The Rifts of Psyche by Kyle West (i love reading .txt) 📕

place on another mage, or in the world itself. It requires more magic than a ward – the farther you stream the brand, the more ether required. You can create a branded light sphere, for example, that will remain in place for hours and specify it to remain a certain distance from you.”

Lucian had always thought light spheres were active streams. “That would be useful.”

Erymmo nodded. “Indeed. Advantageous if you’re traveling at night, and it uses less magic than an active Radiant stream. And to answer your original question about being blocked, that would be a Psionic brand formed around a target mage’s Focus. You would have to contend with their own defenses, be they wards or shields, and it takes at least a few seconds for even the most accomplished of mages to lock the brand in place. Basically, once you’re experienced enough, you can feel it happening and hurry to defend against it.”

“So, how do I defend against it?”

“A Psionic ward is usually sufficient, and you can get one up faster than it takes a rival mage to block you, assuming a fast reaction time. But as discussed before, a ward itself can be overpowered, especially if you’re caught by surprise.”

“Okay. I think I’m ready to learn how to ward, now.”

“I should first say, I have not had a Psion in many years, young mage. As with Elder Jalisa, my role is that of healer and prophet for Kiro.”

“A prophet? Does that mean you interpret dreams?”

“I do. Depending on the dream. Why do you ask?”

If Lucian told him his dream, he would have to reveal his knowledge about the Orb of Binding and the Orb of Psionics. Perhaps he could only tell part of it, but of course that risked Erymmo figuring out the rest on his own.

“Have you ever heard of Shantozar?”

Erymmo went stiff at the mention of that name. It clearly meant something to him. “What do you know of that? Where did you hear that name?”

“It was mentioned in my dream. Who was he?”

“Who mentioned him?”

Lucian hadn’t expected that question. But Erymmo’s steely gaze could not be denied.

“Someone calling herself the Sorceress-Queen.”

Erymmo’s expression went ashen under the light of his light sphere. Whatever answer he had been expecting, it clearly hadn’t been that. Lucian had made a mistake in saying that much.

“We must return to the village,” Elder Erymmo said. “It’s safe to say our lesson on wards must come at another time, but certainly before you go to sleep tonight. Elder Ytrib must hear of this.”

10

Apparently, Elder Erymmo judged Lucian’s dream important enough to even gather the other Elders, despite the early hour. Elders Jalisa and Sina joined Lucian and Elder Erymmo in Elder Ytrib’s hut. Elder Gia set before them a meal of flatbread, rice, and fish, and they ate as Lucian explained his dream. He left out plenty of crucial details, essentially only telling them that the Sorceress-Queen wanted him to find the Orb of Psionics, saying he was something called “Chosen.”

As soon as he finished, Elder Sina scoffed, her bone jewelry rattling as she shook her head.

“Why do you lie, boy? What would the Sorceress-Queen want with a young whelp like you?”

“I agree that it doesn’t make sense,” Elder Ytrib said, eyeing Lucian anew. “It would seem that you are far from what any of us expected, though in what way, it’s hard to decide.”

“He has great potential,” Elder Erymmo said. “Never in all of my life have I felt a Binding stream so pure. Even the Masters of the Mako Academy never approached this level of purity.”

“Might we see for ourselves?” Elder Gia asked gently.

Lucian realized he had no choice. How soon before they guessed the truth? Or was the truth so unbelievable that they would never consider it in a million years?

He had to hope it was the second one. He focused on a nearby empty cookpot, tethering it to the ceiling above. It floated in midair, and Lucian’s skin prickled. That feeling was every single Elder following his stream.

“That will suffice,” Elder Ytrib said. “Rotting fish guts. You weren’t kidding, Erymmo.”

Elder Sina gave him a hardened stare, as if suspecting some trick. Elder Gia’s face was ashen, as if what he was doing was impossible. Elder Jalisa watched curiously, her dark eyes shrewd.

“You must explain,” Elder Jalisa said, her voice reedy. “If my estimation is correct, then you can stream that Aspect indefinitely, almost without limit. That is not something even the greatest Binders can do.”

Lucian cleared his throat. “I don’t know how I can. Binding has always been my strongest Aspect.”

“You said last night your primary was Psionics,” Elder Ytrib said. “Why are you changing your story?”

“What you are doing is impossible,” Elder Sina added. “I’ve seen nearly eighty percent purity before, and never thought I’d see anything exceeding that. Your stream, Lucian . . . unless I miss my guess, is one hundred percent pure magic. Manifoldic toxin is absent from your stream entirely.”

“What of the other Aspects, Elder Erymmo?” Elder Ytrib asked.

“What I’ve tested so far is all polluted, as might be expected. His Psionic stream is quite pure for a mage of his ability level, while his Radiant stream is of middling purity. I suspect his tertiaries will be even more inefficient and didn’t deign to test them.”

“I see.” Ytrib’s brow furrowed in thought. “Since all this is so highly irregular, it might behoove us to test all his Aspects. Even the quaternaries.”

“If I’m expected to stream later today in the valley,” Lucian said, “that might exhaust me.”

“Maybe so,” Ytrib said. “But if your Binding is truly this pure, then you will at least have access to that Aspect. I don’t see how you can possibly mask the purity of your stream.” He nodded, stroking his beard. “Go ahead, Lucian. Let’s test the other Aspects.”

The Elders watched carefully as he streamed each Aspect, except for Atomicism. As with Elder Erymmo, he performed the same basic tests – lifting the pot with Psionics