HBWnovel Chapter 3: Abilities and Secrets
Chapter 3: Abilities and Secrets
Chapter 3: Abilities and Secrets
Chapter 3 Abilities and Secrets
I was excited to try out magic for the first time. In the morning, I raced out of the house to the only public bathhouse in Hen’s Hollow. I paid the older woman, who was the attendant and owner, two copper coins. This got me a hot bath and a cold shower rinse, and my clothes were washed with scented soap and dried while I bathed. It was a splurge on my part, but I knew that creating unlimited wealth was in my future. Normally our family would spend 25 steel coins for just a cold shower with soap for all five of us.
I was the only person in the bathhouse this early, as most people showered in the evening before bed. I soaked in the large heated copper-lined tub and used my assess person skill for the first time. The female attendant was barely visible beyond the screen, working on washing my clothes. I focused on the back of her head, not knowing what to do. Suddenly it clicked, and it was kind of like an instant brain freeze, like drinking something cold too fast. I didn’t get a blue screen to appear in my vision but just knew the following information.
Edel Swallowhorn
Age 49
Friendly
After clearing my mind from the excitement of using magic for the first time, I tried the ability over and over on her. On the 6th attempt, I finally received a little more information, and the brain freeze had also lessened quite a bit. Now it was just a brief, light chilly feeling behind my eyes. The maximum range of my skill at its evolved state was about 10 yards.
Edel Swallowhorn
Human Female
Age 49
Disposition Friendly
Intuitively I knew this was the extent of my ability to give me information. The amount and range of information varied for everyone with this ability, and this was my limit. My assess person skill would still be extremely useful. I got a person’s name, age, race, and disposition toward me. At least now, I would never risk forgetting someone’s name.
My aether core was still a bit painful, like constant heartburn. It would take many years of puberty to form completely and for the pain to subside. I think my pain was more intense than the books suggested. Maybe I was just a wimp. I decided it would be worth it in the end, after all—magic. I might have been just over 12 years in sphere time, but it was chronologically closer to 13 and a half in Earth years. People also matured faster in the sphere, and my physical body was that of a 16-year-old on Earth, a gangly 16-year-old going through a growth spurt.
I scrubbed in the tub with a grainy soap and a soft bristle brush and asked a question of the attendant, “Edel, how long have you lived in Hen’s Hollow?” She stopped scrubbing my clothes to answer.
“Storme, I grew up in Haven’s Fjord but moved here with my husband some 30 years ago.” She paused, “If you have time later today, could you and Gareth make a run to the soaper in the city for me? I will give each of you a free cube and 80 steel each.” She waited patiently for my reply. We had made runs to the city for her before and usually received about that amount, and we got a free cold rinse shower for the effort. I thought if I was going to the city later today, I should try to line up some other jobs and bring Gareth.
“Sounds good. How many blocks?” I replied, distracted by my thoughts.
Edel replied with a sly smile, “Eight blocks, two hard soap, and six scented soap.” Damn, that was twice the normal haul. Each block weighed about 5 lbs (2.2 kg) and was cut into 64 cubes. Typically I would have negotiated for more coin before agreeing, but the idea of developing my magic was clouding my mind. I exited the tub and headed to the shower stalls for my rinse. There wasn’t a huge taboo on nudity, so I wasn’t surprised when Edel stood and walked around the screen to hand me a towel since none had been put out this early. I noticed her line of sight drop below my waist briefly, and her eyes widened briefly.
The story was part of the tale of Farrod the Warrior. He was a solo dungeon delver, and the tale focused on how his greed and lust for coin led him to an early grave. I put effort into my copying efforts as the texts were eventually sold by Gareth’s mother for a small amount of coin to pay for her time. She walked around the room and asked questions about the tale depending on where each student was in their transcription. It was to make sure we were reading and understanding the words and not just copying letters. Soon she announced time was up, and the six of us got ready to sprint out of the room. Gareth hadn’t forgotten the bet and was whispering with Freya.
I walked to Freya to interrupt their conspiracy, “Freya, sorry about this morning. Here is a large steel so you can get some honey suckers.” Gareth immediately looked betrayed, his grin fading, thinking I would now win.
Freya grabbed the coin from my hand, yelled, “Gareth’s letters were prettier,” and ran out the door. Gareth’s grin returned immediately. Shit, so much for bribery.
We turned and started to walk out together. Gareth put his hand on my shoulder as we walked. “What is on the list for today? Mother was hoping we could get some spiced sausages in the city that she likes for her today. She gave me a copper to do so.” Gareth always had suggestions on things to do but always followed my lead.
“Well, I made a deal with the bathhouse lady to get soap in the city. But we will need our packs as it is eight blocks. I also wanted to show you something in private. Let’s go to the barn.” My parent’s house had a stable with two stalls, but we had no horses or farm animals. The space was more for storage now and a hangout for me, Gareth, and sometimes Freya. My older brother, Pascal, had a group of friends that played with wooden swords all day, so the space was secure from intrusion.
Once we were secure in the building, I turned to Gareth, “It happened last night. My awakening.” It took a brief second for him to process before his eyes bulged.
Excitedly he asked, “Can you do anything? Did any abilities manifest? Are you stronger? Faster? Can you throw lightning bolts? Fireballs?” Magic was rare, and abilities that utilized aether were a means to gain entrance to a better academy.
“I can do a few things. But this will be the biggest secret I have ever shared with you. You cannot let anyone know, not even my parents. Agreed? Blood-bonded brothers?” I said it in an even and serious tone. Blood-bonded brothers was our oath to each other to never betray each other and come to each other’s aid if needed, no matter the circumstances.
“Blood bonded.” He said in all seriousness. He was rarely serious, so I nodded, accepting the oath.
“First, I have the assess person ability. The ability says you are Gareth Highguard, Age 12, Human Male, Disposition Loyal.” His mouth fell open. We had discussed many abilities from books, fantasizing which ones we might get lucky to get so he knew about the assess person ability.
“No way!” he squeaked out in his hoarse voice. “You can work for the inquisition’s office!” His eyes showed pride and joy for me. Well, he was going to be shocked in a few moments.
“I can also shape metal.” His left eyebrow cocked up, his facial expression of skepticism reminding me of Spock from Star Trek. I pulled a copper coin from my pouch and proceeded to shape it into a tiny cat figure, an ugly cat figure, but you could see it was a cat.
“Wow, a dog!” Gareth rasped out before collapsing in laughter when I said it was a cat. It was a cat, damn it. He thought my failure at sculpting was more humorous than the enormity of the ability or the implications of my shape-metal ability. I quickly changed the CAT back to a coin and handed it to him.
“Angelic saviors, Storme,” he muttered. Well, at least I knew he was being serious as he used my proper name when he was no longer joking. “You are not going to tell your parents?” I shook my head no. Gareth looked incredulous but accepted my decision.
A few moments later, Gareth said, “You have hundreds of paths ahead of you, my brother.” He was still examining the coin when I held up my empty palm, closed it, and opened it to reveal a lump of copper. Gareth partially collapsed to the ground. “Did you just? Is that real? You teleported it, right? Sleight of hand?” I just slowly shook my head. “You can create copper,” he paused, “Real copper? Is it temporary?” his voice was weak in disbelief.
I finally spoke, “It is real and permanent. And I think I might also be able to create other metals.” He was still in shock, so I gave him a few moments to recover before speaking again, “So now we need to start making plans.” He looked up at me, our eyes met, and we both had huge grins and started laughing in unison.