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

have done what we have seen, but it seems to be an interesting subject. And also, it's

MAGIC! The stuff of fantasy! There’s nothing on Earth like it.”

“I’ll have one sent to your room. I admit it is an exciting topic. More so when, in this

world, it is real. But you do remember the saying back home about magic being

undiscovered science, right?”

“Yep. Though from you have said, it is the science of this world. It also has rules and

limitations. And watchful umpires. And stern enforcers.”

The priest guffawed. “You’re so right. So very right.”

Tyler took his leave after that conversation while the priest informed him that he won’t

be around again that afternoon up to late evening. Apparently, trade guild matters have

not yet been concluded. He got hold of a servant, took his first bath in Adar, and had a

short nap. The statue he brought up to his room. It was dark when he woke up from

his nap. He was very appreciative of the quiet and restful period for a change.

No painful wounds as his injuries have healed. No cut-throats or strange creatures

trying to kill him. No gods acting like used car salesmen. No fireballs being thrown

around. The pace of near-lethal incidents was wearing him down and affecting his

ability to think.

He looked around his room and saw it was illuminated by two orbs of light on opposite

ends of the room. MAGE-LIGHTS! He immediately got up and inspected one. It looked

like an Earth lamp, designed as a globe with a copper base and attached to the wall. He

curious why it had turned on. He thought it may be magically made to be

photosensitive as he couldn’t see any switches or something similar to turn it off. He

touched the orb and it turned off. Touching it again made it flare its brightness across

the room. Then he did the same thing again. And a third time. He had an absolutely

silly grin on his face. Neat!

The house was illuminated the same way. Mage-lights lined the hallway and the stairs.

There was a big one in the main hall. He found his dinner waiting for him, with a book

beside his plate. It seemed the Gothi adopted Earth utensils as he found a spoon, fork

and a dinner knife arranged in a proper manner alongside the plate. The plate was a bit

heavy and upon examination, he found it was stoneware. He guessed porcelain or

ceramic based amenities are still not that common in Skaney.

The book was the one he requested. Examining it, it was of bound parchments and written or more likely, copied by hand. He surmised that the Gutenberg press still has

to make its debut. He went back to his room and changed into sleeping clothes. He

looked forward to a good night’s sleep and an interesting read beforehand. He barely

finished the book’s preface when he fell asleep.

Suddenly, he could feel the wind upon his face. Upon opening his eyes, he found

himself back at the lake. Standing in the place where he camped.

This is a dream, Tyler thought. The familiar rocky cliffs on the other shore looked hazy,

only his immediate surroundings were distinct and vivid.

Now, where’s Miss Psychotic? Probably at my back, He mused.

“Hello, Tyler.”

Touché. Though a bit cliché.

He turned. There she was. This time, in full and complete view. In color. Breathtakingly

beautiful in person. Long black hair, flawless skin tone, displaying a combination of the

best of Nordic and Mediterranean features. She was tall, though not as tall as Tyler. If

he didn’t know any better, he would have guessed her age at around eighteen to

twenty years old. She was barefoot and wore a simple white sleeveless summer dress

of some sort, decorated with small yellow flowers in a dotted pattern. With the absence

of any jewelry, she looked incredibly sexy and pure at the same time. Her emerald eyes

were startlingly gorgeous.

Shit, I would be totally in love if I didn’t know any better, reflected Tyler.

“Uhhh…. Hi?”

“I guess this must be unsettling, my kerasti,” she said, “for that, I apologize.”

That voice, Tyler thought, that ethereal and musical voice. Then something broke

through his musings and poured cold water on Tyler’s rising libido. Did she call me

beloved? She slapped me last time and now I’m her boyfriend? When did that happen?

The incongruity of the situation helped bring Tyler back from his foggy infatuation. Even

then he could smell flowers in the air. A hint of lilac, with lavender, with a bit of citrus.

Reminded him of a perfect summer morning.

“I am sorry I slapped you the last time we met. I’m also sorry I had to do what I had to

do to get you to bring back the statue with you. But with all the protections of the

priest’s house, I had to have a connection near you to manifest. Even only in a dream.”

“That’s a lot of apologies. You still haven’t given me your name.”

“Oh, I am…… sorry again. Sigyn.”

She looks more beautiful when she has that apologetic face, observed Tyler. Oh freak,

what am I thinking?

“I would have waited for a more propitious time but matters appeared to be getting out

of hand. Some seem to have taken a dangerous interest in you. Odin, I can understand,

but the others puzzle me.”

She doesn’t know about Loki, he realized.

“Ymir is simple enough. Anything which Odin may be interested in or will appear to

desire also interests him. Be thankful Sutr has not acted yet, even if the passage

through a portal is immediately felt by those with the power to notice it. The two other

groups are unknown players. I couldn’t get through their magical shielding which

means a god’s hand is involved.”

“So I guess you’re not with the Nordic divinities?”

“NO! To them I am but a lesser spirit, barely above mortal. Let them think that! All

these millennia and no one among them ever thought about the source of Odin’s

power, or becoming his equal! Or more than his equal! Why? Because they can’t think

beyond themselves! Or they’re too busy with all their scheming, their petty grievances,

their arrogance! I have been here even before the Great Migration. Even before the rise

of your mortal towns and cities! And