Zip zap.

"I'm a-a Ballistress." Zana stutters, trying her best to emulate her friend's outgoing personality, and failing horribly. "A S-Sorcerer who uses firearms as their means of c-casting."

The rifle was six feet long, easily taller than the girl herself. It's barrel was thick, gleaming metal tube that was clearly well kept; with a handle made of an old looking dark wood, which had been treated and polished. Across both the barrel and woodwork, etchings of varying symbols were found, with the symbol of the Pantheon being present amongst them, centered at the back of the wood.

"So... what do rifles do... And why would you cast with one." I ask; that thing doesn't seem to be meant for bashing people.

"Normally, a firearm 'fires' metal projectiles, propelled by a small localized explosion." Zana says, enthused to speak on what seemed to be her favorite subject. "But I use magic instead, for both the propulsion, and the ammunition."

"What kind of rifle is that." Cilla asks. "I've only seen a few in my time in townships or cities, and they've never looked like that."

Ashes, still dancing from before, says. "My Pop made it! Well, the metal parts. The wood and the magic were from Misses Hush. Ooo! Show them the thing!"

"Oh, right..." Zana mutters. "It's stock is from Gram's old transport pole... it's enchantment helps with the recoil..."

"Broomstick..." Whispers Ashes.

"It's not a broomstick..." Zana grumbles, as she places the firearm under herself like a chair.

The rifle floats above the floor of the ship, allowing Zana to somehow sit still on the thing as it floats in the air.

Gabriella, amazed at the sight of flight, finally breaks her silence. "Ooo, I've heard of those. I always wanted to bring my staff to an Enchanter so I could fly about and visit other towns."

Good, getting them to talk about other things is getting us past what happened in the Captains Cabin. Maybe just two or so more questions and everything will be back to normal.

"Why do your eyes keep changing color, Zana?" I ask.

Zana nearly doubles over off her broom, catching herself and saying "Oh, th-that... It's just a side effect of my... condition."

"Oh, sorry. I shouldn't have brought it up." I say; damn it! This small talk is supposed to be fixing things, not bringing up more baggage...

The mousey mage holds out her hands in protest of my apology, saying. "Oh no! It's f-fine. I should tell you three, er, four anyway. Unless Miss Cilla has already figured it out."

Zana winks at me, oh, she knows what I'm doing with these questions; and is playing along.

Cilla, as if asking for a name, asks. "Wild Magic, am I correct?"

Zana nods, but now I'm confused again...

I hate being confused, I hate it, hate it, hate it!

Seeing my frustrated face, Ashes pats me on the back, while Zana says. "My rhythm is... chaotic. It interacts with the cosmic vibrations in a way that causes my spells to... alter. I may be trying to cast a spell infused with fire, and it becomes ice instead. Or maybe I'll try to... open the door to my room in the attic, and instead, turn it into a very large duck..."

"Aw, Mister Quackers was great! He was a wonderful town mascot... I miss him..." Says Ashes, ceasing her back pats.

"We all do..." Zana mutters, a small tear dropping from her multicolored eyes. "But, with the kinds of magic I can do with firearms, the variance on what happens is generally less dangerous. It doesn't help with the other, more... intrusive side effects..."

She seems to **** up quite a lot trying to find the words, so Cilla asks in her usual matter-of-fact tone. "May I finish? You seem pained by the subject."

"Yes, that would be wonderful." Zana whispers, floating over to her hammock, and putting her rifle-broomstick back into her hat.

Rifle... Explosion... Broomstick...

Boomstick, I'm calling it the Boomstick.

Cilla, seeming a bit excited to get to do her favorite thing again, first says. "How about I tell of the origins of Wild Magic; as to... divert from speaking of Zana directly."

My crimson guide pulls from her cloak a blue colored paper slip, and a book titled 'Wyrd Magics, by Pom-Rom Tom-Zom', which she opens to a specific page, looking over it to confirm her memory on the subject. She then places it back in her cloak; being sure to leave the paper slip in her spot.

Clearing her throat, Cilla begins. "Going back to the first Pantheon, many untold hundreds of thousands of millennia ago, with the first God of Madness. While her name was lost to time, the name of her demigod spawn, Chron; the first Wild Mage, is still well known. Even today, He resides on the Island of Time, Chronatoa; known for the infamous, and highly illegal, Time-Fruit. It is said this insane demi-god picks others to bare his power; choosing entirely by random; as such, Zana here is one such example of the cruel Chron..."

Ashes, now over by her old friend to give her emotional support after she choked up, mutters "If I ever get my hands on that guy... no one hurts my Zana..."

"Aww... Ash..." Murmurs the blushing Sorcerer.

Interrupting the sweet moment between the two is Cilla, continuing her explination."As I was saying, there are many effects of Wild Magic. As Zana said, it can alter her spells in drastic ways, but that is not all. The chaotic rhythm also weakens the bone density, it's vibrations break down fats and calories at heightened rates, and makes the subjects skin more fragile..."

So that's why she's so spindly, poor thing...

Cilla's ranting continues; but I see now that she is closely watching Zana, prepared to stop if our meek mage gets too stressed by the subject. "The two other effects are the more... insidious additions to Chron's 'Gift', refered to as the Curse of Color, and the Malady of Minds... First, is the Curse of Color; which brings change to a Wild Mages blood, as it is altered by the cosmic vibrations interaction with the source of the chaotic rhythm, the heart. Their blood is, in effect, a perfected version of the renowned 'Soul-Sedative', meaning that those with Wild Magic are essentially immune to Vibrosis. This alteration also effects the coloration of their eyes... and is the primary cause of... trouble... for those with Wild Magic; as they are often hunted for their valuable vita."

Zana seems to know this well enough already, as she seems unaffected by these words. Ashes on the other hand is absolutely fuming; the fire in her eyes ready to burn any who would hurt Zana. Now I see why the mousey mage is so scared all the time. If the wrong person saw her eyes...

Now watching Zana even more carefully to see when she should stop, Cilla finishes her lesson. "The Malady of Minds is the most harrowing aspect of Wild Magic, as it manifests a second personality within the mind. The type of secondary personality is always the direct inverse of the first; and will always take the name of the prime personality, and reverse it. One must never say this personalities name within the presence of the Wild Mage, lest they wish to compel a change. Attempts to use false names result in the same effect when reversed..."

So that's what Madness ment... She's like us... before the flame...

The room is silent, and I stare at Zana; or should I say I'm staring at... Anaz? Both of them?

Then Zana says quietly. "I mean, I like my Other. It's kind of like having a sister..."

"Oh come on, she's a meanie! And I'm all the sister you need anyway!" Ashes say childishly, giving her dear friend a massive hug.

Cilla sighs in relief, and pulls the book she was reading back from her cloak. "I suppose reading up more on it would be useful then..."

The quiet hum of Ariel's voice is nearly inaudible as it vibrates down towards Gabbie, going unheard by the others. "I kinda wish we knew this before we let her come on this trip, I mean, Monster already has a few... passengers..."

"I mean, he's mostly fine, and he has three of them. I don't see a problem with it..." Gabbies whispers back, her kind voice still unheard by those without my acute ears.

I don't know why... but the acknowledgement of my 'Others' as Zana put it... the fact these people I'm with have been so open with me about themselves...

I have to tell them, or it will burn me up inside.

"Hey." I say, loud enough to stop the whispers between Ariel and his sister, and Cilla's reading.

"About what happened... back in Saltmoore..."