And His Magic Was Electric

Our path takes us on a road less traveled.

This world is strange. It’s like it’s only just begun to live; places just seem to come into existence. Sure there was the village, but besides that it seems information regarding the birth of this world is a mystery.

Perhaps the withering in my world is turned into life in this one. Maybe when a building on earth is consumed by the withering it’s reborn here in this world. Concrete roads become dirt paths… the dead become the daystars.

Just a little theorizing, I can’t say for certain any of these claims are the truth.

I brought this up to Eryth on the road.

“Eryth, What do you call this world?”

“What we call it? Hm… what do you mean exactly?”

“I mean like the town, or the world as a whole, does it have a name?”

“Um… uh… No… well maybe? I’m not quite sure myself. I haven’t ever really thought about that. I just call it home I guess.” she concludes.

“That’s so weird”

“What? It can’t be that weird, it’s not like there’s a name for every single thing.”

“Actually there usually is, but the world in particular usually has a universally known name. For example, where I’m from we call the world Earth, but that’s far, far away. I would assume there has to be a name for this one.”

“Woah woah woah slow down, King, what’s got you so interested in the names of things?? Like some things can exist and still be nameless, like it's not a requirement to have a name.” she says, trying to debate.

“I feel like names are important, they help you identify what’s true and what’s not.”

“What does that even mean dude?”

“Um let’s see…” reaching to the ground I pick up two sticks.

“These are sticks.”

“Yes”

“But this pointy long one, this is excalibur the great sword of legend” I say as I start waving the sword shaped stick like a sword.

“This other one is just a stick, it’s nothing compared to the named one.”

“So basically you’re saying naming things makes them cooler.” she tilts her head bewilderment

“Basically, yeah. Some things deserve to have a name, and I think your world deserves one too. One that isn’t just called ‘Home’, you get me?”

“Yeah I get you. I just don’t know what to call it.” she says, finally accepting my thoughts.

“We should call it Earth 2.”

“No.”

The journey across the forested dirt path continues.

~ ~ ~

After a few days of travel the terrain slowly began to become partly infested with patches of withered lands. The world around us progressively crumbles down to dust as we move closer and closer to the Pit.

Finally we’re close.

“Since we’re entering enemy territory King, it’s time we put your new found magic to the test.”

“Oh am I ready?”

“Maybe, but not quite, I gotta get a feel for what you’re capable of.” She pauses.

“Use your magic to hit that tree, disintegrate it to dust more than it already has…” she points to the target.

The first test.

Let’s see if I can manage it.

“HEY KING! Try to visualize your Soul and your electricity magic flowing through you. For me it's an imaginative exercise, since I’m hollow on the inside, I try to imagine strings throughout my body that help control my movement.”

She’s trying to explain it the best she can; although our bodies are vastly different I think I get the picture. I need to imagine the magic running through my veins. All my magic flowing like blood!

I breathe in slowly, a quick exercise to keep me grounded, get me focused and locked in.

I need to live and breathe like magic…

Imagine electricity, a bolt of lightning to strike down evil.

The sounds of static electricity begin ticking off across my arms. Small arcs of lightning begin erupting around my chest and shoulders.

Bzzzzzt–

“Come on King, you’ve got this” Eryth pumps her fist in hopes her teachings of wizardry work out in my favor.

For today the tree is my enemy, a common ent, a level 1 foe. I’ll gain exp for sure.

Fzzzzzt–

The electricity ignites across my arms from shoulder to shoulder.

“Yes that’s it! Now channel that magic into the shovel and hit the target! You can do it!”

Eryth’s words of support have brought me this far, so I won’t let her down.

Fzzzzz–

The electricity around my body dims as the magic is channeled into the shovel. It begins to glow orange with the heat of storms coursing through its scoop. Zaps arc around the tip, ready to explode.

“GO! STRIKE THE TREE, KING!”

“I CAST MY ELECTRIC SPELL, [VOLTAIC ARC]!”

…

Nothing happens…

“You’re trying to cast the spell right?” Eryth begs, it seems she was excited to see my magic.

Me too.

The electricity still remains intact within the blade of the shovel, however it is not launching off.

Come to think of it, before when I fought the withered monsters in the village, all my attacks were melee.

I might be a melee mage.

OR…

I have a new idea.

“I have another spell in mind.”

“Oh do you now? Maybe you should cast it then” Eryth seems tired of waiting…

“I think I’ll call this one, [Thunder Surge]!”

WHOOOSH—

Raising my arm I catapult the shovel forward like a javelin of lightning.

CRACK–

It cuts into the tree exploding into a blast of black magical lightning. As the smoke settles it is revealed the tree has been reduced to a few ashes in the wind.

The shovel a few feet away from the impact zone, still remains partly electrified, magic still flowing through it.

“Alright! I guess that counts. Nice spellcasting, King.”

“I couldn’t have done it without your teaching, Eryth.” I say to stroke her ego.

She seems to eat up the appreciation.

“Heh yea, it was like no problem… fist bump” she says, reaching out for my hand.

“Ah yayah, fist bump”

My fist connects with hers…

KAPOW!–

The electricity still flowing through me short circuits on impact creating a small blast between us. Throwing the two of us tumbling to the ground. And catapulting Eryth’s hand into the air.

“AGHHHH!” we yelp in unison.

“Never do that again, King! You sent my hand flying!”

BONK–

The hand clocks my head.

“EEEK! MY HAND! WHAT HAPPENED TO MY HAND!? YOU TORCHED IT! YOU TORCHED IT WITH MAGIC AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!”

“Ow… um sorry about that.”

Eryth scolds me, as I retrieve my shovel.

There’s not much longer now, until we reach the Pit.

I must master my black lightning by then.

I must save my brothers.

I must kill the Demon Lord.

END CHAPTER 11