic?"
Baltar looked at him playfully, a smile adorning his charming face.
"Oh? Bringing up that past. I just did what all useless mortals do, I used a sword."
Aleius sneered, "You're telling me you killed the Black Phoenix King, one on one, with mortal iron, no magic enchantments, or summons?"
"Yeah." Baltar shrugged.
Aleius pictured the hulking battle-scarred warrior Baltar was. His crimson hair blowing in the fiery wind of a warzone. Iron-like eyes that stared down any opponent, never afraid. The strong and reliable hero, fighting for truth and family.
It was a strong contrast to the dainty-looking man who pouted with his hands out in front of him.
"I doubt you'll be able to go back to wielding a sword with your new body."
Baltar looked troubled but agreed. "Yeah, Balshana had to have the last laugh."
He considered his hands and arms, touching his face and eventually combing through his hair with his fingers.
"Some women can be completely insane."
Aleius chuckled, "Are you unsatisfied? She did resurrect you."
"She could have given me my body back. The spell she used is a soul-linking spell."
Aleius's opened his mouth aghast, "Soul-linking! She spliced you into her soul?!"
Baltar nodded grimly.
He didn't know what to say. The Mother Phoenix was a deity, as old as time itself. If they shared a soul, they would die together.
"Don't worry about it Aleius, I was going to retire anyway. But if she wanted to force it on me, the least she could do was give me my body back."
Aleius sighed. "She said it was a side effect of the spell."
Baltar laughed loudly, scaring away the birds in the trees.
"And you believe that? She just wanted to deter the other girls, she knows for a fact Kyoko and some others wouldn't like the resemblance."
Aleius shook his head, "I don't think she would change your body for such an absurd reason."
Baltar nodded and clapped him on his back. "You have a long way to go little wolf."
"You're calling me little wolf when you can't even cast a spell. Remember Balshana put a seal on your bloodline."
Baltar's face froze. "Your right, this seal, and I can't use the mortal way… DAMMIT BALSHANA!"
He snapped his neck to Aleius. "Brother you have to teach me!"
"I don't know, I thought I was just a little wolf."
"Big wolf, BIGGEST WOLF!" Baltar gestured with his arms. "Bigger than these trees, bigger than the entire forest!"
Aleius shook his head. "No no no, now I'm too big. I can't teach if I'm that big."
Baltar sulked, "You're the perfect wolf, perfectly sized to teach me magic."
Aleius nodded with his eyes closed. "Mm, that sounds about right, perfect wolf it shall be."
He opened his eyes, "Kneel and accept the perfect wolf as your master!"
"Fuck you!" Baltar shoved him and they both started laughing on their way through the forest.
Their travel was pleasant. Although they had to make their own path, the sun stayed high in the sky, and the foliage was open. The trees were not too close together, the bushes didn't grow to high, and the grass didn't hide any many unseen threats. The only problem was the…
"Ouch!" Baltar lifted his foot pulling out another splinter, it had to be at least the fourth in the past hour.
"Circulate the mana surrounding us into your body. It'll toughen up your skin."
Baltar glared at him; his golden eyes were miserable.
"This wouldn't have happened if Balshana just made us some shoes."
"Complain all you want; I haven't had any problems." Aleius chuckled in response.
"You were born with wolf feet, it's not fair. A phoenix is supposed to fly!"
"Wolves have paws, Baltar, not feet." He sighed seeing the pitiful man. "Look, just take the mortal mana and circulate it in your body."
He tried to teach him the most basic of mortal magic, but it was like Baltar was completely boneheaded. He couldn't even understand the first steps!
If he didn't know any better, he would never believe this man to be an immortal, let alone one of the most powerful bloodline wielders in existence.
"My feet hurt!" Baltar made a face.
"Don't pout, you look just like Balshana when you do that."
Baltar gave him a mischievous smirk. "Then carry me on your back."
"No." He flatly refused, but the pout returned.
"Baltar come on…"
Baltar crossed his arms, his delicate face sullen and pitiful.
"Fine, get on my back." Aleius sighed and knelt.
"HELLS YES!" Baltar didn't hesitate and jumped on him, his face a big smile.
"Your tone changed quick, I hope you're ready, I'll show you some of that mortal magic you look down upon."
"Go ahead, show me." Baltar grinned from over his shoulder.
Aleius pulled in the mana from the surrounding forest. The natural energy consolidated in his mana pool, ready to be manipulated. He pushed on it, circulating it through his veins and strengthening his body. Then, he radiated the mana from his body. It coiled around his feet in ambient blue wisps.
Now he only needed to speak the words, and the mana would obey.
"Voos!"
The wind around his legs picked up and, in an instant, the two men vanished into a trail of leaves.
It only took about 30 seconds before Aleius stopped at the edge of the forest. The forest was much more open and traveled. There were pathways and tracks that showed signs of others passing through.
"I smell other people close."
Baltar climbed down, the two men were about the same size, 6ft tall with lean builds.
Aleius stretched his back, but Baltar knelt, gasping for air.
"Is that all mortal magic can do?" he said between breaths.
Aleius looked over at Baltar's drained face and disheveled hair.
He looked like he just tumbled through a whirlwind, but still had the mind to make a smug comment.
"Mortal magic can only go as fast as the wind. Which, I'll remind you, is much faster than your two fragile little feet."
Baltar nodded and stood up, "That is true. I've had enough splinters and thorns, and my weak body is getting bothersome. Even just traveling at that slow speed was enough to nearly break my neck.
He was used to using his bloodline for nearly everything, body strengthening, magic, smell, sight, hearing.
He didn't want to admit it, but he was just an average mortal now.
He knew deep inside he could break Balshana's seal at any time. After all, when it came to wielding the bloodline of the phoenix, he was even stronger than the Mother herself.
He ran his fingers through his hair, beads of sweat formed on his forehead, and the heat of the sun started to get to him.
He watched Aleius as he put his nose to the wind, sniffing. His milky white hair was crisp and clean with no sweat, and no pink in his pale face.
Something had to give, he couldn't spend the next hundred years as a mortal.
He would die!
"I sense two others close by let's continue." Aleius began walking, but Baltar just watched his back.
Aleius was just as he always was, loyal, dedicated, smart and kind. Even after thousands of years he recalled the mortal magics in only a few hours.
Baltar always respected the little wolf, he had come a long way from the pup he remembered during the Oblivion of the white star.
It was a good thing because he would be depending on him for the foreseeable future.
Aleius peered behind him, "Are you coming?"
Baltar was shaken from his thoughts, "Yeah… I was just thinking your back has gotten a bit wider."
"Oh?" Aleius looked at his shoulders and flexed. "Maybe your right, all those years in the ground did me some good, huh?"
The two laughed, as the gentle forest breeze picked up, leading them down an ambiguous path.