Preparation and Conversations

“Sooo,” Estelle spoke up, drawing out the word, a grin on her face as she turned her car onto the road. “You seem to be quite the lady’s man.”

John coughed at the witch’s sudden exclamation while Senka chuckled in his mind.

‘Well, she’s certainly perceptive,’ the spirit thought in an amused tone. ‘Or maybe she’s just commenting on the fact you were the only guy among a whole group of pretty women.’

“It’s nice to see a healthy polycule like yours,” Estelle continued, dispelling any notion that she wasn’t clueless to the true nature of John’s relationship with most of the women she had met today. “A lot of the time they’re totally off balance. Not enough love working its way around.”

“Um,” John hemmed, not sure how to really respond to Estelle’s remarks. She wasn’t being critical of him. Hell, she was happy at how they presented themselves. “Thanks, I guess?”

“You’re welcome!” Estelle cheerfully said. “World’s too dark sometimes, so it’s nice to see good things. Mason and Cammie are like that too. I really enjoy stopping by for a bite. Been a while though, Nephele’s had me working on something lately.”

“That potion that blew up?” John asked, half expecting her to give a noncommittal answer. For how open she seemed, being coy about what Nephele had her working on made it seem like it wasn’t something the other witch would want her to talk about.

“Oh, that was a personal project,” Estelle replied with a proud smile. “Early stages still, working on dialing in that solvent. Wouldn’t do if it kept eating my dresses, would it?”

“Yeah, that would make things a bit inconvenient.” John awkwardly chuckled. “What exactly are you working on, if you don’t mind me asking?”

Estelle beamed. “Always nice to talk about my projects! So, not sure how much experience you have with trying to extract useful minerals from more mundane ones, but normally separating them out from the rock is a pain. So, I’m trying to make an acid that will only liquify the stuff I don’t need. Just plop the rock in, drain it and have the good stuff left over.”

“That sounds like it’d be pretty useful,” John remarked. He mused that he likely wouldn’t have that problem thanks to Craftsmanship but he could see how the average person could find a lot of uses for it.

“Yep,” Estelle nodded, “it would make things sooo much easier. Most ways to do it now require using a lot of magic to reinforce the wanted material so it doesn’t get dissolved too.”

“Well, I hope you figure it out,” John said.

“It’s a work in progress, but I think it’s going in the right direction,” the witch sighed. “Last time it blew up, it only ruined the lacy parts.”

“Progress is progress,” John muttered, finding it hard not to think about the show she gave them.

“Hmm,” Estelle hummed as she nodded. Then she slightly gasped, “Oh, right! I need to give you instructions for the ritual. Don’t worry, they aren’t too complicated. You just have to hold the linking disk Nephele gave you, focus all your mind on connecting your place to Pruzonia, and channel your mana.”

John pulled the mentioned item from his inventory and looked at it. The engraved metal disk of a dull silvery color was oddly warm in his hand, like it had been sitting in the sun.

Linked Disk
Uncommon

One of a series of disks crafted by Nephele Foster to aid in rituals taking place over long distances or at multiple locations. Currently heavily infused with the magic of the gnoshrooms native to Pruzonia.

Attributes: Adapted Arcana, Legion

Adapted Arcana: This item can be infused with a wide variety of magics.

Legion: This item is part of a larger collection and magic affecting one can affect the others.

John closed the Observe sheet before glancing back to the rear seats, where a pair of plain duffle bags sat. Inside each, a small number of gnoshrooms rested, lulled into sleep by some sort of spell Nephele had cast.

‘Is this really all we need?’ John pondered as he played with the disk for a moment longer, then stowed it. ‘I guess they're doing most of the work back in Pruzonia. I’ll have to ask Vivian for a detailed account.’

“Kind of sad, ain’t in?” Estelle glumly asked, shaking John from his musings. “Having those cute little guys all bagged up and knocked out. I know Verida got across the impression of what we wanted to do and they seemed up for it, but I hate having to move them like this.”

For a moment, John studied Estelle’s pouting face. It was a strange expression to see on her, even though he had only known the witch for a few hours at this point.

“Hopefully, this plan works and they can just get back to tending the forest or whatever they get up to,” John said in an effort to cheer her up, which caused Senka to coo sultrily.

‘You aren’t beating those lady’s man allegations with that,’ she teased as Estelle’s face lightened up.

“And then I can visit them!” she cheerfully exclaimed. “That’s okay, right? Nephele and I popping over from time to time?”

“I mean, you guys want Verida’s help in purifying the ley line,” John said. “I don’t think it’d be inappropriate for you to drop by on occasion and hang out.”

Estelle let out a girlish giggle. “Oh, it’ll be so fun to watch them run about!”

John found her excitement infectious and his lips curled into a smile.

‘She’s nice,’ Senka noted. ‘I wonder if there’s anything she or Nephele could offer to Teri’s people? Perhaps some plants that would be useful to whatever witchcraft they’re working on could be cultivated as payment?’

John hummed in thought. That sounded like it would be a good trade, and likely wouldn’t ruffle the Order’s feathers too much.

“Looks like we’re getting close to your place,” Estelle remarked and a look out the window showed John familiar streets. A few minutes later, they pulled up in front of John’s house.

“This is my stop,” John said, drawing a laugh from Estelle. “Does it matter which group of gnoshrooms I take?”

Estelle shook her head, her braided ponytail swaying from the motion.

“They're an equal number and there isn't much of a difference between the various subgroups. Just be careful not to jostle them too much! I don't think they'd like that too much.”

“I'll handle them with care,” John assured her as he stepped out of the car. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a flash of movement from the living room window.

‘Looks like Brenda's done with work,’ Senka noted. ‘I am not looking forward to explaining our afternoon.’

‘That's going to fall to me,’ John thought back with a sense of dread. ‘I'm going to need all my mana, so I can’t summon you.’

‘Good luck. I think I’m going to really rest. Today’s been an event,’ the spirit remarked before falling silent.

John sighed as he retrieved one of the bags and carefully cradled it in his arms.

“See you back in Pruzonia!” Estelle cheerfully called out as he shut the door. A moment later, she drove away, leaving John alone on the curb with his bag of gnoshrooms.

“Really hope Mom doesn’t have too many questions,” he muttered as he marched towards the door. “Estelle said I should be ready about an hour after I get home and the disk will make a sound when it’s time to start. Yeah, I’m about to get grilled.”

He scarcely made it in the house when Brenda accosted him.

“Bit strange to see you home alone,” she said, a concerned look on her face. “Is anything wrong?”

“Not anymore,” John admitted, not seeing any reason to not give Brenda the whole story, even if he truncated it. “Something happened with Kiera’s magic, and we had it fixed, she’s fine.”

“What happened?” Brenda insisted, not placated by John’s assurances of Kiera’s wellbeing. He didn’t need Observe to know her primary emotions were fear and worry.

“So, Kiera wanted to learn how to fight,” John explained, not liking the increased fear that flashed across Brenda’s face at that admission, “and when Aeolia was teaching her, she tapped into some new power that likely came about due to her connection to Verida and sort of slipped back into that mindless state.”

Brenda gasped and John quickly added, “Don’t worry! Cammie knew some people and they set her right. And now we’re working on something that will make it easier to get to Pruzonia.”

Brenda let out a shaky breath and stepped over to the couch, dropping onto it with little grace.

“Everything is fine now, right?” she asked in a pleading tone. “I’m not sure I can take anyone getting more hurt.”

John grimaced as he carefully set his bag down, joined his mother on the couch, and pulled her into a sideways hug. Brenda leaned into John’s side as he said, “I don’t know if I can say we won’t risk getting hurt or ending up in real danger, but we'll try to avoid things when we can. And the people who helped Kiera get back to normal are pretty sure it was just a sort of hiccup and it won’t happen again. They’ve got Cammie and Mason’s stamp of approval, so I think their word is good.”

“And how often can that be assured?” Brenda pressed, the evenness of her voice wavering. “You can't promise there won't be anything like last Sunday.”

“I know,” John admitted, rubbing his hand up and down Brenda’s arm in what he hoped was a soothing gesture. “But if we don't get stronger, something like that happening again becomes more dangerous since we might not be able to win.”

“I just hate that I have to sit here while you do that,” Brenda lamented. “Thinking about making dinner or doing the laundry while you're fighting, even if it's just training, makes me feel like I've failed as a mother.”

John wasn't sure if there was anything he could say to alleviate her fear. He couldn't help but remember that first fight at school, how he had been rooted to the spot while Aeolia fought the vine hounds. In that moment, he made a choice, one that led him to this point.

‘Mom can't make the same move, right?’ he ruminated. On the surface, it was a ridiculous thought. Even back on that first day, he had something. He had magic, even if none of the skills he had then were useful in that instance.

‘I wasn't much back then,’ he continued to think. ‘But at least I had the option to get stronger, learn new skills. Mom doesn't have that. She doesn't have magic. But, what if she could get some?’

“Mom,” John said softly. “I don’t want to give you any false hope or anything, since I don’t know if this could be possible, but, if we could give you magic, would you want that?”

“I…” Brenda began but trailed off. John couldn’t blame her. Gaining magic could ease her mind and allow her to help in some way, but it was a big step to take. “I don’t want to take away from what you need to do to keep safe.”

John couldn’t help but smile at her concern. “Well, we don’t have to be the only ones working on it. The people we met today are probably better suited to figuring something out.”

“I think I need to think about it,” Brenda said. “And have a good talk with them. I don’t suppose sometime today’s going to be an option.”

“Probably not,” John remarked. “I don’t know how much work their leader’s going to have to do for this thing we’re doing, just that it’s more than I have to do.”

“And you’re doing it here?” Brenda asked.

“Well, in the backyard,” John replied with an awkward chuckle. “If this works, we’ll be able to just walk outside and, boom, be in Pruzonia.”

“That does sound far more convenient than you having to drive out there,” Brenda mused.

Wanting to lift her spirits somewhat, John asked, “You know, you haven’t met Verida yet. How about we give you the royal tour tomorrow?”

“I don’t have any more work to do,” Brenda said before she smiled at John. “I think a change of pace would be nice.”

“Then let’s hope this ritual works.” John laughed. “Be nice to not have to worry about gas.”

“Welcome to adulting.” Brenda laughed before she glanced over to where John had placed his bag. “Um, John, sweetie. Why is that bag squirming?”

“Crap, they’re waking up,” John groaned and jumped off the couch.

“John, why do you have something alive in a bag?” Brenda asked, a serious tone in her voice.

“Part of the ritual,” John explained as he picked up the bag, the gnoshrooms inside beginning to rouse. “There are a bunch of mushroom dryad guys that Verida has instructed to help us do this. I need to get them into a barrier and prepare.”

“Would it mess things up if I watched?” Brenda asked.

“Um,” John hemmed. He didn’t want to lie, but telling his mother he had to strip down for this felt like an appropriate time to do so. “They attuned the stuff for it to me and these guys and implied anything else could mess it up. Sorry.”

“No, no, that’s fine,” Brenda assured him. “It’s not going to blow up, right?”

“Shouldn’t,” John answered as he began to head for the backdoor. “Worst thing they said would happen was it just not working. Either way, I’ll just come back in. If I’ve got everyone else with me, then you’ll know it worked.”

“Good luck then,” Brenda called after him and John stepped out into the yard. With a quick motion, he opened a basic barrier and placed the bag down and opened it. The gnoshrooms were quick to escape their confines; a small parade of around twenty of them pranced around the replica of his backyard. Most were the brown cap variety, but a pair of glowing blue ones ran around them, seeming to corral the former. The last one, the larger red one with white spots remained close to John.

“Guess you’re the boss of these guys, huh,” he muttered to his unlikely companion as he pulled out his phone. “About fifteen minutes. Might as well use Bask to make sure I’m fully charged and get ready.”

With mild discomfort, John stowed his clothing, leaving him bare. The grass tickled his feet and the sudden loss of covering caused goosebumps to sprout up and down his whole body.

“Man, when was the last time I went barefoot in grass?” he muttered aloud as he summoned the linked disk to hand. The gnoshroom next to him twisted as if looking up at him and John wondered if it was doing so at him or the disk.

“Are you even an it?” he wondered. “Observe just gave me the basic info. Maybe Verida knows if you guys have a preferred gender or anything like that.”

Taking a deep breath to clear his thoughts, John focused his mind on Bask and took in the sun-warmed mana around him, fully recharging himself for the ritual about to take place. It wouldn’t be long now before it began.

Thanks again for reading this little story. If you liked the chapter, please hit that thumbs up, and if you want to support my writing, check out my Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/ScrapCrow. Get access to my chapters before they’re published here and join my private Discord.