Alternative Life Read online

  "You-iowe-ime,-imister-ihero."-iShe-isaid.

  "I-iwill-imake-iit-iup-ito-iyou."-iHe-ireplied.

  "You'd-ibetter."-iShe-isaid,-igiving-ihim-ione-ifinal-ismirk.-i"Goodnight,-iJames."

  "Goodnight."

  Eleanor-iturned-ionto-iher-iother-iside,-iand-iwithin-ia-iminute-ior-itwo-iwas-ifast-iasleep.

  James,-ifor-ihis-ipart,-ihad-ino-iidea-ihow-ihe-iwas-igoing-ito-iget-ito-isleep-iever-iagain-iafter-ithis.-i

  ###-iChapter-i18-i--iThe-iNext-iMorning

  Within-imoments-iof-iEleanor-ifalling-iasleep,-iJames-ifelt-ia-isudden-iwave-iof-iintense-iexhaustion-iwash-iover-ihim.-iHe-ifelt-ilike-isomeone-ihad-icompletely-idrained-ithe-ilife-iout-iof-ihim.

  Which,-iof-icourse,-isomeone-ihad,-iapparently.-iNow-ithat-ihe-iwas-iout-iof-ithe-imoment-iof-ithat-ihappening,-ihe-ifelt-icompletely-ifreaked-iout.-iSome-ihot-idemon-igirl-ihad-iliterally-ijust-isucked-ihis-iblood-ilike-ia-ivampire,-iand-ihe'd-inot-ionly-iloved-ievery-isecond-iof-iit,-ibut-ihad-ihappily-iagreed-ito-ilet-iher-ido-iit-iagain-iand-iagain-iif-ishe-iwanted-ito.-iWhat-ion-iearth-iwas-iwrong-iwith-ihim?!

  The-imental-iimages-iof-iEleanor's-ibare,-iswaying-ibreasts-iand-igrinding-ihips-ipopped-iinto-ihis-ihead.-iWell,-iI-imean,-ithose,-iat-ileast,-imade-ihis-idecision-ia-ilittle-ieasier-ito-ijustify.-iBut-ihe-ididn't-ihave-itime-ito-ireflect-ion-ithe-isituation.-iHe-ipassed-iout-ifrom-iexhaustion-ionly-imoments-ilater.

  The-inext-imorning,-iJames-iawoke-ifeeling-ioddly-irefreshed-iand-ienergized.-iThe-isun-iwas-istreaming-ithrough-ithe-isole-iwindow-iin-ithe-iloft,-iand-ithe-iroom-ifelt-iwarm-iand-icozy.-iHe-ilooked-iaround-ito-ithe-iother-ibedrolls-ito-isee-ithey-iwere-iall-iempty-iand-imade-iup.-iHe-icrawled-iout-iof-ibed-iand-iput-ion-ihis-ishoes,-iand-iwalked-iout-iof-ithe-ibarn.

  Outside,-ithere-iwasn't-ia-icloud-iin-ithe-isky,-ialthough-ithere-iwas-ia-idecent-ibreeze-ithat-ifelt-inice-iin-icontrast-ito-ithe-istrong-isunshine.-iRose-iwas-ihanging-iout-ivarious-igarments-ito-idry-ion-ia-iclothesline-istrung-inot-ifar-ifrom-ithe-ibarn,-iand-igreeted-ihim-iwhen-ihe-iwalked-iout.-iShe-ipointedly-iglanced-iat-ihis-ineck-ifor-ia-imoment,-ibefore-idirecting-iher-iattention-ito-ihis-iface-iand-igiving-ihim-iwhat-ilooked-ilike-ia-iknowing-ismile.

  "Sleep-iwell?"-iShe-iasked,-ipinning-iup-ia-ipale-iyellow-isundress.

  "Yeah,-islept-igreat.-iThank-iyou."-iHe-isaid.

  "Don't-imention-iit."-iShe-isaid.-iShe-imotioned-iwith-iher-ihead-itowards-ithe-ihouse.-i"There's-istill-isome-ibreakfast-ileft,-iI'm-isure.-iFeel-ifree-ito-ihelp-iyourself-ito-iit.-iAnd-iif-ithere's-inone-ileft,-iI'm-isure-iEleanor-iwould-ibe-ihappy-ito-imake-iyou-imore."

  "Oh,-ialright.-iCool."-iHe-isaid.-iHe-iwalked-ion-itowards-ithe-ihouse.

  "Oh,-iand-iJames?"-iRose-icalled-iout-iafter-ihim.

  "Yes?"

  "You-imight-iwant-ito-iwash-iyour-ineck-ibefore-iyou-igo-iinside."-iShe-isaid,-itapping-ion-iher-ithroat-iin-ithe-isame-iplace-iEleanor-ihad-ibitten-ihim-ithe-inight-ibefore.

  James's-iface-iflushed.-i"Uh-iyeah,-igot-iit."-iHe-isaid.-iHe-iwalked-ithe-ihundred-ior-iso-ifeet-ito-ithe-ismall-istream-inext-ito-ithe-iwatermill-iand-iwet-iand-iwiped-ithe-ispot-ion-ihis-ineck-iuntil-ihis-ihands-ikept-icoming-iback-iclean.-iHe-iwasn't-isure-iif-ihe'd-icompletely-igotten-iall-iof-ithe-iblood-ioff,-ibut-iit-iwas-ithe-ibest-ihe-icould-ido-iwithout-ia-imirror.

  In-iwhat-ihe-iwould-idescribe-ias-ithe-ihouse's-ifront-iyard,-iMadeleine-iappeared-ito-ibe-ichasing-iaround-ia-ibutterfly,-iwhich-ihappened-ito-ibe-ijust-ihigh-ienough-ior-ijust-ifast-ienough-ito-ikeep-iavoiding-iher-igrasp.-iWhen-iJames-igreeted-iher,-ishe-istop-iwhat-ishe-iwas-idoing,-ifroze-iin-iplace,-iand-ijust-istood-ithere,-ilooking-iat-ihim.-iHe-ismiled-iand-iwaved,-ibut-ishe-ididn't-igive-iany-ireply,-iso-ihe-ijust-igave-iup-iand-iwalked-iin.-iThe-igirl-iwas-ijust-idamn-iweird.

  The-ihouse-iwas-ieven-imore-istifling-ithan-ihe-iremembered-iyesterday,-iand-ihe-icould-ibarely-ikeep-ihis-ieyes-iopen-ifor-imore-ithan-ia-imoment-ibefore-ithey-idried-iout.-iSimon-iwasn't-iin-ithe-ihouse,-ithough-iEleanor-iwas.-iShe-iappeared-ito-ibe-iscrubbing-isomething-iin-ithe-iwash-ibasin-ion-ithe-iopposite-iwall-ifrom-ithe-idoor.-iShe-iturned,-iand-iwhen-iseeing-ihim,-ilit-iup,-iand-idropped-ithe-idish-iin-ithe-iwash-iwater.-iShe-iran-iover-ito-ihim,-iand-iwithout-ia-isingle-iword,-imade-ia-icouple-igestures-iwith-iher-ifingers,-irushed-iover,-iand-ishoved-ihim-iinto-ithe-idoor,-ipressing-iher-ilips-ihard-iagainst-ihis-iuntil-ihis-ihead-ibegan-ito-iswim.

  Eleanor-igrinned-iwicked-iat-ihim.-i"Good-imorning,-isleepyhead!-iSo,-ilast-inight-iis-iour-ilittle-isecret,-iokay?"-iShe-isaid.

  "Uh,-iyeah,-iwhatever-iyou-isay."-iHe-isaid,-ibarely-iable-ito-ithink-istraight.

  "Good-iboy!-iNow,-igo-ihave-ia-iseat-iat-ithe-itable.-iI'll-igrab-iyou-isome-ifood."-iShe-iturned-iand-iwalked-iover-ito-ione-iof-ithe-ishelves-ito-ithe-iside-iof-ithe-iwash-ibasin-iand-igrabbed-iseveral-ifood-iobjects-iwhile-iJames-ifound-ia-iway-ito-istumble-ihimself-ito-ithe-itable.-i

  This-iwas-igoing-ito-itake-ia-ilong-itime-igetting-iused-ito.-i

  ###-iChapter-i19-i--iSparring-iPractice

  Over-ithe-inext-iseveral-iweeks,-iJames-igot-ito-iknow-ihis-inew-iliving-imates-ivery-iwell-ias-ihe-ilived,-islept,-iand-itrained-iwith-ithem-iand-igot-ihis-ibearings-iin-ithis-inew-iworld.

  Rose-iserved-ias-ihis-isparring-ipartner-ifor-ihis-imartial-icombat-iskills,-iand-iinsisted-ithey-iuse-itheir-iactual-iweapons,-irather-ithan-itraining-iweapons-ior-iother-ipractice-iimplements,-iin-iorder-ito-imaximize-ithe-ieffectiveness-iof-itheir-itraining.-iWhen-iJames-iexpressed-iconcern-iabout-ithem-icutting-ieach-iother-ito-ipieces-iin-ithe-imidst-iof-ipractice,-iRose-ibeckoned-iEleanor-iover,-iand-ithe-iblue-iskinned-iTiefling-itook-ieach-iof-itheir-iweapons,-ismeared-ithe-iblades-iwith-imolasses,-iand-isaid-ia-ifew-iwords-iunder-iher-ibreath.-iThere-iwas-ia-ibrief-iflash-iof-igolden-ienergy,-iand-ishe-ihanded-ieach-iof-ithem-iback.

  James-ilooked-iat-ithe-iedge-iof-ihis-iaxe,-iand-inothing-iappeared-idifferent-iabout-iit.-i

  "Put-iyour-ihand-iout-iand-itouch-ithe-iedge."-iEleanor-isaid.

  James-idid-ias-iinstructed,-iand-ireached-iout-ifor-ithe-iaxe's-iblade.-iTowards-ithe-iend,-iwhere-iEleanor-ihad-ispread-ithe-isyrup,-ithere-iwas-inow-ia-isoft,-iinvisible-ibarrier-ithat-iprevented-ihim-ifrom-itouching-ithe-isharp-ipart-iof-ithe-iedge.-iIt-ifelt-ikind-iof-ilike-ia-ifirm,-iinvisible-ijelly-ipillow.

  "Oh,-icool!"-iHe-isaid.

  "It'll-ikeep-iyou-ifrom-ikilling-ieach-iother,-ibut-iit-iwon't-istop-iyou-itwo-ifrom-ibruising-ieach-iother,-ibreaking-ibones,-ior-iknocking-ieach-iother-iunconscious,-iso-istill-itry-ito-ibe-icareful."-iEleanor-isaid.

  "Thanks,-iEllie."-iRose-isaid.-iShe-iwalked-ia-idozen-ior-iso-ipaces-idown-ithe-ifront-iyard-iof-ithe-ifarm-ihouse,-iand-iturned-ito-iface-iJames,-igrabbing-iher-isword-iwith-iboth-ihands-iin-ia-iready-iposition.-i"Ready,-iJames?"

  "No.-iNo-iI-iam-inot,"-iJames-ithought-ito-ihimself,-ibut-iinstead-isaid-iout-iloud-ias-ihe-iraised-ihis-iaxe,-i"Yeah,-iI'm-iready."

  Before-ihe-ieven-ihad-ia-ichance-ito-ireact,-iRose's-iblade-islammed-iagainst-ihis-ichest-iwith-isuch-iforce-iit-iit-iknocked-ithe-iwind-iout-iof-ihim-iand-isent-ihim-iflying-iass-ibackwards-ihalf-ia-idozen-ifeet,-iwhere-ihe-ilanded-iflat-ion-ihis-iback-igasping-ifor-iair.-iRose-iwalked-iover-ito-ihim,-iand-ilooked-idown-iat-ihim-iwith-ia-ilook-iof-iconfusion-iand-iamusement.

  "I-ithought-iyou-isaid-iyou-iwere-iready."-iShe-isaid-ias-ishe-ioffered-ihim-ia-ihand-iand-ihelped-ihim-ito-ihis-ifeet.

  "I-ithought...-iI...-iwas..."-iJames-imanaged-iout-ibetween-ifits-iof-ihacking-iand-icoughing.

  About-ithis-itime,-iFrumpkin's-ivoice-ipopped-iinto-iJames's-ihead.

  ["Ouch!-iThat-ione-ihurt-iMY-ipride!"]-iHe-isaid.

  "What-ido-iyou-iwant,-iFrumpkin?"-iJames-iasked,-imaking-ino-ieffort-ito-ihide-ihis-ifrustration-ias-itried-ito-iregain-ihis-ibreath-iand-ihis-ibearings.

  ["Wow,-itouch-y!-iI-iwas-ijust-ipopping-iin-ito-ilet-iyou-iknow-ihow-ito-itap-iinto-iyour-iwished-for-icombat-itraining,-ibut-iif-iyou-idon't-iwant-ithat-ihelp,-iI'll-ijust-isee-imyself-iout.."]-iFrumpkin-isaid.

  "No-ino!-iI-iwant-ito-iknow-ithat!-iHow-ido-iI-ido-iit?"-iJames-iasked,-iadopti
ng-ia-iplacating-itone.

  ["Simple.-iYou-ijust-ibelieve-iyou-iare-igood,-iand-ilet-iyour-iinstinct-ido-ithe-iwork-ifor-iyou.-iDon't-ithink-iabout-iit."]

  James,-icareful-inot-ito-ijust-istare-ioff-iinto-ispace-ias-ihe-ispoke-iwith-iFrumpkin,-iset-iabout-ilimbering-iback-iup,-iand-iswinging-ihis-iaxe-iback-iand-iforth-iseveral-itimes-ito-iget-ire-acclimated-iwith-iits-iweight-iand-iheft.-i

  "So,-iyou're-itelling-ime-ithat-iif-iI-ijust-ithink-iI'm-igood,-iI'm-igood?-iHow-idoes-ithat-imake-iany-isense?"-iJames-iasked.

  ["Hey-ikid,-ithem's-ithe-irules.-iI'm-inot-ithe-ione-iwho-imade-ithem."]-iFrumpkin-isaid.

  "Yes-iyou-idid!-iYou're-iliterally-iGod!"-iJames-iprotested.

  ["La-ila-ila-ila!-iI-ican't-ihear-iyou!-iNow,-iget-iout-ithere-iand-igive-iit-ia-itry.-iI-ipromise-inot-ito-ilaugh-itoo-ihard-iif-iyou-iget-iit-iwrong."]-iFrumkpin-ireplied.

  "Gee-ithanks."-iJames-ithought,-iassuming-ia-icombat-istance.-iHe-iclosed-ihis-ieyes,-itook-ia-ideep-ibreath,-iand-itried-ito-ifocus-ion-iwhat-iFrumpkin-itold-ihim.-iHe-ijust-ihad-ito-ibelieve-ihe-iwas-igood.-iHe-ijust-ihad-ito-ibelieve-iit.-iHow-ihard-icould-ithat-ibe?

  "Okay-iRose,-ilet's-itry-ithis-iagain."-iHe-isaid,-inodding-ito-iher.-i

  ###-iChapter-i20-i--iSparring-iPractice-i(part-i2)

  The-isecond-ifight-ididn't-igo-imuch-ibetter.-iNeither-idid-ithe-ithird.-iOr-ithe-itwelfth.-iOr-ithe-itwenty-seventh.

  By-ifight-itwenty-eight,-ihowever,-ihe-ihad-ia-ibreakthrough.

  He-ihad-ito-iliterally-ithink-iabout-inothing.-iLiterally.-iHis-imind-ihad-ito-ibe-ia-iblank-islate-ifor-ihis-ipowers-ito-iwork.-iAs-isoon-ias-ihe-istarted-ithinking-iabout-iwhat-ihis-ibody-iwas-idoing,-ior-iwhat-iRose-iwas-iabout-ito-ido,-ior-iattempted-ito-iplan-iany-istrategies,-ithey-iimmediately-ifailed-iand-ihe-igot-ihis-ihappy-ilittle-iass-ibeat-ilike-ian-iincel-ipiñata.-iHe-ijust-ihad-ito-ilearn-ito-izen-iout,-iand-ilet-ihis-ibody-iand-iits-inew-imagical-iabilities-ido-iall-iof-ithe-iwork-iand-ithinking-ifor-ihim.-iIt-ifelt-istrange-iand-icompletely-icounter-intuitive,-ibut,-ifor-ibetter-ior-iworse,-iit-iwas-ihis-ionly-ichoice.

  Once-ihe-irealized-ithis,-ithings-igot-ibetter.

  Granted,-inot-iMUCH-ibetter.-iBut-ilasting-ilonger-ithan-ithree-iseconds-iflat-iand-iactually-igetting-ia-ifew-igood-imoves-iin-ifelt-ilike-ian-iabsolute-itriumph-iby-icomparison-ito-ifeeling-ilike-ia-ihuman-ibaseball.

  By-ifight-ififty,-ihe-ifinally-imanaged-ito-iscore-ia-iblow-ion-iRose's-ibody,-iand-iby-ifight-iseventy-seven,-ihe'd-idisarmed-iher,-iknocked-iher-ito-ithe-iground,-iand-iswung-ifor-ithe-ikilling-iblow-ibefore-ifreaking-iout-iand-istopping-ihimself-iwhen-ihe-isaw-ithe-ilook-iof-iactual-ifear-iin-iher-ieyes.-i

  So,-ihis-iinstinctual-ifighting-iskills-ionly-iunderstood-icombat-ito-ithe-ideath.-iThat-iwas-isomething-ihe-iwas-igoing-ito-ihave-ito-ikeep-iin-imind.

  He-ireached-idown-iand-ioffered-iher-ihis-ihand-iwith-ia-ismile,-iand-ihelped-iher-ito-iher-ifeet.

  After-ithat-ifight,-ihe-inever-ilost-ia-imatch-iagain,-ibut-iwas-icareful-ito-ipassively-imonitor-ihis-iactions-ias-ihe-ifought-ito-ikeep-ithings-ifrom-iever-igoing-ias-ifar-ias-ithey-idid-iagain.-iRose,-ito-iher-icredit,-inever-igot-ieasier-ias-ian-iopponent.-iEven-iwhen-ihe-iwon,-iwith-iall-iof-ihis-iwish-given-iprowess,-ithe-ifights-iwere-istill-ivery-iclose,-iand-ion-imore-ithan-ione-ioccasion-ihe-ibarely-iescaped-igetting-icaught-ioff-iguard-iand-itrounced.-iThe-igirl-iwas-iinsanely-istrong,-iskilled,-iand-ifast,-iand-ihe-ihad-ino-idoubt-ithat-ishe-iwould-ibe-ithe-ideath-iof-inearly-ianyone-iwho-itried-ito-igo-iup-iagainst-iher.

  Between-ibouts-iwith-iRose-iover-ithe-iweeks,-iJames-ialso-ispent-ia-ilot-iof-itime-iwith-iEleanor,-ihaving-iher-iteach-ihim-ihow-ito-icommand-iand-icontrol-ihis-imagic-iskills.-iHe-iwas-idefinitely-ia-isorcerer,-ishe-iconfirmed,-iand-ishe-ipromised-ito-ido-iall-ishe-icould-ito-ihelp-ihim-ilearn-ihow-ito-iuse-ihis-iabilities,-ibut-iwarned-ihim-ithat-ithere-iwas-ionly-iso-imuch-ishe-icould-iteach-ihim-idue-ito-ithe-idifferences-iin-itheir-imagic-iclasses.

  The-ikey-isimilarity,-ishe-isaid,-ilay-iin-itheir-ishared-iuse-iof-ivocal-iexpression-ito-icast-imagic.-iEvery-icaster,-iregardless-iof-itype,-ihad-ito-ispeak-ito-iuse-itheir-ispells,-ithough-ithe-iwords-iand-ilanguages-ithey-iused-ivaried-iwildly.-iShe,-ifor-iher-ipart,-icast-iher-ispells-iin-iInfernal.

  The-iprimary-idifference,-ihowever,-iwas-ithat-iwizards-iused-imaterial-icomponents-iand-isomatic-igestures-ito-icast-itheir-ispells,-iand-isorcerers-iused-itheir-iimagination-ialone.-iBecause-ithey-ialways-iused-ithe-isame-imaterials-iand-igestures,-iwizards-icould-ialways-iget-ipredictable-iresults-iand-iexperienced-ino-ifatigue-ifrom-itheir-imagic-iuse,-ibut-iwere-ilimited-iby-iwhat-ispells-ithey-iknew-iand-ihow-ilong-ithey-itook-ito-icast.-iSorcerers-icould-ido-ianything-ithey-iset-itheir-imind-ito,-iprovided-ithey-ihad-ia-iclear-ivision,-iand-iknew-ithe-iright-itrigger-iword.-iSorcerers-ishe-itold-ihim,-ihowever,-icouldn't-ialways-icontrol-ithe-iresults-iof-itheir-imagic,-iand-idrained-itheir-iown-ilife-iforce-ito-icast,-imeaning-iif-ihe-icast-itoo-imuch-imagic-itoo-isoon,-ihe-iwould-iwear-ihimself-iout-ior-ipotentially-ieven-idie,-iwhich-iwas,-inaturally,-inot-ia-ireassuring-ithought.

  ###-iChapter-i21-i--iSpellcrafting

  As-iJames-ibegan-ipracticing,-ihowever,-ihe-ibegan-ito-iget-ia-isense-iof-ihow-ihis-ipowers-iworked.

  Imagining-isomething-iprovided-ithe-igeneral-iframework-ifor-ihow-ithe-ispell-ishould-iin-itheory-iplay-iout,-ibut-ithe-ispell-itrigger-iword-ihe-iused-iis-iwhat-idetermined-ithe-iactual-ifinal-iresult,-iregardless-iof-iwhat-ihe-iwas-iimagining.-iSo-iif-ihe-iimagined-icreating-ifire-iin-ithe-ishape-iof-ia-itornado,-ibut-iused-ithe-ivariation-iof-ithe-itrigger-iword-ithat-istood-ifor-i"fireball",-ihe-iwould-icast-ia-ifireball-iinstead.-iWhich-iexplained-iwhy-ihe-ishrank-iwhen-ihe-iintended-ito-iget-ilarger-iwhen-idealing-iwith-ithe-igoblins.-iWhat-iwas-iless-iclear-ito-ihim-iwas-iwhy-ithe-itrigger-iword-idetermined-ithe-itype-iof-ispell-icast,-ior-iwhy-ithe-iwrong-ispell-itrigger-iword-ipopped-iin-ihis-ihead-iin-ithe-ifirst-iplace.

  Eleanor-isaid-ithat-ithe-ibest-ishe-icould-ifigure,-ihis-ispell-iwords-iprobably-iworked-ivery-isimilar-ito-ia-iwizard's,-iwhere-ia-ispell-itrigger-iwas-iactually-ia-icomplex-icommand-ithat-idescribed-ithe-ispell's-imagic-ischool-ior-ielemental-isphere,-ithe-imanifestation-iof-ithe-ispell's-imagic,-ithe-ispell's-itarget,-iduration,-iand-iso-ion.

  Which-imeant,-ishe-ispeculated,-iimagining-ithings-iwould-icause-ithe-ispell-itrigger-iword-icomponents-ito-iappear-iin-ihis-imind,-iand-iby-isaying-ithem-ialoud-iin-ithe-icorrect-iorder,-ihe-iwould-igenerate-ithe-idesired-iresult.-iBut-iif-ihe-isaid-ithe-iparts-iin-ithe-iwrong-iorder,-ior-iused-ia-iwrong-icomponent-ipiece,-ihe-iwould-igenerate-idifferent-iresults-ifrom-iwhat-ihe-iintended,-isuch-ias-iusing-ia-idifferent-ielement,-ior,-iin-ihis-iprevious-icase,-ishrinking-ihimself-iinstead-iof-igrowing-igiant-ias-ihe-ihad-iplanned.

  "But-ihow-ion-iearth-iam-iI-isupposed-ito-iknow-iwhich-ipart-iof-ia-ispell-itrigger-icounts-ifor-ieach-icomponent-iof-ithe-ispell?"-iJames-iasked,-iperplexed.

  "I-iguess-iyou're-ijust-igoing-ito-ihave-ito-iexperiment-iwith-islightly-idifferent-ispells-iand-isee-iwhich-icomponent-iparts-ichange-ito-iknow-iwhat-idoes-iwhat"-iEleanor-isaid,-ishrugging.

  That-isounded-iincredibly-itedious,-ibut-iJames-iwas-iwilling-ito-igive-iit-ia-ishot-iif-ithat's-iwhat-iit-itook.-iWith-iEleanor's-ihelp-iand-ioccasional-imoment-iof-i"encouragement",-ihe-islowly-ibegan-ito-imap-iout-ithe-iterminology-iof-ihis-imagic,-inailing-idown-ipiece-iby-itiny-ipiece-iwhat-ieach-iword-ifragment-idid,-iand-ilearning-ihow-ithey-iaffected-ieach-iother-iwhen-iplaced-itogether.

  After-ia-ifew-iweeks,-ihe-ihad-ifigured-iout-ienough-iparts-ito-icreate-ielemental-iprojections-iof-iall-ikinds,-ichange-ihis-ibody-ishape,-isize,-iand-iappearance,-igrant-ihimself-iincreased-iphysical-iattributes,-ifly,-iconjure-ibasic-iobjects,-iand-ichange-imaterials-ifrom-ione-ikind-iof-ithing-ito-ianother.-i

  As-ihe-iprogressed,-ihe-ibegan-iexperimenting-ifurther,-ibut-ifound-ithe-ilevel-iof-ihis-iability-ito-imanipulate-ithe-iworld-iwas-ilimited-iin-isome-iways.-iHe-icould-inot-itransmute-ior-icreate-iliving-imatter,-ionly-imove-iit-ifrom-ione-iplace-ito-ianother.-iHe-icould-inot-iaffect-ithe-iflow-iof-itime,-ionly-islow-idown-ior-ispeed-iup-ithe
-irate-iothers-imoved-iwithin-iit.-iHe-icouldn't-iseem-ito-iaffect-ithe-iminds-ior-ifree-iwill-iof-iother-ibeings,-ieither,-iapparently.-iWhen-ihe-iimagined-itrying-ito-ido-ithese-ikinds-iof-ithings,-ihe-iwas-imet-iwith-ian-iimmovable-iblack-iwall-iin-ihis-ibrain-ithat-imade-iimagining-icasting-isuch-ispells-iin-iorder-ito-iprompt-ia-itrigger-iword-iimpossible,-iand-ithe-ifew-itimes-ihe-itried-ito-icombine-iwhat-icomponent-ifragments-ihe-iknew-iin-iorder-ito-ihopefully-igenerate-ithese-ieffects,-ieither-inothing-ihappened,-ior,-iworse,-isomething-iwould-ibackfire-ispectacularly.-i

  On-ione-iparticular-ioccasion,-iEleanor-ihad-ito-irescue-ihim-iwhen-ihe-imanaged-ito-iunintentionally-iturn-ihimself-iinto-ia-iduck-iduring-ione-iof-ithese-iattempts.-iHe-ididn't-ithink-iany-iof-ithe-igirls-ior-iSimon-iwere-iever-igoing-ito-istop-ilaughing-ior-ilet-ihim-ilive-ithat-ione-idown.-iHe-iknew-ifor-isure-iFrumpkin-iwouldn't,-ias-ihe-ibegan-ireferring-ito-iJames-ias-iDuck-iBoy-ifrom-ithat-imoment-ionwards.

  ###-iChapter-i22-i--iThe-iDarkness-iAppears

  Shrouded-iin-iinky-iblack-idarkness,-iseated-ion-ia-ithrone-imade-iof-ithe-iskeletons-ion-icountless-ilong-dead-iheroes-iand-icreatures-iof-ilegend,-isat-ia-ishadowy-ifigure-icontemplating-ihis-iexistence.-iHe'd-ibe-igranted-ieverything-ihe'd-iever-ilonged-ifor,-iand-imore.-iPower-ibeyond-icompare,-ia-ilegion-iof-imonstrous-iservants-ibound-ito-iserve-ihis-ievery-iwhim,-ithe-iability-ito-ibend-ithe-icosmos-iitself-ito-ihis-iwill...-iall-iwere-ihis-ito-iwield-iand-iexploit.-iOver-ithese-ipast-iweeks-iof-iconquest,-ihe'd-itoppled-ikingdoms,-islaughtered-ivillages,-isubdued-imonsters,-iand-itaken-ito-ibed-ievery-ifemale-ihe'd-ifound-ia-idesire-ifor-iamongst-ithe-icountless-iservants-iof-ihis-ilegion.