The Essence of Magic

The longstanding myth about twins is that there is some kind of a spiritual tether between them, that they can feel each other’s pain or know what the other is thinking. Naturally, in the world they knew before, this was definitely not true. It wasn’t realistically possible, they thought.

To others, it always seemed the possibility existed, that some kind of “twin telepathy” existed that defied the logic of natural order. Watching the twin brothers zip around a basketball court or soccer field, seeming to know exactly where the other would be and what they would do next.

It’s not as if one brother was actually able to feel the other’s pain. It’s not even that they could hear each other’s thought. It was as if they were able to act in accordance with the other, as if purely instinctually, to collaborate on effectively any given task. This was the kind of bond, the kind of connection that Caleb and Reese shared.

They assisted each other. Pushed each other to greater heights, even if the task at hand seemed insurmountable. Their trust for one another, their ability to read each other and perfectly complement the other, was a gift certainly worthy of being deemed “otherworldly.”

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“CAL!”

Reese cried out to his brother and extended the Genesis Arm, his palm facing toward the space in between Caleb and the crackling thunderbolt headed for him. Just before the attack connected with its intended target, a large wall of golden light materialized, the electricity slamming into it with a violent bang.

Caleb, bracing himself with both arms, looked up to find that the impending strike was completely neutralized. He wasted no time, dashing right toward a group of trees as the Jacklehorn reared back to fire again.

A second shot. And then a third. And then a fourth.

None were able to reach him, as more light shields appeared to intercept each bolt. The air was charged with dispersed electricity, a burning smell noticeably growing with every explosion.

Taking advantage of his brother’s protection, Caleb had already scampered up the first tree he reached, taking a vantage point on a thick branch high above the snarling predators below. He readied the Abyss Arm and steadied his aim, like a sniper ready to take his shot.

He inhaled deeply, trying to focus on feeling the power surge he felt run through his veins the last time he fired. He opened his palm, the silver circle in the middle faintly glowing with a purplish hue.

The monster below him, sensing Caleb’s hostile aura, turned to notice him perched above, and readied another magic attack.

Envision it. Feel the energy swell and release.

The Jacklehorn fired three shots in quick succession, blue blurs flying toward Caleb as he readied himself to shoot.

I trust you, Reese.

Jumping to his right, Caleb fell sideways from his perch on the thick branch, as the bolts shattered the tree where he had just been standing. Debris flying in front of his face, a gut-wrenching fall awaiting him, with two very dangerous monsters beneath him, Caleb willed himself to stay focused. It was as if everything moved in slow motion, as he flexed hard with his forearm and hand.

Fire.

A purplish-black ball, about four inches all the way around, exploded from the palm of his hand, flying through the air at incredible speed. It struck the Jacklehorn on the forehead, just below the curl of its horn, and passed cleanly through the back of the head, killing the creature instantly. It continued to fly through several trees and rocks, creating the same entry and exit hole as it did on the Jacklehorn, before exploding with a BANG several hundred feet away.

Rapidly approaching the root-covered ground below, Caleb braced himself for a painful impact that never came. His whole body became caught up in something – a golden net forged from soft golden light, strung between two trees that halted his descent.

He gathered himself quickly, rolling from the net to his feet to take in the situation. The second Jacklehorn, a leaner and more vicious looking variety, had charged Reese shortly after he cast his safety net and would reach him within seconds.

Shit!

Caleb, raising to fire another shot, found that nothing would happen, and doubled over in exhaustion and pain. He still had not fully recovered from his first use of the hand and was most likely working off a depleted power supply.

Reese cupped his hand and flexed his arm, as if to hold onto the handle of an object

Genesis Blade

A long, thin blade of light began to take shape at his command, a handle forming in his grasp. The blade had nearly materialized before it collapsed, and Reese fell to one knee, now defenseless in the imminent clash.

“Alright, that’s enough.”

Caleb’s eyes grew wide as he felt an immense pressure weighing down on him. It was suffocating, like being crushed under hundreds of weights.

Reese felt a great presence, gritting his teeth as he struggled to turn his head and face its source.

Walking toward them and the incapacitated Jacklehorn, Maven emerged from the trees, an ominous aura spilling from him with each step forward.

Rule 1: Bow

The air grew thicker still, further pinning everything in the surrounding area to the ground. Standing before the struggling Jacklehorn, Maven smiled and clasped two gloved hands together.

Rule 2: Squeeze.

Suddenly, the body of the Jacklehorn, from neck to hind legs, contorted unnaturally, the body becoming thinner and thinner until the pressure caused the beast to explode.

With the mangled beast at his feet, Maven unclasped his hands and the intense pressure subsided. Struggling to stand, Caleb and Reese were visibly mystified by what had just transpired.

“Maven…what the hell was that?” Reese said, wincing and clutching his right arm. The creation of his barriers and the big net seemed to have taken its toll.

“It’s something I’ll explain once we are back on our way – you both have much to learn about this world, after all. I apologize for the impromptu test – I just wanted to see the extent of what your powers are currently capable of before we meet with the king.”

Maven put one gloved hand on his chest and bowed his head, as if this apologetic gesture would suffice as atonement for thrusting them into a deathmatch.

Armed royal soldiers stood on either side of the carriage door, having moved closer to where the battle took place. Maven waved the twins inside, whom reluctantly obliged.

Where else could they go, anyway? Maven was the only source of information they currently had on their strange situation.

The rest of the journey through the forest went off without a hitch, as royal soldiers dealt with several small threats from monsters along the way. Maven kept true to his word, explaining where they were headed and a little about the concept of magic.

They were off to the Kingdom of Margold, the owner of the lands in which they found themselves, and home to the nobles responsible for their summoning. A ritual using the combination of essence from six individuals, Maven included, activated a cultivated magic artifact known only as the “Summoning Sphere” – a peculiarly smooth ball of unknown material and origin found by an expedition team in North Hydia, or the abandoned wastelands hundreds of miles north of Margold.

“How did you know where to look for the artifact?” Reese had asked him.

“You can call it intuition, I suppose… I’m sorry, but I won’t be able to disclose that information to you two…not now, anyway.”

After witnessing his terrifying display earlier, the two were a bit hesitant to press Maven for answers beyond what he would disclose.

He explained to them the concept of essence, a lifeforce that all things in this world exuded, ever-present no matter where in the world one found themselves.

The people of this world had long since adapted to its presence, gaining the ability to harness it through an organ called the essence receptacle. With this ability came the transformation of essence into what came to be known as magic, an art studied and refined over centuries. The type and characteristics of one’s magic were decided at birth, almost like human DNA, as well as a person’s capacity for how little or how much essence they could harness.

Although magic talent had a lot to do with traits decided at birth, one could improve their effectiveness at harnessing and using essence through diligent training.

Maven had been born with the ability to harness an enormous quantity of essence, requiring very little training, with the characteristics of gravity magic, performed by transmuting essence into force so great that it replicated gravity itself.

“Unfortunately,” Maven concluded, “otherworlders do not posses a receptacle, so they are unable to use conventional magic.”

Reese appeared to be bummed out by this revelation, but Maven smiled and gestured toward their special arms.

“However, the two of you are extremely lucky – you have a power most exceedingly rare in this world, and even scarcer known about. This is much to your advantage!”

Caleb and Reese shot each other inquisitive looks, and Caleb turned to inquire further, but was cut off by a slot in the front of the carriage opening, and a voice flowing through it –

“Gentleman, sorry to interrupt your discussion. But we have arrived in Arravele, the royal capital of the Kingdom of Margold.”