Sorcerer from Another World

I had never walked more than three miles before back home. Watching parts of marathons or listening to charity adverts was the closest I had ever been to a long journey. Thankfully, any pain that persisted I could wipe away the pain with a flicker of magic. The fresh air graced my lungs and I smiled listening to my company - Iris and Morgana - talk. Umbra kept quiet thinking, I could almost hear the cogs turning in her head, whatever she was considering should at least be interesting. 

Iris had given me some clothes. My new boots squeezed my toes tight, but they helped walking over the hard, rocky path. They didn’t help with stabbing pain on the soles of my feet or the aches along my legs. At least the thick cloak kept me warm from the cool winds and I thought of Iris with gratitude every time I adjusted it. 

We crossed over hills, but were gradually descending downhill. The walk gave me time to think inspired by Umbra. I had almost died. I had never been in a fight like that before. A couple of scraps with drunk reckless fools. There was a huge difference in experience between bored, drunk guys wanting to impress their scantily-clad partners and an undead ogre that wanted to crush you.

Thanks to being like Aisling, I had adapted well to combat. I followed Iris, Morgana’s and Umbra’s example on how to fight. 

Ahead, a fallen tree blocked the path. Morgana raised out her arm and it floated it in the air. She, with a magical push, shoved it out of the wave with a clawed grip. Magical powers. I’ve also got awesome sorcery. I had kept us alive back there.

The hairs on my arm stuck up. I shook as I recalled the bloody fight. Should I have said yes to Iris? I leapt into a fantasy. Literally.

I bargained to become a hero. What was I going to do? Have a whiney emotional arc where I avoid my responsibilities before eventually becoming a hero? I could already see the internet comments calling me a beta or whatever term is vogue to attack my masculinity. As Morgana said I smoked an ogre. I’m already a badass and I haven’t even properly experimented with my powers yet. It was like starting a video game fully levelled up.   

I shouldn’t be surprised. But, I was scared. I was not fool enough to believe this is a game. I had known anxiety back home. A pain that had haunted me for years was gone with a little magic and will. Yet fear remained. For this world was dangerous and the only people I knew had a death sentence passed on them by monsters and Romans.

I paid attention to my breath. Good had come of this, Iris, Morgana and Umbra were alive because of my choice. That matters.  

The education system and a bit short of a year as a caller at a call centre had left me poorly equipped to live as an adventurer. To be fair, I doubt my teachers could have predicted I would whisk Peter Pan style to a land of fantasy all on the plea of a woman sounding voice. Women who were equally capable, violent and magical. My four year Maths teacher Mr Fletcher would have laughed in my face at the mere mention of the idea.  

Iris looked cheerful and hummed a song along with her Robin. The brown feathered, red breasted creature was smaller than my fist. What it lacked in size it made up for in cuteness. Though, I had never heard a robin sing before nor any bird as beautifully. Iris sounded like one of them viral hit singers. Watching the bird gave me fond memories of the Robin painting back at my parent’s house.

I wondered if I would see them again. If they cared that I was gone. No one deserves to lose a child, hopefully they would think it a result of the accident. The thought didn’t erase the guilt I felt at leaving them. Nothing I suspected ever would. 

How glum. 

They wouldn’t want that. Dad would say something optimistic and positive. Mom would be concerned I hadn’t eaten yet. I had to make the most of this, for all the effort they put into raising me. I didn’t quite fit in the old world. Here, I had the power to be happy. 

The light of the afternoon sank beneath the hills at our backs. The sun set and I stared into the depthless darkness. So far, we had not met friend or foe along the path. The wind blew the fresh spring leaves away and the cold of night set in. I could barely see in front of me, the stars above giving off very little light.

What was out there waiting? More Redcaps, zombies or something even worse? We had been walking for hours when Morgana called out.

“We’re here.”

The light of the blue moon cast thick, long shadows of the trees that encircled the small clearing. We were a few hundred metres off the path near the base of the range of hills we had crossed over. The ground was flater and more even, the grass less thick and there was a campfire that was days cold in the centre. 

It seemed to be a known spot for travellers to rest. Umbra worked some kind of magic that seemed to shroud the area from unsuspecting eyes. The spell was too weak to stop a penetrating gaze nor could it confuse anyone with at least a modicum of magic or magical training. It was smart, but given the situation they had summoned me most likely ineffectual. 

Under the shade of trees, we sat down and Iris sparked a fire with a muttered incantation. The flames jumped into life and a small trail of smoke followed from the fire. Morgana, Umbra and I warmed our hands by the fire. I watched the flickering embers.

Meanwhile, Iris pulled a pot and some supplies from her pack and began preparing a meal. I’m not sure how she did it but soon I devoured hot mushroom soup seasoned to near perfection.

“We need to take turns keeping watch. These hills are not safe in the best of times.” Morgana claimed firmly after she finished the last spoonful of her soup.

I sighed, “And these are hardly the best of times.”

They didn’t respond to that: Iris looked crestfallen, Morgana stoically stared into the distance, and Umbra gaze burned into steel.

I felt a pang of guilt.  “I will take first watch. I don’t think I could sleep at the moment anyway.”  

Iris frowned, “Are you sure? You’ve done too much already. I’ll go first.” 

I raised a hand, “I insist.”

“Okay.” Iris replied.

Morgana observed us both and then said, “Wake me up, if anything happens. Don’t go wandering off alone.”

I chuckle, “I won’t.”

“When you feel tired, wake me to take the next shift.” She added with a stern warrior gaze. 

“Of course.” I said with a smile. 

Iris came over with a wool blanket. “Keep warm.”

“You happened to have a spare?”

She wrapped the blanket around me until I was snug as a bug, “I may not call lightning from the heavens or wield a big sword, but I can spare a blanket to my saviour.”

Only the top of my head peeks out, but with my voice muffled I said, “I feel warmer already.”

She blushed, “Happy to help.”

I puckered my lips over the blanket’s corners and said. “Thank you, really.”

She smiled charmingly at my gratitude.

I had the powerful feeling that I would gladly die for her. An unwise feeling, I marvelled at how her chestnut eyes glowed in the light of the fire. All hells she was cute. A person takes on a certain beauty when then do an act of kindness. There was also something about being recognised by someone that made me crush hard. 

But, she was likely a lesbian. Maybe Bi, but obviously taken. What was worse was that her girlfriend also made my heart hammer with her easy confidence and competent leadership.

I watched her as she went back to sit beside Morgana. I looked away and rubbed my temples. I should stop with the yearning glances. Despite myself, I looked again. Morgana’s cool gaze met mine. I shifted my gaze to the woods. I, at least, had the decency to not look when they were changing clothes in the sleeping bag. 

Why crush on one unavailable amazing woman when you can kill two or three birds with one stone? Three birds if I was reading Umbra’s not-so-subtle signals. The fact that Iris and Morgana were sharing a sleeping bag didn’t help calm my infatuation one bit. Fuck they’re hot. I wanted them all. 

I tried to think of something else. Anything else. Magic.