Valgrin stood on the other side of the tavern’s door, looking down at the directions. He watched as a group of elves and dwarves bickered while walking down the street. A six-foot tall lemur looking creature loped several yards behind the larger group.
He looked down at Skwilly. “No offense meant here. But it’s disconcerting to me to find talking to a pig-like animal normal, but then do a double-take when something else is glaringly different from home.”
“I don’t think I can understand that, but I do know I seem to be thrown off guard several times a week. So, I sort of understand.” Skwilly answered.
They both started walking down the street, following Izzy’s directions.
“Valgrin, I have to say. I didn’t know about this binding being a possibility, but it’s been fun. It’s also been scary, terrifying, hard work, confusing, and a whole lot of other things, but it’s been fun at its core. Mainly because of you and Malcolm.” He paused a moment. “I only heard what went on. That bag kept me from seeing. What little you’ve shared, it’s too much. I can’t offer anything but my ears, but I’m ready to listen to you any time you need.”
Valgrin swallowed down the lump forming in his throat. “Thank you, that moved me. Probably more than it should’ve, but having someone concerned about you is a good thing. You may be sorry you made that offer.” Valgrin laughed.
“I doubt it.” Skwilly sped up the pace.
They walked in relative silence the rest of the way. Dodging the occasional hippo-ox and some zebra-bears, most everything else they saw fit into Valgrin’s concept of a fantasy world.
The Research Center's exterior didn't wow Valgrin. It had the look of an old rural one-room schoolhouse—rough bricks painted a faded white that peeled in places to reveal the ruddy clay beneath. A squat belfry perched above the entrance, its copper bell tarnished green with age and neglect. Three wooden steps, their white paint chipped and worn smooth in the center from countless footfalls, led to a door whose brass hinges had oxidized to a dull brown. Cobwebs clung to the corners of the single window on each side, and a scraggly rosebush, more thorns than flowers, struggled against the foundation. Valgrin felt let-down looking at how small and mundane the building was, especially for something with such a grand name.
The door swung inward with a creak, triggering a small bell somewhere in the darkness beyond. Valgrin looked but found no opposite where logic said one should be—and not just because of the poor lighting
"Ah! A visitor! Please, come in!" called a scratchy voice from somewhere in the gloom.
“It’s bigger on the inside.” Skwilly commented. He glowed, pushing back the gloom. The light revealed glimpses of towering bookshelves stretching away into darkness.
"This place defies physics," Valgrin whispered. "I’m guessing It expands to whatever size it needs."
“Right you are,” the scratchy voice replied, now seemingly right beside them. "The dimensions are... flexible."
“Excuse me, but are you…here, I mean…uh, close by?” Valgrin stuttered.
“Look down.”
At his feet stood a blue creature no taller than seven inches. It resembled a furry hamster with a caterpillar-like upper body that swayed rhythmically. Multiple pairs of arms protruded from its torso.
“Oh, sorry. Um…well…didn’t see you there,” Valgrin felt heat rise to his cheeks as he stumbled over his words.
“S’okay, happens all the time. My name is Hamblaruu. How may I be of assistance?”
“Hello Hamblaruu, I’m Valgrin and this is Skwilly. I’m recently onboarded and wanted to spend some time researching magic.”
“Splendid and welcome to the EverNever. We don’t get too many wanting to study magic, typically just want to buy and cast the known stuff.” Hamblaruu motioned his top pair of arms toward the bookcases. “How familiar are you with magic? What do you hope to get out of this study?”
“New to magic as a reality, read and played games about magic—but that was all imagination, not real world stuff. Right now I’m not sure exactly where I’m going with my studies. I think the first thing is to understand and maybe manipulate the magic of what I know.”
“Excellent, fresh eyes on the old magic. Maybe you can breathe life into them other than a little longer lasting or store more charges. Follow me. There is a range of books and scrolls down here that you need to look at.”
Valgrin stopped mid-step when two sets of wings unfurled from Hamblaruu’s back, and he took off into the shadowy darkness. “Hurry up, you don’t want to be lost in the wrong part.”
Valgrin quickened his steps. The clatter of hooves behind him let him know Skwilly was keeping up. Valgrin wasn’t sure if Hamblaruu was toying with him, it seemed when he closed the gap Hamblaruu flew faster.
The blue creature came to a sudden stop and hovered in front of a smaller bookcase. He snapped his fingers and the bookcase shelves lit up. A table with a few chairs also came into view.
“This section has material that covers some of the early basics as well as how to do some simple manipulations. Once you get a handle here, I can show you to the more advance sections.”
Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
This is going to be an undertaking. “Thank you. It looks like it’ll take a bit to get to the advance work.”
“Don’t let that get you down. Most of this basic stuff is repetitive and you probably only need about three to five books. I’d suggest you start with ‘Where To Start’. The author came from a non-magic realm before being brought into the EverNever. It’s his observations on how magic works from the perspective of someone who didn’t know it existed.”
“That sounds like a perfect place to start. How can I find--” Valgrin almost dropped the green-covered book that appeared in his hand.
“Got it for you. I’ll leave you alone. Just holler if you need something.” Hamblaruu flew off into the shadows.
“Skwilly, do you know what kind of creature Hamblaruu is?”
“Never seen anything like it before.”
“Okay, I’ll ask next time we talk. I’m going to be reading. Nothing exciting.” Valgrin opened the book.
“I can manage.” Skwilly curled up and went to sleep next to the chair.
###
“Look’s like the gang’s all here.” Valgrin announced as he entered Izzy’s.
Izzy and Malcolm were sitting side by side at the table, Deeah on the opposite side of Malcolm. The cover staff worked around the table, preparing to open for dinner.
“Come sit down. Malcolm was sharing what he discovered today.” Izzy motioned for Valgrin to join them. “We’ll hold camp here tonight. I’m sure I’ll have a lot of people wanting to say something to me, so I need to be viewable.”
Valgrin's weight made the wooden chair protest beneath him. "Before I share what I found, I need to ask something first. In terms of your class—what exactly is a pathway?"
"It falls under the category of…" Izzy began.
"Specialization," came a voice from behind them. Ggyllum approached the table, continuing smoothly. "Think of it as a branch of focused study that unlocks unique abilities within your chosen discipline."
“Wait, I just looked up at that door and you were not there.” Malcolm pointed at the yellow Mavvon.
“And none of my alarms went off.” Izzy looked around the table. “I reactivated the full set yesterday.”
"My entrance method is simple—portal just inside the door, left corner, invisibility active. Gives me a chance to read the room before committing." Ggyllum slid into the chair at the head of the table with practiced ease. "Funny timing, catching you mid-conversation about exactly what brings me here."
"Pathways?" Malcolm leaned forward.
“Exactly. Seems Fred is being honest. He knew it was probably wrong to pull you. But that’s as far as his knowledge went. Out of a sense of loyalty to you both, he’s hidden a few extra bonuses that you’ll run across. He wouldn’t share what. He didn’t want either of you focusing on the wrong thing.
I suspect he's also holding some cards close to his chest for future leverage."
“So pathways are one of those bonuses?” Valgrin beat Malcolm to the question.
“Yep. He set the first one for you to be easy to trigger. There may be more pathways set to be available. He had more access to the Structure’s onboarding parameters than is allowed at his level. And I’ll repeat, had access.”
“Pathways are not common?” Malcolm asked.
“Not uncommon, but not guaranteed. The Structure may grant one for a heroic feat. There are a few other ways to get them through class and actions. So, they aren’t impossible to get—to get as early as you, that is rare. It is usually ninth level or later before a pathway becomes available. Valgrin, did you discover a pathway today?”
“Yeah, I was granted one today—the title is ‘Sage of Magic Construction’. As I understand, the more I invest in studying magic. The better chance I have of obtaining special spells and abilities because I walked down this pathway.”
Malcolm spoke up. “Sifferal mentioned I may open up a pathway by learning Stru-Enka. First, I have to control my magic so I don’t tear down a wall with every punch.”
“Wait, you have a super-punch now?” Valgrin asked.
Stories and questions flowed freely from the group as Malcolm and Valgrin both shared how their day had gone.
Ggyllum stood, “Not that it ended up being anything you didn’t already know, but the pathway subject is what I came to tell you about. Also, that we’re still working on this. I need to get going again.” He made no pretense of heading toward the door before he disappeared.
“And we’re dismissed.” Izzy pointed to where Ggyllum used to be. She tapped on the table for a few seconds. Then addressed the group. “We’re running out of time today, so I’ll make this brief. We need the ability to mask where we are. They may not expect Deeah and myself, but I know they’ll be watching for you two.” She pointed at Malcolm and Valgrin.
Deeah raised her hand. “Did you forget we already—“
“No, I didn’t.” Izzy responded. “I was trying to shortcut things. Malcolm and Valgrin need something. We don’t have time to get the type Deeah and I have, but I talked to their maker and he can do something quick for us that should do the job.” Izzy stood up, looking down at Malcolm and shrugged. “I committed you and Valgrin to meet him tomorrow morning at his place in Devwey.”
“What?” Valgrin noticed he beat Malcolm to the question by half a second.
Izzy rolled her eyes. “So much for the short version. He will make two masking tools each designed for you from the start, much better that way. To help pay for this, very expensive, tool that you need to have, you’ll be doing a small quest for him. If it is unreasonable, don’t go and we’ll get the full price to get the stuff made. He’s in Devwey, which is in the northern part of Treska.” She looked at Valgrin. “Short portal trip, I’m afraid.”
Valgrin made a show of grimacing. “Devwey in the morning, it is.”
“And with that, we should shelve this until later. It’s minutes before we open and we don’t want to talk shop with all that going on.” Izzy leaned back in her chair.
The doors opened and, as Izzy predicted, she was overrun by patrons wanting to express their sympathies. Izzy moved to the open area by the fireplace and her well-wishers followed. Deeah jumped up to help the staff. Valgrin, Malcolm, and Skwilly made their way to their seats at the end of the bar.
“Tell me honestly, you doing okay?” Valgrin whispered to his friend.
Malcolm raised an eyebrow. “Why?” He drawled.
“Because we’ll probably need to fight for this quest thing tomorrow.” Valgrin muttered. “I wanted to know where you are before we get into things.”
“Valid point, and I’ll answer as long as you show me the same courtesy.” Malcolm stared at Valgrin until he nodded. “I’m holding you to that. Today did me a lot of good. Heads down punching something then having Sifferal agree to train me. I’ve pushed the horrors of the previous day to the back of my mind many times, but they always resurface. Less today than last night. I hope that is a trend that continues.”
“My answer will sound like I’m copying. This morning the memories hit hard, then I got lost in reading and research. I have so many questions and ideas swirling, the memories must fight for time. They win sometimes, then I shove them back into the swirling mess.”
“Did you notice how neither one of us answered the ‘where we’re at’ as far as adventuring again?” Malcolm asked.
“I did. I’m trying to figure out if that means we can’t or if we didn’t have it on our radar until a few minutes ago.” Valgrin looked down at the counter. “But also we both know what the answer needs to be, for their sakes.” Valgrin motioned toward Izzy and Deeah.
Malcolm nodded. “And Steeyann’s…and our own. But you’re right about there being only one answer.” Malcolm lifted his mug towards the ceiling. “We’ll make it up as we go along!”
Valgrin rose his mug up. “Okay, maybe two answers, but they translate to the same thing…got no choice.”
