Chapter 3

Atohi left me as he headed back into the village. I was still standing there beside the trail. Today had undoubtedly been an eye-opener, that was for sure! Thinking about Naci’s naked body, I shook my head as I felt parts of my anatomy grow to painful lengths!

(So you have made a new friend, and this is good. Just remember you are not to reveal who or what you are. Once I have the bubble in place, no one can see or feel what we do within it.) I heard Pops in my head. (By the way, what the young Atohi said is true. They really do beat you. Don’t take the threat lightly!)

My mouth was hanging open when I heard movement behind me on the trail. Several females were coming, stopping to ask if I had seen a pair of males entering the village a short time ago. Still a little dazed, I told them no, truthfully. The older females looked at me, nodded, and moved on. Naci was at the back of the group, smiling slightly as she went past.

(So, she is as trusting of you as I thought she might be. This is a good thing. Toman, we have to do all we can to protect these people. What they are doing for us could guarantee their destruction. I’m sure I don’t have to remind you of that fact!) Pops thoughts came to me again.

(I am doing all I can, Pops. Like I said, it feels like I have a curse on me or something!) I was starting to get frustrated with everything that had gone on.

(I know I told you I’d look into it; try to carry on for now. I suggest that you TRY not to bring attention to yourself anymore. Pops told me.

(As if I am trying to Pops!) I was almost shouting at him in my mind.

Just then, I heard more movement down the trail. Moving back, I soon saw several younger males moving toward the village. One in particular drew my attention, Malak, with his one arm in a sling. Moving past only a few gave me a heated look, though Malak’s could have melted metal.

Stopping before me, he growled, “You will regret not killing me, outsider! Your days here are numbered, and I shall make certain of that!”

I nodded, unafraid, spitting back, “Only if you are as much of a coward as I think you are and attack me in my sleep!”

This, of course, drew more than a few snickers from some of the males with him. “We shall see when you are dead at my feet!”

“Not unless you bring a small army because you are afraid to face me again! No, I think that you should just sulk away and leave those of us with real honor alone!” I said in an even lower voice again, drawing a few snickers.

Malak’s face was red from anger as several others dragged him away. I heard many of them whispering to him that I would kill him the way he was. “No, I do not bully or fight the weak and helpless like he does and is!” I snapped out at the few that had spoken.

Their eyes wide, they all quickly dragged him past, leaving me alone again with my thoughts. I thought I was alone with my thoughts when I heard a sigh. (I am beginning to see what you mean, Toman. Just standing there, trouble has found you!) Oh shit! I had forgotten Pops had been ‘talking’ to me.

(See Pops? I told you I never look for it; it seems to seek me out!) I thought to Pops, still seething with anger from the audacity of Malak and his cronies.

(That’s another thing, Toman.) Pops told me, (your power tends to be linked to your emotions.)

My mouth dropped open. (Pops, are you talking about what I think you are? My god! No wonder the council is trying to kill me!)

(What are you talking about?) I heard Pops’ question.

(Pops, I am not so stupid that I have even heard of wild power!) I thought back to him, then gasped (I am a danger to everyone! ). Now, tears were starting to fall from my eyes. (I am a beast; I deserve to die--)

I gasped again as I felt an extra hard slap across my face. Again, I was flying across the expanse of the forest. I stopped at Pops’ feet, an extremely angry look on his face.

“I am never to hear that crap out of your mouth again. Do you hear me?! You disrespect your entire family by doing it! I am training you; therefore, you are no beast, though I still reserve the right to end your life if I have to! Now, get your ass up, get more firewood. Watch where you are going and what you’re doing!”

Picking myself up, I nodded with my head down, tears still falling. “I’ll do my best Pops.”

I moved off, keeping all my thoughts to a minimum. I spent the rest of the day watching several of the older males as they practiced with their bows. Then I watched a few as they were making the same type of bows. Gathering up a few pieces of choice wood, I started to do what I had watched. Soon, I had a rather large bow that I could hardly draw.

Atohi walked up a few moments later, his eyes huge. “Toman! What are you doing with that? We are not allowed to have weapons of the adults yet.”

“What are you talking about? I made this, though I am having trouble drawing it.” I told him as his eyes got even larger.

“That isn’t possible!” Atohi said, astonished. “That skill takes many moons to accomplish!” He took the bow I had made in his hands, touching it like a sacred relic! “This is a fine-quality weapon! You are joking with me! I see! You found this and were just looking at it!”

‘Uh-- no. I made this, but it really wasn’t all that hard.” I told Atohi as his mouth fell open even further.

“I must show this to Father! It is as fine of work as his are!” Atohi said, then stopped when I reached out and snatched the bow from his hands.

“No!” I told Atohi. “I am already considered to be an unusual oddity in the village. I don’t want to make things worse, showing a skill that rivals one of the older males.”

“This would bring you great honor!” Atohi said.

“No, it would have those not already against me convinced that I am more evil. We will keep this between the both of us. Possibly later, we can say something, but not now.” I told Atohi honestly.

Shaking my head, I hoped he would keep his mouth shut. Knowing my luck, though, he’d let it slip easily. Crap, I thought I really needed a silence spell! Shaking my head, I walked away. I could hope anyway!

A few days later, Pops completed the bubble, as he called it. Taking me inside, he waved his hand over me. “I want you to close your eyes, feel inside. Feel all your power, look closer, see the energy as it comes out of you.”

I did as Pops said, looking inward, and then I kept going until I was to a place where a myriad of colorful strands were coming out of what appeared to be a hole. “I see it, Pops, the hole from which all my power comes. What do you want me to do?” I felt as if Pops was shocked.

“You can actually see where your power is coming from? Astonishing! You are as far as your father was. Look at your power; I want you to feel how it vibrates. Good, now I want you to alter it so that it is completely different from what it is now.” Pops told me.

Nodding, I felt the slight vibrations. Reaching out, I made the strands vibrate more than the slight vibration they had. I heard Pops gasp, and then I felt a barrier go around me. “Like that, Pops? I asked.

“NO!” I heard him shout. “You have to make them vibrate slightly. The harder they vibrate, the easier it is for them to find you!”

I nodded as I touched each colored strand, each, in turn, slowing to what they had been. Again, I heard Pops gasp as all the strands slowed. Again, I touched all of them simultaneously, feeling them all vibrate slightly differently. “There Pops, that better?” I asked.

“I didn’t think you’d get it in the first try. You’ll have to show me how you did it later.” I nodded as I reached out to Pops and saw all the colors coming from him. Then I noticed something strange. It appeared as if part of Pops’ power was cut off. Shaking my head, I could see that the ability to actually see the power of another was turned off. Shrugging, I reached out and gently opened it up, then I withdrew, no sense getting smacked again.

We went for a few more hours, with Pops showing me how to change my signature. We were finally finished when Pops gasped out. “What in the hell?” Pops suddenly said. “My god! Oh my god! It’s just as he described it!” Then Pops looked directly at me, oh shit! “What have you done to me, Toman?!”

I withdrew, afraid that Pops was going to actually kill me now. Shaking, I told him, “I-- I’m sorry, Pops! I thought you’d want to be able to see. I’m so sorry, Pops!” I bowed my head, expecting the pain any moment.

“This is what you were telling me. The color strands! My god! Your father used to talk about them! I thought he had lost his mind. I see now! Each strand is the power of a user! My god, Toman! You have twice what I do!” Pops said.

“Many of yours are blocked, as most mages are,” I told him. “I have never met another with as many open as me. Even the headmaster doesn’t have as many as you, Pops. I am afraid that you might discover a few more abilities in the next few days if you open that one.”

Pops was rubbing his chin as he thought about this. “You have no idea what they might be?” He asked.

“No, sorry, Pops, I can in a day or two, but not right now,” I told him.