The Magi's Society

Mevi would be bedridden for several days, noticing suddenly in the night the pain that was obviously blocked by Murano’s techniques and medicine. She was able to withstand the pain in silence, so as to not disturb Kalesi. Yet the observant woman was keenly aware of Mevi’s discomfort. It didn’t take long, while being subject to Kalesi, for Mevi to realize the motherly tendencies of her master. Either due to her injured state, or if it was her natural instinct, Kalesi seemed to adopt Mevi entirely and without restriction. Mevi could easily imagine her with several pupils, in the large home Kalesi spent so long preparing for them, and being a wonderful role model for younger children. Kalesi was extremely attentive, yet strict in what she felt was best for the girl. Even while Mevi was in pain, Kalesi was insistent the girl ate balanced and well made food instead of the automatically synthesized rations provided by their food dispenser. Mevi wasn’t even sure how or where Kalesi acquired half the ingredients she used, or if there was some way to use the synthesizer Mevi didn’t understand.

Over the course of the next few days Mevi didn’t see Murano once, but on the fourth day he returned. Mevi had plenty of time to debate his offer, and only had one question to determine her decision. Murano walked into Mevi’s room, holding a large case of equipment and chemical vials, while rifling through his equipment he absentmindedly asked her, “Have you made up your mind? You will only benefit from four of my visits, from my predictions of your injuries and how long they will take to heal.”

Mevi had thought for a long time, and asked her question without hesitation, “If I am to train under you… Will it benefit Kalesi? Will this be able to help her in some way?”

Murano didn’t hesitate, “Certainly. If you train long enough you can heal minor wounds to almost perfect condition, and with diligent practice you might even use your abilities in combat.”

That was the only thing Mevi needed to hear, “I will train under you. But could I ask you a favor before we do so?”

Murano seemed curious as to what she could possibly ask of him, “What might that be?”

Mevi felt her own tension increase as the idea crossed her mind, “Can you explain to Kalesi what we will be doing? I am unsure if I would be capable of fully comprehending it, and am not knowledgeable enough to explain anything myself.”

Murano smiled, the strange grin showing sharp teeth that were hidden by his blue skin, “Of course, young apprentice. I am eager to start. But after I care for your body, and not before.”

Murano’s checkup was quick, and almost unnoticeable with the assistance of his Maige. The strange device was almost familiar in a sort of way, and Murano’s words from their first meeting made Mevi wonder if it was somehow related to her small gemstone treasure. The blue man waved his gauntleted hand across her body a few inches above the bed sheets. Mevi wasn’t certain, but thought she saw a faint glimmering in his alien eyes. Flashes of color, shapes, and symbols raced across his eyes, too quickly to be sure if it wasn’t just a trick of reflecting light. After he concluded whatever examination he conducted he operated on the air, as if there was an interface in front of him. After several minutes of silent, invisible, operation Murano concluded the procedure with placing his gauntleted hand gently onto Mevi’s forehead. A dull glow emanated from his hand as the purple gem pulsed like a faint heartbeat.

Murano’s strange movements were finished. Suddenly Mevi began feeling much more at ease. Her muscles relaxed suddenly, and tension disappeared almost instantly. The throbbing pain dissipated so rapidly that she realized she was incredibly uncomfortable and sore with throbbing nerves throughout her body. The soreness remained, but no longer throbbed or stabbed at her senses as it once did. Her head felt suddenly cleared, as if a fog was removed and she could breathe clearly again. Her chest decompressed, tension built up in her lungs from her not breathing properly due to pain. It felt like a great weight was lifted from her body, like something had been pushing her down and making her immobile but was removed by whatever method Murano implemented.

Before Mevi could thank Murano, he left to the hallway and disappeared to the left in the direction of the parlor lounge. Words could be heard being spoken in a calm tone. While some of the haze cleared, it was still difficult to focus on such small sounds and faraway conversation. She could understand that the two spoke about her, and Mevi heard the word ‘power’. Kalesi seemed to be growing distressed, and asked many questions. Yet eventually the woman seemed to concede in some way, and the two returned to Mevi’s doorway. Kalesi entered first, with Murano standing in the hallway patiently. Kalesi seemed conflicted, or confused, and asked, “Mevi, do you entirely understand what you are agreeing to? What Murano proposed, I can’t recall a time anyone has received ‘private’ lessons to use Manaflow.”

Mevi was less confident in her decision now seeing the concern in her mentor’s eyes, “I.. I am not entirely sure, that is true. But if I can provide some kind of unique assistance, especially if it could keep you safe and be useful, I want to learn.”

Kalesi’s expression softened at her pupil’s words, “How thankful I am to have won the lottery with you. But still, if you can use Manaflow it could endanger your life. I have heard of weak-willed Magicae burning up in their own power and dying. If you pursue this I can't protect you from yourself. I wasn’t even aware you had capabilities of this level, you had plenty of Source within you this is true, but to train in the abilities of a Magicae? I cannot begin to guess what you will do or experience.”

Mevi was not sure what any of these words and terms could possibly mean, but despite her confusion she had only two questions for her mentor, “Kalesi? Would my learning these abilities be useful to you? And do you trust Murano to teach them to me?”

Kalesi thought for a moment, obviously conflicted with what she should say, “Yes, you being able to manipulate even simple Manaflow arts would benefit us… And as strange as Murano seems, he has saved my life before and never betrayed me. I might be suspicious of his superiors, but I at least trust him.”

Mevi was reassured by her earnest answer, “Then my mind is made up. If I have some kind of power, or potential, or any way to be helpful I want to use it.”

Kalesi smiled weakly at the girl, a look like a parent about to give their child away to the wild world to explore on their own, but Mevi’s determination seemed to infect Kalesi, “Fine then. But I will be attending your lessons. If you seem to become overwhelmed or otherwise compromised I will end this experiment of yours Murano.” With the last word Kalesi turned to face the neutral expression of the blue man.

Murano seemed eager with the development. His desire to ‘help’ still confused Mevi, she saw no benefit to him from the deal. But any chance to learn more about the strange world she was thrust into would benefit her, and given the opportunity to grow in a way beneficial to her mentor could not be passed. Murano produced a small glass vial from under his cloak with his bottom right arm, the rest of his manipulators were clasped in front of him or hanging idly. Despite the calmness Murano carried himself with, every movement that reminded Mevi of his extra arms sent a shiver down her spine. The strangeness was setting off some part of her animalistic instinct, but she disregarded it as Murano produced three move vials. The small glass objects were placed gently into Kalesi’s hands, Murano began to explain, “These have a condensed chemical that can help relieve pain for a short time. I suspect her condition will worsen before it improves, and with the operation I conducted tonight she will suffer the worst of the effects. When she feels pain, mix four drops of this liquid into water or some other liquid substance. It will sedate her nerves enough to relax for a while, but only use it if absolutely necessary as it also blocks proper sleep.”

Kalesi nodded, and Murano turned to leave but Mevi called after him, “Murano, I thought you would teach me after I made my decision?”

Murano stopped and looked over his shoulder to respond, “Recall. I said my first duty is to tend to your body. I will return in two days time, and if you are mentally capable we will train then. I suspect you won’t be, but you might surprise me yet.”

Mevi was not put at ease by Murano’s cryptic words. Saying she would feel great pain made her dread what he could possibly be hinting at. His phrase ‘if you are mentally capable’ did not sit well with her, and only caused her to worry about what could possibly happen tonight. She felt so much better after his operation from before, but would soon lose her mental faculties? Or does he mean she simply couldn’t understand his concepts? The man did a good job of answering questions while simultaneously planting several new questions within her.

Murano fully left the room and said his goodbye to Kalesi. He showed himself out as Kalesi sat at the end of Mevi’s bed. Kalesi stared down at the vials, as if she recognized them and did not like what she saw. She seemed to be debating what exactly to say before submitting to a growing sigh and asking, “Well… I suppose we should have dinner. We will face what comes when it comes, and I think a full stomach will help.”

The next two days passed in a blur. Mevi could not recall the pain she felt, her body had become so overwhelmed by spasms and contortion that the memory itself was almost entirely removed. She knew her mentor was with her, helplessly watching her pupil writhe in an otherworldly pain. With the intense agony, set upon her by Murano’s treatment, came hallucinations.

Mevi saw figures, shapes, and horrors invading her reality. Her mentor was drowned in a sea of fear and terror beyond her own reckoning. Regardless of light, dark, or dim monsters assaulted her with their invisible malice. Memories of terror once forgotten revealed themselves to invade her consciousness only to be lost again once they departed. Screamed names and incoherent language echoed out of the small room. Indecipherable incantations of pleading mercy sputtered from Mevi throughout the day and night. Every moment was a waking nightmare, and the medicine Murano gave to alleviate the feelings seemed useless.

Mevi could recall moments of clarity, induced by the medicine, that brought more nightmares than peace. When she could comprehend her surroundings it made the hallucinations more real, and almost made them more dedicated in their efforts to tear apart the young girl’s mind. Mevi could distinctly feel every centimeter of her body, every fiber of clothing and brushing sheet. Her body screamed at the smallest touch, and the enormous quantity of stimuli added to the realistic nature of her hallucinatory nightmares.

Mevi could not rightly comprehend the passage of time, to her it could easily have been weeks or months in the agonizing torment. In a moment of induced clarity, likely from the strange medicine Murano gifted Kalesi, Mevi thought she saw a vision of the blue four-armed man. He rushed to her as if incredibly worried, any words he attempted to use to soothe or stop Mevi’s reactions failed. He seemed to be glowing an aetherial purple, and Mevi’s jumbled memory concluded he was using his device in some way. Yet through the power he possessed he created a mystic sight.

Murano stood at the center of Mevi’s nightmares, the swirling faces of her deepest terrors attacking and penetrating the blue man. Yet he seemed unfazed by the attacks, and instead pulled at the creatures to quiet them within his purple aura. Stealing the monster’s form and essence into himself, and using them to enhance his power, Murano began hunting the things plaguing Mevi’s waking dream. Putting his many limbs to use, Murano pulled at the air and dug into the ground, pulling aetheric magic from the air and earth around him. Even the nightmares he harvested some primal source, using the power he controlled and stole, then Murano quieted Mevi’s terrors. The creeping shadows hiding monstrous forms skulked out of the alien man’s reach, and his looming form posed enough of an intimidating presence that they dared not attack Mevi again. With his strange power, emanating from the purple device in his palm, he quieted Mevi’s thoughts and body to allow her to sleep.

Mevi woke up, unsure of exactly what was happening or how long she had been drifting through the nightmares that stalked her dreams. But as she came to sanity again, she found her mentor sitting in a chair in the corner of Mevi’s room. As Mevi began to stir and search her dark surroundings Kalesi almost jumped up in surprise, or from startle. Kalesi sprang up and called for Murano, who was apparently within their domicile. The blue man quickly appeared in the doorway, ragged and obviously exhausted. Murano maintained his neutral face, but it seemed tinted with emotion of some kind. Mevi could not tell, but he seemed almost afraid of something. Murano slowly entered the room, but didn’t approach closer than past the door frame, “Mevi, how are you feeling?”

Mevi wasn’t sure, but she felt mostly fine if not a little startled from her confused memories, “I think I am healthy, or at least not in pain. I am confused, my memory is hazy but I recall the events of after you performed your strange ritual. Nightmares, great pain…”

Murano’s features were slightly sunken and exhaustion was infecting his posture and poise, “The events you endured… They were not expected. Your physical injuries cured themselves quickly, but your mind produced unfavorable results…”

The three were quiet, and Kalesi seemed ready to yell at the blue man. Kalesi’s face was furrowed with anger and frustration, but she was also afflicted with her own exhaustion. Kalesi stood up and went to Mevi’s bedside, sitting on the edge close to her, and was looking for words she could use. Kalesi eventually found her voice, “Mevi, you were in a state after Murano left. You were under a dark influence for a long time, one which neither of us expected to occur.”

Murano quietly began to elaborate further, “The ritual and methods I used was to promote your use of natural mana, the essence found within a creature’s own body. It would help heal your physical wounds. In addition I attempted to create a sort of hex that would siphon the mana, and thus use it to unlock your lost memories. Its effects were… adverse. Dark shrouds slowly began to manifest, and seemed to be attacking your body in a strange way. I arrived as soon as Kalesi informed me something was wrong. The hex seemed to malfunction due to some unobserved interference, and your memories seemed to almost be guarded in a way.”

The two exchanged looks that Mevi couldn’t translate the meaning of. Her body was tired, and her mind was dazed. She was slowly processing the words the two said, and she was becoming fearful that her nightmarish dreams weren’t nightmares or hallucinations. Mevi wasn’t sure what exactly to say, and neither did her two seniors. Kalesi was gently holding Mevi’s hand, and she hadn’t noticed until now. Her senses and nerves were slowly awakening to their normal state. Mevi had so many questions that she couldn’t process a single one properly. Mevi eventually spoke, with a wavering voice from the exhaustion that slowly caught up with her, “What do I do now?”

Murano didn’t have a reply, but Kalesi began speaking up, “Murano and I spoke at length once you calmed down. He doesn’t possess the skills to properly attend you, or understand what situation you are in. He will return to his order and relay what he observed. Most likely a senior member of the Magicae will arrive and deliver council. We will make our decisions from there. But for now you, and I, rest. I wasn’t expecting to fight shadow creatures, but I think we have both earned a real rest. One uninterrupted by failed novice rituals.”

At Kalesi’s last remark Murano seemed to flinch slightly, but offered no dispute about her assessment. Mevi agreed to the idea of resting properly. It felt like she hadn’t gotten a real rest in many days or weeks. She has lost track of how long it was since she was given to the Barge, but it could not have been very long. Mevi nodded at the decision made by her mentor, agreeing to the terms since she had no alternative. Yet she felt uneasy about some powerful member of ‘The Magicae’, whoever they were, coming to advise her and Kalesi. If she was taken away, or worse deemed irredeemable and disposed of… Mevi couldn’t host such a thought, and quickly shooed away the intrusive paranoia. Yet it remained with her. If her short record on the Barge held anything it was trouble. If what trouble she was shrouded in was too much and she was removed, or sent away, she could easily understand why. Mevi gripped Kalesi’s hand tighter, almost as if holding tighter would ensure her stay with her mentor.

Murano seemed drained, lethargic, and even afraid. He spoke very little, and Mevi could hear Kalesi having essentially a one-sided conversation with herself. Mevi was tired again, and in a recurring moment felt herself falling slowly asleep. The muffled conversation drifted out of her memory, as she descended into her own dreams again. She was left in her eternally empty void. Floating aimless once again, but thankfully free of the dark shadows that usually haunt her mind.