The Quantum Wanderer

“Wow! That was an experience!” Edward says. “I never imagined something like this was possible! How did you do it?” He asks Huginn.

She shrugs.

“It’s an innate ability.”

Edward is waiting her to extend the explanation, she offers nothing of the sort.

I take a look at the window, most of the day is already gone. Edward follows my gaze.

”Wow, it is that late already. I really didn’t feel like so long has passed.”

”Yes. I think it is time we go home…” I say.

We say our goodbyes and the girls and I go home.

We wash up and come down for dinner.

After I am done, I relax a little bit.

”That city was intense. But… weren’t there other parties as well?”

”Yes, papa. The other city behaved somewhat the same. The party got in touch with the guild master before preaching the other adventurers, though. Leopold laid out the truth, and then they preached together.”

”Same result?”

”Almost. One of the guilty parties is on the run. Other than that, same thing.”

”Are you going to visit them? Perhaps a well done message would be interesting. Positive reinforcement.”

”For sure. And also making sure they know about the punishment for trying to escape. Those have to be made a particular example. Those naughty children…”

I giggle. She turns her head.

”You are speaking as if you had lived for millennia.”

”What can I say, papa? I think I have spent too long with my mamas…”

”When are you going to, and I quote, come down from heavens?”

”Right after dinner. There are two cities to visit, so I will make it early and short.”

We finish dinner, and dress up  in our night work attires. We portal to the first city. As always, high enough that we can’t be seen.

Huginn dives down, and lands in front of the pyre, in her big size. Her four eyes shine in the night.

”Well done, children. I am actually happy that you are making it possible for me to contain the punishment. The one I represent is happy with these results.

”As done in the previous village, I am granting you clemency because of your actions.

”As for the adventurers that participated in the extermination attempt, I am going to give you this chance. From now on, you are to take care of these birds, as if your lives depended on it. Because it does.”

At this point, some small birds land on the shoulders of 15 of the adventurers. They already expected it.

”You may get instructions from the crow queen. And spread the word.”

She looks at the center of the pyre and lights it with a laser spell. The light on the wood blind the people around, and the fire starts.

While they are still recovering from the light in their eyes, Huginn flies back up, shrinking mid way. We are covered behind a light cloud.

”You are getting good at the theatrics.” I say.

”Thanks, papa.”

She opens a portal, we go through. It is high above a road. She flies down.

She reaches a group of five people that are running. An archer, a barbarian, a mage, a shaman and a thief. The shaman notices the crow around them and stops. I enhance my hearing.

”WHAT THE FUCK!”

”Lauron, control it!”

I can sense some mana leaving the shaman, going towards Huginn. He really doesn’t have the levels to make it strong enough to work.

”This is not a normal crow! I CAN’T!”

They are encircling Huginn. I would normally be worried about this kind of situation, but she is immune to anything they can throw at her.

”WE ARE GIVING YOU A CHANCE, CROW! GO AWAY!”

She assumes her real form, while laughing.

”I haven’t been a crow for some time now.” She laughs some more. She is using her terror voice. Sounds that vibrate in a way that we are not supposed to listen. It goes straight to the reptilian brain, something basic. A level of fear, something that goes beyond death.

The mage is casting, but Huginn has already set up a sanctuary spell. I can sense what appears to be the CO magic. With their quick breathing because of both the stress and the running, they are inhaling huge amounts of the gas.

The ball of fire the mage casts very quickly diminishes, it disappears before it reaches her. Everyone is baffled. I can see that some of them, specially the mage and the shaman, are becoming drowsy. The shaman tries to invoke something, but then he and the mage fall on the floor.

The barbarian goes after her, trying a swing of the double handed sword. She bites the sword in half, and puts her under her paw. The archer tries to shoot, but the gas is making it’s effect already, he misses her head. He starts to put on a second arrow, but she shoot him with a light earth bullet. It is enough to put him down. It wasn’t even a strong spell, but the gas was taking its toll.

The thief tries to activate a stealth ability. He goes to her back. When he extends his arm to stab her leg, she disappears, to appear on his shoulder.

”You are not that smart, are you?”

She kicks him on the head. He falls down, and goes under. She assumes her large size again. She is doing this very well. Specially considering she has to undo the neutron crystals and the regeneration runes. It takes a lot for such a small amount of time.

She opens a portal. She levitates the bodies and push them through the portal. Muninn opens another portal for us, way high in the sky. It is another city. It also displays an unlit bonfire, with priests and soldiers, tied by their feet.

People are still frozen by the portal. Huginn is already past it, placing the group on the ground. The cobblestone gives way to the earth spell, that imprisons the group kneeling down, arms stretched to the sides.

”Good evening, children. Your actions have been seen, your cries have been heard. Even though it was because of knowledge of consequences, even though it is too late, we are going to grant you some clemency.

”HOWEVER! Know that this is a grant, not a right. For now, you take care of these birds, as if your lives depended on it.” Her eye shone red. ”Because if does.”

The adventurers kneel down. Then the whole populace does the same.

”As for these…”

Huginn heals then. The mage has his mana circuits broken so that he can’t cast. He screaming in pain.

”These are the ones that tried to run from the consequences they caused.”

Starting with the mage, she squeezes their soul through the mana. It starts to break, and there is this spiritual explosion in the back of their necks.

A shaman had his eyes shining during the episode. He starts sweating bullets.

She continues with the other ones. They go coarse because of screaming in pain before they die. The last ones are ugly crying. Tears, snout, voices like children.

After a moment of silence she turns again to the mob.

”Now go! Spread the word!”

She flies up, turns to her small size and come up to meet us. The people stay kneeling on the ground for a long time.

I open a portal and we go home.

Next morning, during breakfast, I ask the girls what are their plans for the day.

Next morning, after Cecilia and I are done eating, I pose the usual question.

“So, what are the plans for today?”

“We start the next term in the schools. Did you forget?” Cecilia answers.

“Hummm. Yes, for a moment I had. Are you all excited?” I ask, towards all of them.

“About what, my lord?” Opal asks. She has a face of someone that did not understand the question.

“Learning more, talking to people, making friends.”

Aquamarine looks at me and tilts her head.

“Why would we talk to people, my lord?”

“I don’t know, for fun?”

Ruby purses the left side of her mouth.

“Have you ever tried talking to those people, my lord? The boys are insufferable. They just can’t stop looking at our breasts… You also look at them, though… But I mean, you can, right?”

She says, holding her breasts. She grabs them a little.

“These things are so weird.”

She sighs and get back to eating.

I stretch my arm and grab Cecilia’s breast. She looks down at my hand, then at me.

“Having fun?”

“A little, yes.”

“You do remember that my father is on the table, right?”

I look at Charles and take my hand off. Aquamarine moves her chair, gets close to me.

“You can grab mine, my lord.”

I grab it, just because. I am sorry ladies, but yes we men are idiots.

I let it go shortly after. Cecilia is laughing. Shandon turns to her.

“What is funny, sister?”

“Men are idiots. It is nice to remember that even our hubby can be a little idiot every once in a while…”

Muninn, Huginn and I laugh. After a brief pause, I turn to them again.

“Do you know what the lessons are going to be?”

Cecilia shrugs.

“More of the same, but we are going to get more advanced spells. They go in the other direction of what you have taught me, though.”

“What do you mean?”

“You have an understanding of how the world works without magic, and you use that to manipulate the shit out of it. So your spells are quite simple, actually.

“They developed their schools of magic without that understanding. They sometimes use more complex runes, or more mana control. So they practice it in another way. And don’t get me started with the amount of mana you have. Even my amount of mana is stupid.”

“So,” I conclude, “I basically cast most things by using the mana to manipulate results I want in reality, while they learn to manipulate mana itself.”

“Pretty much.” Cecilia agrees.

“But then how do skills affect it?”

“Even for magic, it is muscle memory. You have the finesse, but not the runes. You didn’t create a rune for the invisible death spell. Your sanctuary spells are based on a rune that you obtained from the monster repelant.”

“That is a very interesting point of view…” I say. I am getting curious.

We all go upstairs. The girls get dressed in their respective uniforms. I put on some casual clothing. First day in the year, Edward is going to be there. I am thinking of listening to some classes on magic theory. I am going to ask him.

Muninn open a portal for us in an alley close by, but away from prying eyes. Both he and Huginn are better at this, since they can have eyes everywhere.

We jump out of the portal.

“I am telling you, since you are going to come to school, you should dress appropriately. We should start wearing our armors.” Ruby says. She has been nagging me about this since we left the room.

“My love, I want to maintain a sense of normalcy. You know there is nothing normal about the armor, right?”

She looks at the armor she is wearing. It is the school provided one.

“I hear that most noble families are going to provide armor for their kids… And we have to wear this… Not fair…” She says, pouting.

I hug her, and kiss her on the cheek.

“Let’s see how the day goes, and we can move from that point forward. I don’t see anyone wanting to wear an armor unnecessarily. Ours are particularly comfortable, but it is not something normally pleasurable.”

“But they know we are yours, my lord… I want them to know how special you are…” Ruby says.

This time, her dragon sisters agree with her. We walk towards the schools. There is a big sign, indicating that the start of year ceremony is going to be held in the main arena. It had been used in the magic test.

There are different group of people assembling. I see that Edward is on the stage. I wave at him. He gestures me to join him on the stage. The people in the front turn to their backs, to take a look who is being invited up the stage.

I give a kiss on each girl, on their cheeks. They go towards their groups. I take a look at the group that the dragonesses are joining. They were right. The first years are wearing the school issued ones, but the ones around them are allowed to wear their own armor, and most of them are wearing superior armors to the ones issued by the school.

I get close to the stage, and I jump on it. Not a big deal, it is only about 6 feet high. Edward gets closer, he extends his hand.

“Good morning, friend. How are you? Have you come to see the ceremony with your wives?”

I shake his hand.

“Kind of. I was hoping to also ask you a favor, after the ceremony.”

“Sure. I can make my secretary hold the ceremony, we can go to my office.”

I hold my hands up.

“No need for such.” I smile.

“Are you sure?”

I smile again. “Now it looks like you are the one that doesn’t want to participate in this. Don’t worry. I am going to enjoy the ceremony as well.”

“As you wish.” He gestures to his secretary.

“Dear, find him a comfortable chair, will you?”

“Of course, dean. Please follow me, mister Marcelo.”

There is a line of chairs in the back of the stage. There is a seat at the end. As I approach it, the two professors start standing. The secretary throws them a look, and gesture them to stay where they are. They sit back down. I sit in the end of the line. The secretary goes back to her position, to the left, behind Edward.

There is an older woman to my left.

“Good morning, sir!” She offers me her hand. “I see that you probably know old Ambrose. My name is Madam Fey.”

I shake her hand.

“Good morning. My name is Marcelo. Nice to meet you.”

“New blood. Are you a new professor?”

I smile. My idea is quite the opposite, really.

“No… I am here in part to escort my wives.”

“Your wives? Who are they?”

“Cecilia, in the magic school, Opal, Shandon, Aquamarine and Ruby in the knight school…”

“OH? REALLY?”

I tilt my head while looking at her.

“I am sorry… You just look so… normal…? I mean no offense. I expected their husband to be… Different.”

I smile.

“What should I look like?”

“I expected someone like a mithril adventurer, more rugged, to tell the truth.”

I nod.

“Yes, this makes sense. In my defense, I take care of my self…”

We both giggle. Edward taps the stand in front of him three times.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, we are here to start another year in our lives…”

He launches into this long speech. He reminds how lucky the students are for being able to afford this prestigious school. He reminds them on the long line of responsibility, honor and justice that is front of them.

He goes about the schools’ main rules. He mentions that inside the schools only meritocracy exists, noble names are meaningless here. He wraps it up by inviting the valedictorians from each class.

First are the first years. They give their speech about new horizons opening up.

Then it is Cecilia. She waves at me when she comes up the stage. She talks about growth and and learning, about opportunities.

Then it is my girls. They are represented by Opal. They also wave at me when they come up. She talks about thinking outside what is simply proposed, about other kinds of strength than brute force.

Then the third years and then the fourth years do their speeches. The whole thing takes us till noon. Once the ceremony ends, Ambrose and Tacitus come straight towards me.

“Professor Marcelo! By the gods! Did the dean finally hire you?”

Ambrose is enthusiastic as ever. I smile. I hold out my hand, he shakes it. I shake my head.

“Not the case, I am sorry.” I smile.

I offer my hand to Tacitus, he shakes it vigorously.

“Good morning! I have so much to talk with you. We have had our first digs! There is so much material! We really should exam some of the results!”

Madam Fey is laughing at the two.

“Where are your manners? Professor Ambrose, I wish you had half that tact when dealing with your students!”

“And I wish they had a tenth of professor Marcelo’s brains! I think I treat them all too well.”

“What do you teach, madam Fey?”

“I teach magic theory.”

“Oh, that sounds interesting…” I say. “It has been brought to my attention that it is something missing in my formation.”

“How come?” She asks.

“I am an adventurer. As such, the spells I use are learned in a practical way, I haven’t had formal training.”

“What tag do you have?”

I take out my mithril tag.

“Oh, how precious! Congratulations on attaining this level. Are you more of a sword man?”

“I have adventured alone in the past. I would do both sword and magic.”

“Without a proper education on magic? Are you good with a sword?”

“I can hold my own…”

“That would explain it.”

Edward approaches the group. He had been talking with some nobles that came up the stage after the ceremony ended.

“I finally got rid of those vultures.” He giggles towards us. Tacitus turns to him.

“Good afternoon, dean. Is professor Marcelo’s presence here… a clue?”

“Not as far as I know. And I am the dean…”

We laugh whole heartedly.  Ambrose pouts a little. I look down at the student area, the girls are there, together. Cecilia gestures me that we will talk later. I see that Huginn is on her shoulder, and I look around for Muninn. He is in a beam, high up. I tap on my shoulder, he flies down. Edward clears his throat.

“Well, sir Marcelo, would you come with me to my office?”

“Sure.” I turn to the professors around. “If you will excuse me.”

The three of them nod. Edward, his secretary and I go to his office. As we walk through the corridors, he asks me.

“Are your wives coming as well?”

“Cecilia told me that we are going to meet later.”

He just purse his lips indicating understanding, we continue on our way. We get to the office, the secretary opens it with a key. The key has a gem on it, there is some mana around it.

“All this security… Is there a particular reason?”

“You would have no idea what students would do for a copy of the written exams.”

“So you also have written exams?”

“Of course. The schools have subjects like law, ethics, code of conduct. How would we check if the students are at least paying attention?”

“What about that exam I watched?”

“Well, that is like a final exam, and they can be watched.”

We enter his room. He sits on one couch close to the coffee table. I sit opposite to him. The secretary opens the door.

“Is there anything else you need, dean?”

“No, thank you, Susan.”

She closes the door, he casts a silence spell. Edward relaxes on the couch.

“So, friend, how can I help you?”

“I would like to watch magic lessons.” I say, keeping a smile.

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“I had a talk with Cecilia. She mentioned that while I know a lot of cheats, my use of magic lacks theory, and is somewhat inefficient because of it.”

…

…

“Is this serious?”

“Yes.”

He stands up, he goes to his liquor cart by the window. He gestures towards it.

“Is there anything I can offer you?”

“Thank you, I am good. “

He pours some to himself, and comes back to the couch. He sits down, staring at me. He takes a sip. He shrugs.

“Sure. I don’t mind at all. How do you want to do it? Do you want to enroll or just watch whatever classes you want?”

“I can join. The next class is only going to start by  the end of year, right? How bad would it be for me to join now?”

He stops to think for a minute.

“You are not keeping a secret that you’re a mithril adventurer, right?”

“No.”

“I can use that to justify.”

From the top of the bookcase, Muninn flaps his wings. I look at him.

“Father, why not just having the knowledge implanted?”

I smile.

“According to some testing I have done, we are going to be around for a very long time. This way is fun.”

“As you wish, father… I don’t quite understand how you think, but as you wish.”

I turn to Edward.

“How do I pay?”

He snorts.

“After the whole hero thing? Pfffft. Your money is no good to me. I will let the Susan know, you can just accompany Cecilia from tomorrow on.”

That makes me remember the question about clothing.

“I saw that some people are now going to use armors in the school. Are we allowed to do that?”

“You ask some strange things for someone that wants to keep a low profile.” He sighs. “I doubt anyone would oppose your girls from wearing it, but traditionally first years only use school provided armors and uniforms.

“Using your own armor is only allowed from the second year on.”

“The girls are going to enjoy that. Do you think it is the material is too apparent?”

He looks at me in a funny way. Something like ‘do you really want me to answer?’  way. He sighs and answer anyway.

“I don’t think anybody, other than me and Anthon have actually seen enchanted adamantite. I think people will not believe it could be that metal. That will kind of make people mistake it for a noble’s fake.”

1“Thank you.”

He closes the silence spell, and calls for his secretary.

“Did you call, dean?”

“Yes. Sir Marcelo here is going to do a mid year transfer to the magic school. Can you please provide the details?”

“Yes, dean.” She turns to me. “Sir Marcelo, can you please accompany me?”

We go to her desk.

“The exams have already been applied, but since this is a request from the dean, can we have them applied tomorrow?”

“Sure.”

“Great. I will provide you with uniform right after. Please take a look at this.”

She hands me booklet. It contains the rules and policies from the school. I look up at her, she continues.

“Is there anything else I can provide?”

“No, I think we are good here. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

I turn around and leave, while reading the little booklet. Muninn is on my shoulder.