Chapter 24
"So, Paul, tell me about your life in that other world," Fithian asked me.
I told him of my life. I spoke of growing up with Markus, learning magic and responsibility, and of going to college. I had to explain the concept of college to him. Apparently they did not have this type of institution here.
As a matter of fact, I don't think they had the equivalent of primary or secondary school, as we know it. I told him of my time in the military over there. I had to keep stopping and to explain things.
It was kind of a strain really. He exuded power! I got that same sense of 'presence', that I had felt with the Goddess, but scaled down. It wasn't as 'in your face' as it had been when the Goddess made her appearance. But still, he had it! I also sensed acceptance from him. If not love, then at least he liked and respected me. I had impressed him.
I wondered what it had been like to be around his father, if this is what the son felt like. It also made me wonder about my dad. I didn't really have any memories of him, or my mother, thanks to Markus.
I finally wound down, and Fithian looked at me.
"Paul. You have had a trying life. You have faced, and overcome, challenges that would have broken lesser men. You have even 'failed', and come back if not stronger, then at least better equipped to deal with life," Fithian said to me.
I could feel warmth radiate from him towards me, and I basked in it. Wow, this was an incredible feeling. I looked at him, and he smiled a smile that would have outshone the sun, if I had been able to see it. Lord, but I was going to have to get used to things like this happening in my life.
He then turned his attention to Darla, and she told her story. She told of how I had entered her life, and opened a new world to her. Hank took his turn. Finally, we were all done. He was caught up with all the major happenings. He was very curious about Mirwanna, Darla, and myself, as we had all been touched by the Goddess.
"The three of you are linked by the Goddess. This is not something that has happened very often. I am very sure the Goddess has something planned for you three, or at least you three will be instrumental in 'something'.
"Paul, you were the vessel for the Goddess, an avatar. This alone will have affected you in ways we can't even guess at, yet. All three of you were, 'God Touched' as it is called. It is rare for one person not only to have been an avatar, but also to be changed as you were.
"But each of you were touched, and have had changes made. We will need to explore what gifts you have been given, besides the obvious ones. What has happened is so rare, I can only think of two other times in our history when this has happened. Darla, what exactly happened to you?"
"I'm not sure. I was unconscious. I had drunk a substance to help open my power, which had been blocked in the other world. I do know from what both Paul and Mirwanna said, that the Goddess came and healed me, and changed me a bit. I woke up feeling... well, better than I had ever felt in my life. Full of energy, and... 'connected', somehow," Darla said struggling to put into words her feelings.
"The Goddess also extended her life. I saw her do that. She was also changed a little, but with one exception, I don't know if she has any special gifts," Mirwanna said.
"What is this exception?" Fithian asked curiously.
"She summons food to herself, with thought," Mirwanna replied.
"Tell me exactly what happened," Fithian said.
"Well, when I woke up, I was very hungry. I was going to go see if I could get something to eat. I was thinking of eating a particular meal, when it appeared on a table next to me!" Darla exclaimed.
"You're a conjurer. This is a gift that has died out over the centuries. Can you conjure something now? I want to watch the process," Fithian asked her.
"Certainly," Darla said.
She thought for a minute, and a full meal appeared on the table before each of us, complete with silverware.
"Nice steak dinner, Darla," I said, congratulating her.
"Yes. It smells wonderful. I have not eaten for longer than I can remember. This was a good thing to conjure for us. Thank you. You actually manipulated the magical field for what you wanted. I saw. It was a very sophisticated use of magic.
"My father could do it. I can do it to some extent, also. Have you tried for things other than food?" Fithian asked her.
"Not really. This is only the second time I have ever done this, and the first time was an accident. I didn't even know I could do it, then," Darla replied.
I had dug into my dinner, as had the others. The conversation lagged a bit as we ate of the bounty before us. I have to admit, it was one of the best steak dinners I had ever eaten.
I finally pushed my plate back, and thanked Darla for an excellent meal. She smiled at me, and my heart was once again in my throat. I looked around, and noticed that both Fithian and Mirwanna were staring at me.
"What?" I asked them
They chuckled at me. Darla was looking a little confused.
"Darla, have you not seen the way, Paul looks at you?" Fithian asked her. I reddened.
"He is a sweet man. We went on a date once. Why? How does he look at me?" Darla asked curiously.
Mirwanna laughed, saying, "Darla, Paul is in love with you,"
Darla gaped at Mirwanna, then at me.
"But he has only just met me. How can you say he is in love with me?" Darla asked in a confused way.
I could have killed my sister! This was embarrassing, to have been exposed in this way, and for Darla to find out of my love from others. It was happening all wrong! I gritted my teeth. I decided to change the subject.
"Fithian? I was wondering at the fluency of our speaking the local language and our ability to read it, too. I might be remembering from when I used to live here, but how do you explain Darla's ability to speak, read, and write this language?" I asked, desperate to get everyones attention off my love life, or lack of it, and onto other things.
"When you gate to another world, such as from that world you left to this one, you do not just step through as you think. You are totally retranslated by the magical field as a person who can use some of the abilities you had in that other world.
"If you could read and write in that world, you can here. You can speak the language here because you spoke a language there. It does not translate all abilities, but just some basic ones," Fithian said.
"Everytime I hear something like this, I am impressed all over again with this place," Darla commented.
She was right. I was constantly in a state of awe and discovery, myself. This world that was my birthright, was a place of untapped potential as far as I was concerned. There was so much to be done, and even more that could be done.
From my vantage point, coming from a high tech society, I had a lot of ideas that I thought would be perfect for this world. The problem was, I did not know what would or would not work.
I couldn't just go in blindly, and start changing things. As Duke De Landkur, I had the power to change the law as I saw fit. A lot of responsibility went along with this power. I was being cautious, before I tried to implement any changes.
I looked up and caught Fithian looking at me and nodding. Could he read minds? He nodded, and smiled at me. So, was it mind reading? Or was he just smiling and nodding at me?
<Those in our family can speak to one another, mind to mind. I am amazed that you and your sister have not done this, as of yet, > I heard the voice of Fithian say in my mind.
Well, this was yet another ability that I'd had no clue or warning about. There was a new discovery around every corner, in this world. We got down to discussing what was going to happen now that Fithian was awake, and released from the spell his father had placed on him.
We also needed to figure out what to do about the castle. Fithian said he would continue to stay at the castle for the time being. He would come to the palace at a later date, to either assume the thrown as King, or to abdicate in favor of Mirwanna.
I walked over to an alcove that had a comfortable looking chair, sat, and went for a cigarette. I lit up. I was thinking furiously. Things were really getting weird. I wondered if this was how Vivian was feeling?
Darla came over to me, and I got back to my feet.
"What was this about you loving me?" she asked me curiously.
"Yeah, well... I liked you from the first time I met you. And on our date, I think I was totally smitten with you. Ever hear of love at first sight? Well, I think that is what happened with me, for you.
"I am also starting to think it might have something to do with our magical abilities," I said musingly.
"Huh?" Darla asked.
"My sister was telling me earlier, that sometimes magic sort of drew one person to the other. You have this aura about you, that I find very soothing. It's a nice blue color," I said smiling.
"I have heard and experienced love at first sight, before," Darla said. "I was in the second grade when it happened to me. His name was Charles Shepard. He was the cutest boy I knew. I worshiped him the whole year, almost!" Darla said with a sigh.
"Well, I think this is probably a little different. How do you feel about me?" I asked Darla. I was nervous about her answer.
She frowned.
"Well. I do feel something for you. I have to say I wondered about it. I can't say I love you, but I do have some very strong feelings for you. Which is weird, as I have only known you a short time," Darla finished slowly.
I finished my cigarette and teleported the butt out. I had been using my other hand for an ashtray, and the ashes went, too. We both walked back towards my sister and Fithian.
"Ah, the two lovebirds. I was just telling your sister that I would go back to the Palace with you, this day. I want to live here at the castle, though. My father had the Palace constructed for me years ago, but I don't really want to live there any longer. This castle has been my home for a long time," Fithian said.
"When everyone is ready, I can teleport us all there. I didn't come by horse. I flew in as a dragon," I said.
"I would love to see that. My father could change into a dragon, but I never had his ability. It, too, is an ability that had died out," Fithian told me.
It sounded like his father, my great grandfather, had many powers and abilities. It would have been so nice to have met him. Hell, I might have met him, and just can't remember. Damn that Markus!
"Well, I for one, am ready to head back. Does anyone want to teleport back with me?" I asked.
Darla said she would go with me. Fithian and Mirwanna were going to ride back. Fithian wanted to see what changes had been made in the city since he was last out of the castle. Hank decided to ride back with Mirwanna, also.
I hesitantly grabbed Darla's hand, and smiled at her. She smiled back, and I teleported us to my common room, back at the Palace. We startled Vivian. She was sitting there, drinking coffee. She had also filched a candy bar!
"Good news, Vivian. We entered the castle, and my grandfather has been living there as a guardian," I told her, getting myself a cup of coffee. It was going to be a long day, indeed.
Edited by TeNderLoin