Chapter 2

Not quite turning back, he responded, “Yes, my sentiments exactly,” with a small smile. He walked out and disappeared. Back at the motel, he decided it was time to leave this place.

Grabbing the few things that he wanted, he started thinking about where he wanted to go.

Till he got a better handle on this, he needed to practice or use them or whatever the heck he needed to do.

First, he needed to eat. Nothing fancy, just food, real food. Seeing a vacant house in his mind, he was there almost as fast. Hmmm, getting a little faster, he saw, after just a few times. In the house, he proceeded to make everything that he wanted there just by pointing.

Nice! Sitting, he decided what he wanted to eat, and it was there. Being served by naked women, he reached out to touch them, but they were like smoke. “Darn it! I really need to get a handle on this! Well, at least the food was real.”

Smacking his head, he realized all he had to do was ask. “Okay, okay,” thinking, he asked, “Just what the heck is going on?” A voice came into his head, you are a possessor of magic in your body, it is usually in the blood, though the current level you possess is higher than I have ever seen Just who the heck are you? Tom thought.

You remember that little horn you picked up? the voice asked calmly.

Yes, of course, not easy to forget almost getting hit in the head Tom replied.

That horn was a talisman for me. I am the spirit of the horn, the voice said, almost happy-sounding.

This ought to make it easier for you, the voice said, then poof—a young woman appeared.

“There, sir, this should help.” Laughing at the look on his face, she waited for the next question.

“Okay, I have questions. First off, what am I?” Tom asked.

“Hmm, well, let’s see. You’re not a wizard, though I feel the power you have, and you might be one day. You’re not a sage or seer; you have much more power than that. I don’t believe you’re a magi—I don’t feel any deep religious beliefs. The same goes for a shaman or a witch. It appears that you are what I would call a white mage. The compassion you showed for your spouse in the face of her abusing you verbally spoke many, many volumes.”

“A white mage? This is something out of a fairy tale. So I supposedly have powers?” Tom asked, a little confused but grasping things faster and better than he thought he should.

“Yes, and it would appear that you are very strong. If you weren’t somewhat powerful, then you wouldn’t have been able to see or pick me up,” she replied.

“So these powers? I can do whatever I want?” A nasty smile appeared on his face.

“If you have the power, yes, but there are a few things that were outlawed. The raising of the dead, for one, violates nature and souls and can have very harsh repercussions on the one who does it,” at this, the spirit shook.

“Another thing is killing others. First, it has to be justified, not just because someone made you mad. There are worse things than dying. Really, you should have another teach you; you’d learn faster,” she said, a tone of hope in her voice.

“I thought that’s what you were for,” he sighed. She thought, great! Another one.

“You can’t bring attention to yourself or the other magic users. They may not be too bright about us, but there are still a few out there with weapons that can still kill us.” Again, she shook from the memories of the last time she had seen that.

“You also have to remember that there are a few out there that want your power. These will stop at almost nothing to get it from you,” a look of concern crossed her face. “You should learn to hide your power from all but those like you. Believe me, I haven’t seen many as kind and compassionate as you.” This last was spoken with a smile on her face.

“So I have to be careful. Hmmmm,” he imagined a blanket hiding himself. He felt his powers dull down and almost fade.

“Hmmmmm,” said the spirit, “perhaps you may not need another to teach you. You learn extremely fast.”

Tom smiled the first real smile he had in a long time. “Is there anything else I need to know?”

“If you want this to be your home, you need to not use your powers here anymore. The bigger the magic or spell you do, the easier it will be for them to find you. Also, there is a council of magic. Unless you inform them of yourself and your new status, you can expect to receive a visit from them in the near future. I suggest that you go to another place and practice—the more, the better.” The spirit was hoping he listened well and remembered.

“As I see it,” he started, “I need to get on this as soon as possible. You say I am strong, but I have a feeling I am nothing to many out there. True?”