The Accidental Archmage by Edmund Batara (read out loud books .TXT) 📕

German was more popular before the war. Just

before I entered college, English was made a second language in my country. Let me

fix the water first.”

Tyler watched as Ivar lifted the jug and looked at the bottom of the container. He then

placed his left fingertips on the bottom and whispered something. Satisfied, he gave the

jug to Tyler.

“Water purification magic as you may call it,” explained Ivar, “there’s a rune etched at the bottom of the jug. It’s usually effective for a month or so but it would be impolite to ask the hosts about it. I charged the rune for them. The water is now safe to drink.

Most of the water sources around here are safe but it’s better to be sure about those

things. Unless you want to be on intimate terms with the outhouse.”

Tyler took the jug.

“Would it be okay to drink straight from the jug?”

“Yes, the purification rune continuously cleans the entire thing. Though I apologize for

our hosts not providing a cup.”

Ivar took the jug from Tyler after he drank and showed him the bowl. It had a wooden

spoon.

“Some sort of gruel. Still warm. Don’t ask me what it is. Have no idea. But definitely

food. Your body can’t take in regular solid food as of now. You want me or Helga to

feed you? Your left arm could be a problem.”

“Can I now sit up at least? If I can, then it’s good. The bowl on my lap and I can use

my right hand.”

“I guess so. The healing I did should be in effect up to now. Does the area around your

wound still feel warm?

“Yes.”

“Then you can sit up. The healing effect should stop any bleeding from the movement

and the pain you feel now won’t increase.”

Tyler sat up on the bed, with the healer helping him with the movement. The bowl was

placed on his blanket covered lap and he started eating.

Ivar returned to his chair and waited for Tyler to finish. After the bowl was empty, he

took the bowl and returned it to the table. He picked up the vial and gave it to Tyler.

“Drink this. It’s a health potion. For more healing and stamina.”

Tyler drank and returned the empty vial to the Swede who placed it in in a robe pocket.

“That wasn’t bad,” Tyler said, commenting on the food, “tasted like oatmeal with

honey. That potion smelled and tasted alcoholic, with a sharp bite and some sweet

aftertaste.”

“The potion is based on mead, with some healing mixtures. The sweet taste is probably honey to mitigate the bitterness of the other active ingredients. Healers have different

versions of health potions. Helga’s potions are better than some.”

“Can we continue with the lecture? Information is a premium for me now. I hope you

understand,” asked Tyler who remained sitting up, legs crossed, the blanket covering

him up to his waist.

“I should charge you for this,” joked Ivar.

“The check is in the mail.”

“I know you have a lot of questions,” said the Gothi, “so did I, when I first arrived. But

there will be questions I will have no answers to or cannot answer because of some…

constraints. Divine constraints, to be more truthful. Divine as in the deities of this world.

Not The Divine as in the Creator, God, Allah or Yahweh, depending on one’s religious

leanings. After I finish replying to what I can answer, you can tell me what you know

about Earth’s history from the time I left up to the time you found yourself here.

Agreed?”

“No problem. Ivar, why do I now feel so calm about this entire situation? I was starting

to get angry when I woke up. A homicidal arrow stuck in your body tends to do that.

Come to think of it, why did I readily agree to your offer? I should be asking you about

the reason why, considering you mentioned letting go your life on Earth.”

“Helga’s potions usually have a mild sedative effect. Though in your case, I asked her

to make it a bit stronger. I was worried that your… hmmm … unique circumstances

would not only make you angry but also violent. Strange but I could feel your anger

way out in the yard when you woke up. The increased dosage of that particular potion

also had the nice side effect of creating a somewhat trusting discernment on the part of

the patient. Don’t get me wrong. But generally, health potions here have the same

sedative, or to be more specific, calming, effect. It makes things easier for the patient.

And also the healer, if the healer is present. Like me.”

“And your reason for being interested in the information?” Tyler asked, latching on to

the idea, feeling the need to have a counterpoint to his drugged state of mind.

“You really have a stubborn, unique and perceptive mind, my friend,” remarked the

Gothi, “But a time for confessions, I believe. Better to strengthen your trust than break

it later.”

“For one, this body, or your image of it,” continued the Gothi, using both hands to point

to himself, “is an illusion.”

The Gothi murmured something and suddenly, a younger version of Ivard appeared. A young man who appeared to be of Tyler’s age. He looked at Tyler and smiled.

“You’re as old as me, Mr. Gothi,” Tyler dryly observed.

Privately, he noted his lack of surprise at the abrupt change in the appearance of the

man beside him.

“Freaking organic Valium!” he thought, “I wonder if I can get some sort of regular

prescription for it. I think I really need it. For the next few months at least.”

“As I said, time passes slowly here… Havard,” the Gothi answered, recalling Tyler’s

other name, “it has been a little more than eight months since I arrived. I have been

told that the Earth to Adar time difference is around 1:75. One month here equals 75

Earth months, more or less. They do have a different way of reckoning time here so

what I have is an approximation. The time dilation has to do with the magical nature of

this world. Other than that, I don’t know anything more. So, as you can see,

technically, I am also a recent guest.”

“Who told you about the time difference?” Tyler asked, satisfying his divergent