Chapter 2
CLASSROOM, TWO MINUTES LATER
Anya
Okay, maybe this is harder than I thought. Sure, Number One is the easiest to figure out in theory, but actually coming up with a script for talking to him is next to impossible! The true easiest is Number Two.
All right, then: let's do this. I spread my arms out wide, closed my eyes, and focused.
EARTH; JUST OUTIDE UNNAMED CITY; 12:34 p.m.
I opened my eyes and looked around. There was an old shack to my left, and a road of unusual form to my right. If my tracking cast for my transport was correct, Number Two was in the shed. I slipped over and looked in. There she was, leaning against an unusual machine, eating.
I felt bad about doing this, but I didn't want to try and explain what was going on right this second. I held my hand out and focused again. This time, my focus was on something different.
About five seconds later, her head drooped and she tipped forward. I caught her mentally before she ever hit the floor and smiled to myself. Moving things with my mind and talking with my mind were things that I could do while barely thinking about it.
I walked in and took anything that could spoil from her packs. Then I checked in her subconscious to make sure I didn't miss anything that she'd want taken care of. One thing: keys. I looked around and finally found them on the machine. Grabbing all those and her, I focused my mind again.
CHAOTIA; CLASSROOM
I dropped her stuff on the floor and pulled her over to the wall, kinetically dragging my class mat over for an impromptu bed. I'd bring her a blanket after I finished one last thing. I gently touched her forehead and set a kind of block on her mind. The block wouldn't hurt her; it would simply keep her asleep until I had everyone here.
I'm not being mean, I told myself, I'm simply keeping myself from having to explain myself ten times over! I'd rater tell the whole story all at once, twice if completely necessary. Okay, now I have Number Two. No, I corrected myself, use her name now she's here: Mai Valentine.
DUELIST KINGDOM; 3:47 p.m.
Maximillion Pegasus
I was bored. I mean, I'm retired now and all, but there was nothing going on! A man can grow tired of nothing happening. There I was, sitting by the fish pond sipping wine for lack of anything better to do.
Then I looked into the reflection of my wineglass. A lovely young woman with white hair was standing there, looking nervous. I stood up and turned around. "Why, hello there, darling! What did I do to obtain this honor?"
She hesitated a moment longer, then said the most astonishing thing. "You have been exposed to magic, Mister Pegasus sir."
I raised my eyebrows. "I beg your pardon?"
"You heard me. Your exposure to magic has brought you to my attention, because frankly, I need your help."
I studied her for a minute. Then I gestured with my wineglass to the other chair. "Come, sit down. Let's not stand on parade, it's just us two."
She walked – no, she glided over to the chair and sat down, smoothing down the skirt of her lovely blue gown and still looking a little ill at ease.
I sat down again and said, "Now then, tell me how I could help you with your dilemma." I took a sip while waiting for her answer.
"To shorten a longer story that I'm saving for if you say yes, I'm from another world, I've been selected to fulfill a prophecy, and I don't want to do it alone. Your exposure to magic has given you magical potential in my world, which is why I've come to you."
I laughed. I couldn't help it; it all sounded so preposterous.
Her lovely brows came down. "You don't believe me."
"My dear, too much has happened to me for me to disbelieve it. But you've come to me, an old man, for help? Really, I think you overestimate my strength."
Then it was her turn to laugh; she had a nice laugh. "You honestly think I decided to only come to you? You flatter yourself. I've already recruited another, but I know her strength won't be enough to help me on its own. Counting her and you, I have ten people to talk to about my problem. And I'm afraid…" she blushed quite prettily, looking very sheepish, "I'm not even giving nine out of ten the option of saying no. I need them too badly. It's because you're 'an old man' that I'm giving you the option."
I pretended to think about it. The truth, however, was that her intervention into my boredom was quite timely. I was good and ready to say yes.
There was one thing I wanted, however… "I'd like to know the name of my…employer. After all, you already know my name."
She smiled, rather wryly. "You want my name? In its entirety, it's Kisara Anastasia Maygo. Please, though, call me Anya. And I'm afraid it'll be less my employing you at first as my teaching you." She stood up and came around the table, holding out her hand. "Can your pride let you be demoted?"
I stood up, setting down the wineglass, and took her hand. "We're never done learning, Miss Maygo. I'd be happy to join you in this little misadventure."
She beamed at me. "Excellent. Now, go make all the arrangements you need to. I have some other duties to take care of today, but I'll come and get you tomorrow morning."
"I look forward to it."
She smiled at me again, turned, and started walking off. Then I caught a glimpse of another room just past her, and just as suddenly, it was gone – and her with it!
I stared at the place she had been. "Well," I said to empty air, "This could prove to be well worth my while."
MOTO GAME SHOP
Anya
Whew. That took less effort than I thought it would. Though I'm glad I'd decided to dress up a bit before going there. Now I have to make the connection between the old grandfather and Celestia. He's first because he has the most connected to him.
I kept the barest touch on his mind so that he wouldn't see me and focused on the power that lay within him. It was there, just barely moving. He'd had his soul removed from his body twice, and been exposed to a very old form of magic once earlier in his life when he was still active. If he was actually coming to Chaotia, he'd probably be a Level 3 telepath and a very weak something else as well. I carefully woke the telepathy side of his power and "gave the address" to Celestia.
Got him, Madame? I asked.
I felt an affirmitive.
Good. Then I broke connection and sent off five lines from him to each of his charges. I wouldn't turn those lines into images until I went to pick them up from their beds.
Okay. One down, two to go.
EGYPT
Whew! I should have changed into something cooler! I focused a small breeze around me, just long enough to cool off a little. Then I went to find Tattoo-Face.
He wasn't far. Considering how I'd set up that transport, of course he wasn't far. I evaluated him, keeping him from noticing me. He'd had a great deal of exposure to that same old magic that the grandfather had been exposed to in his active years. That made him a relatively strong…not a telepath, his soul had never been separated from his body. Probably an empath, or even a kinetic, though I was betting on the empath. I strengthened the power in him and threw the lines to his two charges. Then I warped out of there as fast as I could. I mean, boy that was hot!
KAIBA CORP
I hid my presence from the little boy who was fiddling with the machine in front of him and felt into his mind. His power was as still as the others had been. He'd had repeated exposure to old magic – that same old magic again, and I'm starting to think it all came from the same place – and even had his soul removed from his body twice! That made him a Level 3 telepath, and he had one other power that I couldn't give a name to. Whatever. I strengthened his telepathy, carefully making sure it wouldn't warp out of control as he got older, and threw the line to his brother. This would be interesting when I went to pick him up. Now I'd better go home, prepare their beds, and wait for nightfall.
Then I'm going to turn into a kidnapper.
