Evercrest is a large continent on the planet Dalon. It is surrounded by water on its southern and western borders and by the continents of Trillmon to the north and Persaran to the east.
Both these continents are separated from Evercrest by a great natural channel that begins to the south where both Evercrest and Persaran meet at the Eversea and ends in the Sepia Ocean to the west.
Evercrest is a massive continent mainly ruled by Ancient Vampires.
Dalon has a total of six continents and an abundance of islands. Most of the islands are claimed territories of the six continents, with a few being claimed by pirates.
Trillmon is controlled by Werewolves, Persaran is controlled by humanoids called The Ancients, and both Alis and Masiria are controlled by humans.
After the thousands years war between the True Vampires and the Ancient Vampires relations between Evercrest and Alis and Masiira is none existent while the Evercrest, Tillmon, Persaran alliance remains strong.
The group moved northwest from Attia to Prislan. There weren't many towns in this area and they slept out on the road.
All three of the Ancient Vampires in the group were curious about Patricia. They were already use to Suzan but their grandmother became a new oddity. Besides, they trusted Suzan and she was already family to them.
Luckily Patricia was not as strong as Suzan but she was still stronger than they were comfortable with.
They all tensely sat at what would be their last for this trip. They would finally arrive in Prislan tomorrow.
At least it felt like finally for those not use to all this travel.
Patricia smiled broadly at the three Ancient Vampires.
"Do I make you nervous? I am no where as strong as my granddaughter here."
All of the humans, except for Suzan, became focused as if they had been waiting for this conversation.
"It is not that we are nervous."
"We are nervous Dylan. She is a seer. She knows that we are nervous."
Patricia smiled at Marlon.
"Sometimes I still forget that Ancient for you is not just a title like it is in Persaran."
"I do not understand grandmother."
Patricia looked at Sean as she spoke.
"They recognize my mark." She spoke with a smile. "You are not powerful enough to see it. And I can divert the attention of others from it." She looked at Suzan. "You are too powerful for me to divert your attention but you may not understand marks yet."
Everyone turned to look at Suzan.
She looked blankly for a moment and then her eyes shimmered. Patricia, Dylan, and Elsbeth smiled. Marlon merely looked on knowingly then he shook his head in concern.
"You're right. I do not understand marks. I just thought your eyes were unique."
All of her family looked to Patricia. Identical frowns on their faces.
"Do not worry about it. I will not reveal them." Her voice became stern and certain. Suzan found herself nodding inexplicably.
Patricia returned her attention back to the three Ancient Vampires.
"I already know that I can trust you. My family helped you all those years ago and it is my duty to help you now. Do not worry."
She smiled and looked to Suzan.
"My granddaughter will put a glamor on my face that no one can see through."
Suzan had been in the middle of handing Dylan a bright yellow oval shaped fruit when her face went blank again.
"You need to learn how to suppress, dampen, or camouflage your abilities."
Elsbeth laughed. "Suzan doesn't even know you are talking to her darlin."
Suzan looked up, from smiling at Dylan, startled.
"I need to suppress my ability? What ability?"
All four experienced magic users shook their head but it was Patricia that spoke.
"I have to blame myself to this because I did not have you taught even after we discovered the extent of your abilities."
Suddenly it became a conversation between the experienced magic users.
"If you would have done that she would have been found and my brother would have either had her killed or lobotomized instantly and I would not have had a chance to know her."
Everyone felt Dylan's true pain in his words as if he it had happened before and he never wanted to feel that again.
"I think it is better that she is a natural knowledge imp. It has made her power both more pure and stronger."
"That is true." Marlon nodded appreciatively as a deep purple root vegetable slowly, and discreetly, shriveled to nothing on his palm.
Patricia's eyes widened. "You think she is at that level?"
Elsbeth shook her head. "I would say she surpassed even spell shepherd a while ago."
Patricia's eyes widened. "You mean she understands ancient magics?!"
All three Ancient Vampire nodded solemnly.
Patricia turned to look at Suzan and saw the inquisitive looks on the faces of the others.
She shrugged. "Ask Suzan to explain it to you."
Everyone turned to a stunned Suzan and her eyes widened even more as she just began to explain the different levels of magics and mages.
"Well magic is a fluid thing and putting it into levels is really a none magic user's idea. When you can sense the flow of magic you see the overlap in the levels. Also experience and the spells known are also signs of your ability and therefore your level.
"There are seven levels:
The Magician
The Wizard
The Spell Castor
The Weaver
The Imp
The Imp Mage
And
The Spell Shepherd.
"The Magician knows the most basic of spells. Usually nature magics like making it rain, making things grow, increasing fertility and the like.
"The Wizard knows these basic spells but generally have greater ability or power behind them and they can perform at least one elemental type magics, usually lightning or water.
"The Spell Castor is the first qualitative change in this categorization. The spell Castor can do all that the others can do but now they can do multiple types of elemental magics and spellwork. When they become proficient and move closer to the weaver they can weave all the types of magics they know in more and more elaborate Spell weaves.
"The Weaver is just an I proved Spell Castor. They can weave intricate Spell patterns making them as tight or loose as you want. It is this ability, controlling the tightness of the weave that makes a good Weaver.
"The Imp is the next qualitative change and the bane to both magic users and none magic users alike. They can do everything that the lower levels can but there is an exponential change in power and ability. The Imp becomes immensely powerful and can Chang entire landscapes, they can change the weather for an entire continent, and they can weave any of their known magic into elaborate, nearly indestructible weave.
"The Imp Mage is an Imp that can work all elemental magic but now no longer needs a weave. They become the weave. Their spells natural extend from them at a thought. No runes, no circles, no hand signs or any other aids. They no longer need them.
"The Spell Shepherd is the another qualitative change. After this level ever subsequent level is a qualitative change and become inexplicable. The spell Shepherd not only casts but spells seek them out. Spells want to be used by the spell Shepherd they want to be a part of the spell shepherd's knowledge base. At this level though is instant spell weave. The spell Shepherd can blanket an area in spell weave if need be. Theoretically they could blanket the entire world with spell weave."
She stood as she finished. "I am going to take watch"
"Wait! I will go with you." Patricia smiled to Suzan as she waited and then looked to the three Ancient Vampires with a wink. "We will work on my glamor."
They road slowly the next day. All of the younger members of her family continually asked Suzan questions. And they all seemed to be stalling as if they did not want this leg, or the road trip to end.
Prislan was the indication that their trip was coming to an end.
Suzan had an romanticized view of the entire trip so her expectations had been dashed as soon as they left Attia.
She had wanted to spend as much time as possible with Dylan but whether it was her grandmother or her other family members there always seemed to be someone in the way.
She continually gave up her efforts just for Dylan to figure out a way to sneak to her unseen.
She was beginning to think that all the important people in her life were sneaky.
When Prislan rose before them on the distant horizon they all stopped and quietly looked.
It was probably one of the most modern, or maybe futuristic cities in Evercrest.
All of the buildings were tall sky scraping edifices of deep blue metals and deep purple crystalline windows.
Ancient Vampires had no problems with the light of the two blue stars of Dalon but they liked to break their rays down to better enjoy them.
The purple crystal did a good job of braking Dalon's stars' rays.
These buildings were surrounded by levels of walkways, terrace gardens, and floating shops and restaurants.
They all continued forward, now eager to reach the city. As they got closer and their awe grew everyone new to Prislan stood in wonder.
The entire city floated thousands of feet above the ground on what looked like a wide pool of blue green water.