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

even know he was dead when it happened.

“It’s all right, Tyler. As of now, he doesn’t exist in the physical world anyway. It was

fortunate that a spark remained of him, even without his consciousness. Even I am

surprised that he didn’t return to the magical energy where we came from. Must be the

knowledge and power we obtained from the tablet. At least, there may be a possibility

of bringing him back.”

"Uuhh, how long was I gone?"

"Only for some minutes, I guess. But I was sure you died."

“For a while, I also thought the same. Can we go outside for now? I’m starting to feel

claustrophobic.”

He has started to feel very uncomfortable in the cave, despite the light provided by

Eira. The ruined remains, the overhanging stone roof, the small unlighted corners, the

aura of millennia of dirt and decay, the stale air, not to mention his experience with Hal, all combined to make him wish he was outside as of now. In the sunlight and the fresh

air.

Unfortunately, Tyler had to go out the way and in the manner he came in. A bit painful

with more small cuts, bruises, and scratches. Upon being outside, he put on his armor

and short sword. Eira was already there. He couldn’t get himself to ask her to heal him.

He also realized he doesn’t refer to her as Miss Psychotic anymore in his thoughts.

Which in turn frightened him. A bit.

“It’s going to be dark soon and I’m worn out. Would it be possible to rest here? Are we

still in Fossegrim Forest?”

“We are still in my forest though close to its borders. The mountains you saw coming

here mark my boundaries. Resting now would be a good idea considering what we have

been through. But I will have to take my leave for a while to visit my charges nearby.

Though I have your ring on its way here.”

Eira must have done something while Tyler was struggling to get out of the cave. There

was now a small glade in front of the opening. She must have already thought that

taking a break would be the best for him. Before she left, she conjured up food on the

familiar stone table and chairs, together with a small shelter for him. A low small stone

table with a water jug, cups, a big bowl of water and a towel was also beside the

shelter.

Now alone, Tyler took the time to clean himself up and examine his cuts and bruises.

He found that they were minor and will heal by themselves, unless they get infected.

Scars would be another matter. He doubted if penicillin or any antibiotics existed here

but decided to see a healer once he gets the opportunity. A full magical medical check-

up wouldn’t hurt.

After drinking some water, he rested on one of the chairs. Enjoying the breeze and the

green of the forest around him, trying to shake off the memory of the confining feeling

left by the cave. His thoughts went back to Hal’s words. Physically, he didn’t feel any

different. Mentally was another matter altogether. He could sense a lot of information

at the back of mind.

Though he could remember glimpses of it, they didn’t make sense to him. What he

could remember clearly was already at the forefront of his awareness. These were

concepts which he believed were basic ones relating to Elder energy and its use. What

Hal told him was all there, all he needed to do was focus on what he wanted to know

and the information came to his mind. Well, Hal was right about knowing what

questions to ask.

Tyler didn’t bother yet about philosophical and theoretical questions. Excited as he was,

his query went to magical spells and how to manifest them. I GET TO USE MAGIC! He

was more excited than the time he first began to play that fantastic dragon warrior

RPG. He knew that he had unwittingly done some magical spells before. But those, as

he realized, were from his subconscious, fueled by emotion, and driven by his instinct

for survival.

Before, he couldn’t choose and direct the manifestation of the magical energy. It took the form whatever his subliminal awareness wanted. He also now knew, from Hal’s

given knowledge, how dangerous it was using Elder energy the way his subliminal

consciousness did. Use of such energy in an emotive state actually burns out a mortal

body every time. Eventually, the accumulated toll on his body would either kill him by

straining his body’s organs beyond their limits or drive him mad. To be manifested in a

safe manner, it had to be through his conscious will, guided by the Elder concepts

which he can comprehend. And the basic knowledge about the nature, formation, and

use of his first basic spells were already in his mind. One did need to understand a spell

down to its fundamentals to use it. No wonder it took mortal mages a lifetime to master

spells. A limited number at that, all coursed through the appropriate magical channels

such as runes.

But before he tried out whatever he can actually do, he wanted to test something which

was bothering him.

Hey Hal, you awake? He asked, talking in his mind to the allegedly inert entity. No

answer. Not even the feeling of something or somebody else inside his awareness.

Yo! My man Hal, wake up! No answer. Your butt’s on fire man! Wake up! Still no

answer. Tyler considered that he may be doing something wrong in the manner of

activating Hal. He decided on a direct approach. Hal! I order you to wake up! Hal! Your

master calls! Hal! I'm going to purge you from my mind! Hal! I'm going to die,

help! Nothing.

Sleep well, Hal. He finally conceded.

NOW TO MAGIC!

He was a bit disappointed when he got his answer from the knowledge available to him.

It was limited to a few defensive and utilitarian abilities with only two offensive

ones. Still a noob, he thought to himself. Peek as he may at what he could sense from

the knowledge at the back of his mind, it was still argle-bargle to him.

The first defensive spell was using magical energy as a shield. It simply condenses the

magical energy around the caster to repel physical force. The stronger the will, the

stronger the shield. But