The next morning, Lina looked out the window of Kraden's hut and grimaced.
'They don't know how to put up a stone building?' Lina thought. "What happened?'
Kraden came back into the hut and he was smiling immensely.
"Good news, Lina. Your new home is the house just south of mine," Kraden said.
"Fine. Um? Jenna said they don't know how to put up stone houses, but she's wearing clothing that looks like it.... I'm not explaining this well," Lina said.
Kraden took off his glasses and nodded sadly. "My theory explains that, but I'm not sure if it's wise to discuss it."
"Okay. How about the history of Weyard."
"The basic history of Weyard? A long time ago there was a cataclysmic war using Psynergy. The survivors sealed Alchemy away to promote peace."
"Seal Alchemy away? What does that mean?" Lina asked in confusion.
"What you do. You freely mix the elements however you want. Alchemy is using Psynergy to mix elements together. Most of Alchemy has been sealed away. Only a few can use it now."
"That is stupid. Just because some idiots abused magic, they took it from everyone," Lina objected.
"It happened because everyone wanted peace. Now then, your world's history? Would you please tell me about it?" Kraden said, as he put his glasses back on.
Lina sighed and started with the basics of the staff of the gods that holds up the world and the initial fight between Ruby-Eye and the Flare Dragon. She went on to explain the Dark Resurrection War and the aftermath and then later the destruction of Sairagg by Zannifar. Kraden listened attentively. He quickly asked about certain spells and what they did.
"When that barrier went, you lost Holy Magic. Is that correct?" Kraden asked.
Lina nodded. "Yes. We lost a branch of magic completely."
"Maybe not. You mentioned the Holy spell: Ray Freeze and the Spirit magic called Shadow Snap. Your people were able to come up with an alternative in Alchemy to make up for the loss of a branch of magic. I'm sure if you keep at it, you'll probably come up with a way to cast a spell similar to Dragon Slave without using the energy of those entropy creatures you call Mazoku to do so"
"You have to be kidding," Lina said with a laugh. "A human can't channel that much power by himself or herself. The Dragon Slave is at the maximum of human capacity."
Kraden shook his head. "You've seen people lift weights to get stronger, right?"
"Yes," Lina said slowly.
"The same thing applies to Psynergy or magic. If you exercise with it, it will get stronger," Kraden said. "That war you mentioned cost your people some ideas and attitudes. Although in your case, the attitudes would have been changed quickly enough. When you wanted to, you were able to alter two of your spells to help you solve a puzzle."
Lina sighed heavily and thought about Kraden's words.
'He's right. My fireball is just as strong as a third rate magician's fireball and no stronger and no weaker. I'm going to have to make some changes in my thinking. I guess I can spend a couple months' here learning new ways to exercise my magic. Although, pretending to be a Water Adept is going to be irritating.'
"Kraden? You will be able to teach me how to use Water Psynergy to heal?"
"Yes. Of course. Although the best of the healing spells is in Earth which is called Revive."
"I'll figure out something," Lina said. "Now, I had probably better see my house."
Lina left and headed south and came upon another wood and straw house. Lina sighed and entered the building. A basic mattress on a wooden frame served as a bed. A very primitive stone fireplace was near one wall. Lina sighed and went to work. Since she was going to be known as a Water Adept, she stuck with Water spells to clean the place up and used ice spells to prop up stuff, until she could fix it by hand. She soon heard a knock on the door.
"Come in," Lina called.
Jenna entered with two boys about her age. One was wearing blue clothes and had blond hair. The other was a redhead wearing a brown jerkin.
"Lina? These are my friends Isaac and Garet," Jenna said.
"It's nice to meet you," Garet said.
Isaac nodded his head politely.
"I know you can hear this Lina. Isaac has been quiet and determined since that storm so long ago, since his father was killed as well," Jenna whispered. "Don't take any offense about him being quiet."
Lina nodded back at Isaac and did not mention anything about how quiet he was. After talking a bit, Jenna and her friends left Lina alone. Lina looked out the window of her new home.
'Nice people. I do feel sorry for Jenna in losing her whole family to a rampaging boulder and a severe storm.'
Over the next week, Lina learned a lot from Kraden on using water Psynergy to heal. She was surprised when Jenna started using some of her Fire Psynergy to heal as well. The two of them really didn't have that much work to do as healers, but they did have some. Lina got along well with Jenna although the two of them were usually working closely together. When Lina was alone with Kraden near the end of the week, she finally voiced her concerns.
"Kraden? Why is Jenna spending so much time with me? I thought she and Isaac were...."
Kraden took off his glasses and wiped them clean with a cloth. "Jenna lost her whole family. Isaac still has his mother and Garet has his huge family. You're family might still be alive, but you are cut off from them due to the way you were brought here. You're also a girl about her age and she can talk to you about certain things that she can't talk to Isaac and Garet about."
"Oh," Lina said, looking out Kraden's home. "Aren't there other girls about our age?"
"Not in Vale. The two of you are it," Kraden answered sadly. "All other girls are older or younger. It's not that bad, Isaac and Garet are the only two boys about your age in Vale as well."
Lina grimaced. "No offense, but Garet is not my type."
Kraden chuckled at that. "Amusing. At any rate, that's why Jenna hangs around you. She needs someone other than Garet and Isaac to open up to."
Lina looked a bit uneasy at Kraden's explanation.
"I'm not the best person for something like this," Lina muttered.
"But, you're the only one here," Kraden countered.
Lina sighed and nodded in resignation.
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(Posted Mon, 10 Apr 2006 11:55)
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