I didn’t reach for my Magic, but there it was. And another even stronger thread that pulled me silently along.
I felt myself drowning.
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
The sun was low when I opened my eyes. Though I was on my back, my mouth tasted like dirt and the metallic tang of blood. A figure stood over me. Two figures. I blinked in the low light and groaned when I realized who they were. Vern.
And Max.
“Easy,” Vern said, as I scrambled to sit up.
“Ugh.” I pressed my palms to my eyes. I felt like I’d gotten hit by a truck. “What happened?”
“You passed out just outside your dorm. Max saw you go down and ran to get me.”
I winced, not wanting to meet Max’s gaze, but all I felt radiating off him was guilt. He put a hand tentatively on my shoulder.
He looked down, his face in shadow under his hat. “I’m really sorry about earlier.”
“No, it was my fault. I shouldn’t have said that. I don’t know what came over me.”
“You did it, though.” His mouth curved to a wry smile. “You cracked the case.”
I shook my head. “What are you talking about?”
He handed me the book and laughed. “You even bookmarked the damn page.”
I looked down; it was a page I had only really skimmed the contents of before dog-earing it and shoving the book at Max. I read the page now, and my mouth fell open.
It was barely noticeable, hidden between two spells to keep amulets from shattering. Another entry, a whole bit I’d missed while trying to wade through the nonsensical spells.
There is a belief among the others that Magia would be less treacherous if one were to perform his workings while wearing an amulet or talisman, in hopes that the excess power may be stored inside. There is certainly no denying that the toll the raw Magia takes on our bodies is not trivial. None of us speak it, but I know I am not the only one disheartened by the circumstances of Hermippus’s death. Master said he died of a heart attack, that it was not related to the Magia he cast during the ritual, but he should have had at least fifteen years left of his life. Perhaps something like this will protect the rest of us, too. Something to bear the brunt of the Magia, much like a hot pan takes heat and we only wield the handle.
Update—
There is discourse among the others. Some of us believe these talismans of power make our workings less efficient, that it limits what we can do. Daelius complains that when he went to heal an ailing cousin, his dear cousin was pelted instead with bits of amethyst rock, and all his other spells are tinged purple.
Many of the others report similar problems. They say their charms do not work unless they are holding the talismans, that their Magia is now insufficient for their needs. They wish to rid themselves of their talismans. I confess I am conflicted as to one way or the other. I do not wish to end up like Hermippus, no matter how much it lessens my abilities. It pains me to say it, but I believe there are other initiates who do not fear this strange Magia as He has bid us to. They reach only for more.
Update—
Alas! In His ever-loving wisdom, He has discovered a way, a resolution to all our problems! I will add the full instructions below.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR UNBINDING FROM A TALISMAN OF POWER
Max frowned. “A talisman of power?”
“I think … an object.* It looks like S and his friends discovered objects, seemingly by accident. And when they didn’t like the effects, they worked out a way to undo the process …”
We looked at each other, shocked.
“I didn’t even know it was possible to become unbound once you’ve started casting with an object,” he said.
“It looks like they found a way.”
My fingers shook as it all swirled around me. It was unraveling, but it all felt so wrong all of a sudden and filled me with more questions than answers.
Our gaze traveled back down to the text.
