“Hungry?” Marl called out. “Pulled out some ellnin to cook. First time we’ve had a chance to eat anything hot since you got here.”
I’m not hungry, I’ve not been hungry. Chuck shook his head. “Not sure I can be hungry. I haven’t been since I got here. Do I need to eat to keep going? All that just brings up more questions in my head. If I only have a mouth but nothing else, then how do I talk? Can I eat?”
Marl shrugged. “Anyone got answers? I only have guesses.”
“I’m guessing, too,” Whyth stood and paced. “Using what Mergrex told us yesterday, I’d say whatever you manipulate integrates into your system. Since you needed to form ears, eyes, and mouth to function—maybe you have to have external stuff, but it works with your body as is?”
Rahmys nodded. “Makes sense. With what happened to you, maybe the Structure adjusted you so that you’d be alive when you got here. You could be self-sustaining—absorbing what you need through your skin?”
“Hand me some of that ellnin. I’d like to see if I can taste it or if I can only smell it.”
Chuck took a bite from the strip Marl handed him and chewed slowly before swallowing. A few bites later, he looked up at everyone staring at him. “Oh, sorry, didn’t mean to make you wait. No problems with me swallowing food. The first couple of times, I felt a tingle inside. Body absorbing it? The flavor changed during those early bites, but has been the same for the last couple. Guessing the taste buds were forming or refining—or whatever works as taste buds for me.”
“Curious. Most curious.” Mergrex floated over and sat next to Chuck. “You, young one, are unlike anything Mergrex knows.”
Marl chuckled. “I think we can all make that statement. Let’s break camp and get walking.”
Several minutes later, the group headed off toward the marsh, discussing Chuck’s biology, laughing, mixed with periods of silence. Chuck used the quiet to practice, turning the skin on his hand and forearm to bark. He didn’t notice Rahmys coming alongside him, watching his practice.
“You're making great progress.” She commented, startling Chuck.
“Uh, yeah, I mean, thank you. I still don’t understand most of this stuff, but that doesn’t seem to matter.”
“Mmhm.” Rahmys nodded. “None of us fully understand magic. Fortunately, it has a natural feel to it, so understanding isn’t required. It helps you do more and be better at it, but unnecessary. Practice is the best way to learn it all, so you’re on the right track.”
“Thanks, helps to know. Comforting, if nothing else.”
“I imagine comforting is a rare thing for you.”
Chuck laughed. “That is an understatement, even before being poofed into some magical world where I’m still not fully convinced I’m not dreaming.”
Rahmys stumbled, catching herself before she fell. “Garffing rock…okay, not all on the rock, though. In all the excitement and running, it never occurred to me until now that you’ve left a life behind. You’ve lost so much more than we have.”
“I’ve also gained.” Sadness muted Chuck’s smile. “I could be dead. Instead, I’m a shuffling mound of meat. Ground Chuck, that’s me.”
“And now you’re trying to put on a brave front for my benefit. Thank you, but stop it.” Rahmys rested her hand on his forearm. “The bark feels real. Anyway, I am sorry for not thinking of everything you’ve been through in just a few days.”
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
Chuck caught himself before dismissing the apology. “Thank you, and I appreciate your concern and apology.”
“I’ll leave you to your practice.” Rahmys quickened her steps, catching up to walk with Whyth.
Walking and practicing took more concentration the longer Chuck worked. Refining his manipulation to control the thickness and to shape the bark all drew his focus away from the steps he took. He formed sharpened fingernails of bark, making an effective claw. Building on his success, he shaped his hand into a two-sided wooden dagger, then elongated the forearm for better reach. He swung at some grass, and the dagger cut cleanly. A little more focus sharpened the dagger edge further.
<< ADVANCEMENT: Manipulate advances to level 6. Component ability has advanced to more granular control. Efforts to manipulate will require less magical energy. Reduction will vary based on complexity and repetitiveness of manipulation. >>
Magic status check.
<< STATUS: Magic: 76/88>>
Any hints on complexity levels and reductions?
<
And no surprises in the vague answers.
<
Humor? I’m shocked now. Chuck waited a few seconds for a reply, none came.
“Hey y’all, just got a message that my manipulation will take less magic to use. Which got me to wondering, are you recharging any faster?” Chuck asked.
Whyth and Rahmys both turned, Whyth answered. “Rahmys and I have been comparing over the last couple of days and both of us are confident we’re recharging much faster. Probably at eighty percent of recharge rate back before the Bythnahr interfered.”
“Do you think it’s me?”
Rahmys took over answering. “Neither of us can think of anything else it could be. Perhaps getting closer to the source, but what both Whyth and I have seen, we don’t think that’s the cause.”
Chuck grinned. “Yay, I’m good for something, at least.”
“Marsh ahead!” Marls shouted from the top of a small rise ahead of the rest of the group.
Jogging to join Marl, Chuck froze in his tracks when he caught sight of the marsh. Red and purple mixed with the green and blue of the meadow, with the reds winning the farther in he looked. The trees looked unnaturally twisted and half-dead. Chuck reminded himself he wouldn’t know what unnatural looked like here.
“Not giving off the friendliest of feelings,” Chuck observed.
“Agree with ya.” Marl muttered.
“Tis no friendly place for Mergrex or others.” Mergrex’s voice rumbled, “Much is hidden, and much is dangerous. Friends, you must be careful as you go.”
Chuck turned to Mergrex. “Sounds like you won’t be going with us?”
Mergrex shook his head. A frown tugged at the corners of his lips. “Alas, Mergrex desires to go but cannot. The waters of the marsh interfere with the rock magic and Mergrex is already standing where his source is weak. To enter the marsh would cause Mergrex to fade into the deep ground, never to surface again.”
“You’d die if you go with us?” Shock colored Chuck’s question.
“Die? In a sense, young one, yes. Mergrex would dissolve and become rock magic, never to be Mergrex again.”
Whyth stepped over to face Mergrex. “We would mourn the loss of Mergrex. There would not be a smiling face to greet us when we return to celebrate our success. A victory that would not be possible if it weren’t for the help of Mergrex.”
The group murmured and nodded their agreement.
“Mergrex is pleased to hear such things. Do not look as if I’ve gone on. It takes the joy out of this time.” Mergrex smiled and nodded to each one in the group. “Mergrex will tell all of your great friendship and will wait eagerly to hear of your success. Now, Mergrex tells you to make your way through the marsh, staying straight east. You will come to flat rocks with small crystals. The gate you are looking for is on the far side of the flat rocks.”
The group gathered around Mergrex, expressing their gratitude with warm handshakes and embracing him in heartfelt hugs. As they descended the hill, the faint squish-slurp of mud underfoot sounded in the crisp morning air. Chuck lingered at the back of the group, casting frequent glances over his shoulder. His heart heavy with a longing to stay and camp with Mergrex for just a few more days.
The ground at the base of the hill transformed into a soggy, yielding carpet. Each footfall sank into the earth, releasing a muffled squelch as mud oozed up around their shoes. With each step, it felt as if the ground was trying to swallow them whole. A few paces into this soft, treacherous terrain, they paused, glancing back over their shoulders for one final wave to their friend standing on the hill. After exchanging silent goodbyes, they turned their attention forward, steeling themselves for the journey into the dense, misty marsh ahead.
The mud, grass, and dirt in front of them exploded upward, tearing gasps and shouts from the group. Deep purple scales covered the arms and claws flailing at them. The ground below them gave way. Soon, they were knee-deep in water. The claws and teeth surged forward at them.
Chuck felt something at his ankle. A glance made him think of rope. His thoughts abruptly shifted when he found himself underwater, rapidly jerked deeper into the marsh's brackish water.