“Stupid boy,” a voice called out to him. Erzo flinched from the noise, then slowly opened his eyes again to find a pair of golden eyes gleaming at him. The sight startled him to his feet before he recognized the voice.

  “Grimoire?” Erzo responded deliriously. “Am I dead?”

  “No, but you should be for being stupid. You are currently asleep in the middle of the forest. It is nighttime now, so I would suggest you wake up or we may both die.”

  “What do you mean?” Erzo said, tilting his head.

  “Things exist in this forest well beyond your capabilities to handle as you are now. Especially as a child.”

  Erzo stuck his chest out confidently, “But you saw what I just did! I can do it again! I know I can!”

  The eyes seemed to close slowly and open again in a long, drawn-out sigh. “Fool. You drew too much energy from the Ley Lines without proper control. Your life force was used to compensate for what you lacked. That feeling of blissful comfort is what it feels like to use your life force.”

  Erzo blinked, confused, then thought deeply. “Is that why I passed out and why I am capable of talking to you like this now?”

  “Yes. Your body could not handle the stress, so it shut down.”

  “I still don’t quite understand,” Erzo looked down toward his feet then sighed.

  “You will soon. Stay in the forest and practice for a while. Feel and learn from the mana flowing within life. As a half-born demi-human of the elven race, you will understand as it is in your nature to do so. It is all about control. Start small.”

  Erzo sat down, bringing his knees to his chest.

  “Is something the matter boy?”

  “Well…” Erzo paused for a moment to gather his thoughts. “How will I get stronger? I do not want to die because I used too much magic. How can I control all of that mana?”

  The pair of floating eyes seemed to squint and glare at him more intensely. The pressure made Erzo tuck himself tighter. “Hmph,” the grimoire scoffed, “I will help you, provided you do something for me in return.”

  “Really?” Erzo’s head perked up.

  “Yes, but I will not tell you what it is until the time is right. Keep me by your side, boy, and I will help you.”

  Erzo quickly stood up. “Okay, but what should I call you? I think calling you ‘Book’ or ‘Grimoire’ is a little weird.”

  “Hmmm,” the floating eyes closed for a moment. “I have not used my real name in many millennia. I have no memories before my time as a book. For now, you may call me, Vega.”

  “Okay, Vega it is,” Erzo said excitedly.

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  “I will heal you, but this is the most I will do. Understand?”

  “I would ask how a book can do that but, thank you. I will get stronger so that it does not happen again. I have to pay back that old bastard.”

  Vega’s eyes widened, “Good, but my first lesson to you is this: Revenge is never the answer.”

  Erzo looked into Vega’s eyes and frowned. “Don’t give me that look, brat. Besides, it’s time for you to wake up now.”

  Erzo’s eyes shot open. His body, though motionless, had a much lighter feeling. And stronger. The triplet moons could only pierce the trees just enough to shine a brilliant light upon the grimoire that lay only meters away. He smiled as he looked upon its bindings then stood and brushed himself off of the twigs and dirt.

  “Revenge is not the answer, huh.”

  The darkness of night provided Erzo with the perfect cover to hide from predators but perhaps not for long. Many cries and shrieks emanated louder throughout the forest than his previous couple of nights. Some of which terrified him because they sounded much bigger than the noise projected.

  I need a place to sleep for the night fast, he thought as he looked around.

  Then it dawned on him. His head shifted in the direction of a relatively large tree. It was certainly bigger than the others but something was strange about it. As if he was being compelled to walk in its direction.

  Upon reaching the tree, he placed his hand on it. Feel, he thought to himself, then closed his eyes. The tree felt warm despite the cool breeze flowing through the forest. A pressure similar to what he felt when he drew in mana earlier tickled his small palms. His eyes grew wider once he noticed the pressure was moving into his palm.

  Is this what Vega meant? To feel the mana flowing through life itself and not just the Ley Lines?

  Suddenly the flow of mana quickly shifted. It was flowing in the opposite direction into the tree. He yanked his hand back in fear. The same act blew him away not some hours earlier. But it was different this time. The tree’s trunk began to shake and vibrate. Where Erzo’s hand had lain, a small hole opened up, about the same size as his palm. Then it grew bigger. He took a step back.

  And bigger.

  Another step.

  And bigger still.

  Erzo was easily a few meters away at this point but he could not take his eyes off what he had caused.

  The hole he created was large. Certainly just enough for Erzo to crawl into.

  Magic certainly is convenient, he chuckled to himself. Erzo quickly crawled in and wrapped himself tightly with Vega firmly held against his chest. For the first time in half a week, he could relax and sleep in the forest at night.