CoESC Book 18-11.2: By the Sea (Patreon)

The flash of light blinded Elaine, at least for a fraction of a second, before she activated her Reinforcement. Long used to the inscribed spell, she focused her energies into her eyes, which repaired the minor damage and allowed her to adjust her vision. It was just in time to watch the Glyph catch fire, which then flashed the spellcard into dust. 

For a long moment, everyone in the living room could do nothing but blink in confusion and pain, except for Amalia, notably. Elaine couldn’t help but shift her gaze to the mysterious sister of one of her recruits, someone who had not been handpicked by the Sagebright program. And someone who had changed so much that her own brother could barely recognise her. There was also the fact that she apparently lost her memories… but from the way Amalia acted now, she might not have suspected the latter. In fact, the girl’s curiosity over the Glyph overrode whatever natural reaction she had to the bright flash of light aimed directly at her eyes. She certainly didn’t flinch. 

“That’s amazing,” Elaine said with a wide smile. “You have a deep well of power.” 

The Glyph for testing was a simple light spell that was tweaked to draw as many unguarded motes of energy as could be had from the caster. Anyone with an Arcana Heart, with an inscribed spell, would have throttled the flow instinctively, so the test spellcard was best used for the uninitiated yet awakened. 

Lucian’s test had produced an orb of light a couple of inches wide, which meant a bit over ten motes stored naturally in his body. It was just above average, if she recalled correctly; the extreme ends of the bell curve were at a quarter inch and five inches. The mean was at one and three-quarters inches, just above what a 1-circle spell needed. Energetic motes were used to fuel Arcana Weaving, and those were produced by the body by natural means… or in other words, a product of digestion. For novices, a normal meal of bread and sausage would be enough to power a 1-circle spell, but would also leave nothing to nourish the body, or as close to nothing as it made little material difference. It was why apprentices often lost a lot of weight before they learned efficiency and gluttony. 

Ah, about half of the academy’s budget was dedicated to food. The Arcana Heart’s growth meant more room to store motes, and while experience taught efficiency in how to convert calories to motes, the best were only able to squeeze twice as many compared to a novice. And when one could hold several thousand motes within their hearts, that meant a veritable feast every evening, especially with how older magi often relied on Reinforcement to bolster ageing bodies. 

At any rate, Amalia’s reserves were beyond the extreme, which also lent credence to the fact that the girl didn’t awaken as a magi, or just as a magi, which was rather easy to see if one knew what she looked like before her change. Amalia had grown several inches taller, and while she didn’t look all that much older, her features took on a refined cast that only those out of adolescence really took. 

“Cleanse.” 

Elaine blinked as Amalia cast a spell silently, except for the trigger word—which could also be cast silently if converted to somatic—which then scoured the thin ashen film left by the combusting spellcard from the wooden table. Then her eyes darted to Amalia and noted the casual and unstrained use of a spell. So…that added another mark to the notion that the girl wasn’t a true magus. But then, that hardly mattered to Bellemer. As long as one could use Arcana Weaving, one could learn. Amalia wouldn’t be the only cross-trained student either way. 

Elaine offered a bright smile. “Well, that answers many questions, though it raised more in turn.” 

Amalia tilted her head cutely, though she wondered if it was a subconscious thing or one cultivated by her experiences. From what Lucian revealed of his life, Elaine wouldn’t be surprised. Nevertheless, the action did strange things to her heart. “Well, what questions do you have?” Amalia asked. 

“Well, it is clear your lineage isn’t purely of the magi,” Elaine hummed, “yet you were able to easily cast one of the most complex, yet useful spells of the 1st circle.” 

“Oh, Cleanse? Yes, it has been useful in my travels, especially when one has no access to a proper bath.” Or latrines were the unspoken afterthought. 

“Have you heard of an Arcana Heart?” Elaine asked suddenly. Amalia blinked, and there was surprise behind her eyes, except she wasn’t sure how real it was. 

“The strengthening method of magi?” 

Ah, so she did know. “How did you learn of it?” Elaine’s tone was neutral, not at all accusatory. 

“I just do.” 

Ah, implanted memories then? Or hereditary to her lineage. And the most important question was what was Amalia’s actual lineage, and was she still the same sister underneath it all? 

The girl’s stated goal of crossing the Inner Ocean was already suspect. If all she needed was to escape Rakkisgrad and its draconian rule, she need not head for the opposite side of the plane. Sagebright Archipelago was the most egalitarian nation of Irisvaile, and Bellemer wasn’t the only magi academy there. She was also only fifteen, under the age of majority, and technically, shouldn’t be charged with murder. The Irisvaile Accords were clear on what constituted basic human rights and privileges, but reality breaks idealism. 

“Did you have the spell inscribed in your heart?” Elaine thought to ask. 

Amalia shook her head, “I don’t have an Arcana Heart.”

That made sense, of course. An Arcana Heart was built and cultivated from the beginning, and there were few instances where one began with a Heart. But those exceptions did comprise at least one percent of magi. 

“Anything else you want to know?” Amalia’s voice was decidedly acerbic, but Elaine had lapsed into an awkward silence as she pondered.  

“Well, nothing we can determine at this place. Plenty once we get to Bellemer.” 

“I see.” Amalia nodded, then added, “I just wanted to make sure we’re on the right page here.” She continued when Elaine gestured, “My stated goal is to reach Rosen and Solinar. I have to find something there.” 

Ah, perhaps those were part of her inheritance? 

“Which means I don’t want to remain stuck in, er, Bellemer, for years before I can get there.” Amalia leaned back, her eyes shifting left to right. 

“There are many ways Bellemer can help you,” Elaine said helpfully, “And different levels of matriculation. I don’t know what you really awakened, but the academy is more than willing to sponsor your… uhm, quest.”

Amalia stared at her with narrowed eyes, then said, “Does coming with you to Bellemer constitute a binding contract to become a student?” 

“Not at all,” Elaine was quick to reply. 

Amalia nodded, “But there is the expectation, and I don’t want to impose on your generosity. While attending the academy is a boon to myself and my…brother, I would not wish to be tied down. Tell me, how may I repay your generosity?”

Elaine couldn’t help but blink at that statement. Amalia’s intonation and demeanour had shifted notably there. Far more imperious than a child would be, and it wasn’t a cultivated attitude at that. Far more practised with getting her way, from the looks of it, and she was… finding herself agreeable. 

Certainly, finding more magi to take as students in Bellemer was an advantage, but one must allow students to learn at their own pace. They must choose to learn in the first place, and forcing students of Arcana Weaving made for disasters and catastrophe. That was how the Curse happened in the first place, or at least, that was how it was recorded as to how it happened. 

She found herself considering quite a few ideas. She was reluctant to allow a prospective student to leave without enrollment, but if the girl had a quest, well, adjustments could be made. “I suggest attending as a student for at least a term, and allow us to study your lineage. It would take that long to arrange for papers and passage to both nations in the first place, especially if you plan to use the Inner Ocean to travel between the two. Longer if you plan to cross into Chiadon.”

“Alright, I agree,” Amalia said, and Elaine couldn’t help but smile brightly. 

“Excellent. For now, why don’t you freshen up? The bathroom’s there,” she pointed at the door next to the bedroom. “Unfortunately, 202 only has two bedrooms. The boys over in 204 are split between the two rooms and the couch, or rather,” she smirked at Lucian, who looked away without meeting her eyes. “Tristan has the couch since Lucian arrived first.” 

“Tristan?”

“The boy outside.” 

“Ah.” Amalia shrugged. “I don’t mind the couch here. It’s only for one night.”

“Oh, you don’t want to bunk with your brother?” 

Amalia blinked at her, then said, “No.” 

Lucian sighed sadly, and Elaine nodded in acceptance. “Well, dinner’s in an hour or so. We leave at eight in the morning tomorrow, and we have to be at the Sea Sage by ten. That’s the ship that’ll bring us to Bellemer.” 

“You mean the pleasure yacht,” Nemeo said as he entered the room. 

“Hey, it brought us here, and it can take us back,” Elaine scoffed, “Even if it's really a bit small to cross the Inner Ocean.” 

“It’s faster than a cargo ship, and I don’t fancy taking a Season to cross.” Nemeo agreed. 

“How long is the crossing?” Amalia asked. 

“On the Sage, about a month and a half to two months? Depending on the weather. And it’s High Fire Season, so there shouldn’t be a storm in the first part of the journey. But by Septembrius the first storms come, but if we’re lucky, it won’t be on the westside ocean.” Elaine said. 

“Alright,” Amalia stood up and nodded towards the bathroom, “If you don’t mind, I’d love a bath before dinner.” 

“Help yourself.” 

“Thank you.” The girl’s graceful glide was a pleasure to watch, and the way her hips swayed made Elaine question her preferences. She noted with more than a little amusement that Nemeo was also staring, as was Lucian. The boy started when the door closed behind Amalia, and from the look on his face, he was questioning his sanity. She couldn’t really blame him, considering that she’d changed so much and looked so beautiful.

None of them was a good cook, so Elaine called a meat pie delivery place for dinner. They arrived after an hour, and amidst the bustle of getting things ready for departure, they had a working dinner. The forms she had to submit to the harbourmaster needed to be filled out, and the complication of smuggling a wanted woman out of the country occupied her thoughts. 

The answer was a spell, or more specifically, an illusion spell she could cast. The problem was that there was sure to be Kindred there. It was a rare Night Kindred who could bear sunlight without burning, but if they remained indoors and away from direct exposure, they could prove a hindrance. 

She could cast the spell, and she was more than skilled enough for the illusion to be opaque to a Kindred’s Awareness Discipline, but she’d rather not pit skill against skill when failure could cause a war. She wondered if Amalia could learn to cast her own illusions quickly enough to matter, as something anchored to oneself was stronger than a spell cast on another. 

Perhaps it would be better to rendezvous somewhere past the harbourmaster? Or she shouldn’t declare the additional passenger. They were smuggling Amalia out after all. Oh! A mundane disguise would work just as well as an actual spell, and that wouldn’t burn brightly to esoteric senses!

Satisfied with her plan, Elaine went about rummaging through their supplies for a wig. That golden hair was quite eye-catching after all.