Still don't own it. J.K. Rowling still does own it. Props to Miranda Flairgold. Read and Review, greatly appreciated.
Markus gets a new friend! Well possibly friend, I haven't decided yet. Read and review for me, feedback fantastic. Posting will probably be at a slower rate for a while, but I will be writing more.
As the full moon began to dip below the horizon Markus was finishing his preparations to leave the cave. Cygnus had evidently been successful in his hunt the night before, he was hissing contentedly as he slithered his way up Markus' arm and coiled on his shoulders and neck.
Taking down the wards and basic enchantments he had put on the cave to sufficiently protect himself as he slept Markus strolled out to face the rising sun, and all the challenges that would come that day.
It would take about of week of traveling on foot to reach his destination, the North American Academy of the Arcane. This unique school would hopefully prepare him for combat and eventual victory over his laundry list of foes, which was ever increasing it seemed. It would probably prove to be a difficult journey for Markus, and it was meant to be the first trial that incoming students faced.
Reaching out to scan the area with his magic Markus was content that no threats were nearby, no one at all was nearby. Having a thought Markus took out and enlarged his trunk and began rifling through it. Even though it was carefully organized it took Markus a few moments to find what he was seeking.
Pulling out his old doeskin satchel that he had made when he stayed with the Native Americans, just a few dozen miles from where he was now, he searched through it. He pulled out the old map they had created for him, and it was slightly torn and worn down a little from it's long time of no usage in his satchel left in his trunk.
Spreading the small map out on a flat rock a few feet away from him he examined it. It did indeed have the cave he was standing near marked on it. It also had the general direction he would need to travel, a couple of rivers that he would need to traverse, and a mountain range that would only take a day or so to pass through, provided he could find the correct path through. If he did not find the correct path through the mountain range he would miss his desired arrival time by about a month.
Markus was confident that he would be able to make it through all of the obstacles, and traverse the nearly hundred miles of terrain before his deadline of noon in seven days time. Scanning and memorizing the map as quickly as he could Markus decided on the course he would take, he was currently west of the campus, and needed to be a hundred miles east.
He could try shadow jumping some of the way across, but he was certain wards would be in place against it, and he had no idea how far out the wards would be, and he was positive they would violently repel him.
No, it would be best to prove his worth by doing as all of the other students would do, and crossing the land on foot. The teachers of the Academy would no doubt be monitoring their progress, and judging or scoring them somehow. Markus was sure about that, and he certainly did want to impress the new teachers who would be a massive influence on his life for the next four years, provided he did in fact survive the schooling, Dumbledore, the Ministry, Voldemort, and the three Knightly Orders.
If Markus did not take advantage of each and every potential ally or advantage offered to him his life would just be all the more difficult. Markus held no doubts that the comings years would be no doubt very difficult.
Beginning his journey Markus and Cygnus set out over the hills in front of them, heading eastward. He knew in about 50 miles he would have to find a way across a surprisingly large and rapid river, according to the Native American tribe he had stayed with. A magical spring fueled the river, which served as a many mile long oasis in the heat blanched desert.
After about five miles of slightly hilly terrain Markus felt a magical presence not too far from them. It was faint, but definitely magical, and definitely intelligent. Someone older and more experienced with such low level area scrying such as what Markus was doing would have been able to tell a lot more about the signature, race, even intention, and magical power.
But so far all that Markus could tell was that the signature was south-west of him, and not too too far away. It was probably another student on their own way to the Academy, Markus decided.
He weighed his options as he continued to monitor the signature and continued eastward, at a slightly slower pace than before.
After a quick conversation with Cygnus he had made up his mind. He would seek out this magical signature, and hopefully they could be mutually beneficial at least for now, providing aid and support on the journey that was sure to be difficult.
Now moving in a sharp Southeast direction Markus continued to discern as much as he could from the magical signature. He still could not tell race, but he had decided they were definitely one of the more common magical species, and the power of the signature was unknown. Markus did, however, have a more precise location. It seemed the magical presence was coming from about five miles southeast.
Gathering his magic to him Markus shadow jumped three miles, and did a roll over his shoulder as he landed. Coming out of the roll Markus remained crouched and hidden as best he could in the harsh sunlight, in the shadow of a rock about waist high. Hopefully he had remained undetected, and he was fairly confident that he was. He still had two miles to go to reach the presence, and he and Cygnus set out once more, this time slightly slower and more cautious. It would not do to fall into any ambush or traps, after all one could hide their presence or signature completely with some practice.
As he approached Markus silently cast spells on himself, his boots, and even Cygnus to prevent any sounds or their scents from giving away their stealthy approach. In reality there was probably more that could be done to be even stealthier as he approached the magical presence that at a closer range he was able to identify as being on the lower side of above average, so slightly more powerful than your averagely educated and prepared witch or wizard. This did not worry Markus, he knew he was above average, he was confident he would be able to handle the situation no matter how the encounter went.
Crawling over the ridge just above where he could feel the signature was located Markus remained prone as he peeked his eyes over.
Somewhat surprised at what he saw down below Markus readied his wand, silently cast an invisible shield spell over Cygnus, and leapt down off the ridge.
Landing neatly the goblin who was clueless to his presence just a moment before reacted exactly how Markus had predicted he would. He raised his enchanted gun and fired, which was exactly what Markus had expected to happen, just the goblin was quicker than he had anticipated.
Markus had barely even landed when he felt the magical bolt of energy speeding towards him. Summoning his magic to him in a split second the powerful piercing spell that the goblin's gun had launched was deflected into the rocks behind them both.
Markus had never seen nor heard of any gun that could shoot spells, sure he had heard of enchanted guns, but never one that could shoot pure magic.
Feeling the impact that would no doubt leave a bruise, despite his vampire healing abilities, and hearing the rocks shatter and break Markus knew he had to diffuse the situation somehow, and quickly.
"I don't mean any harm, I assume you're going to the Academy as well?"
"Of course I am. Name's Shadowknife. That is what you will call me, no silly nicknames or anything of the sort." The goblin seemed like all goblins did, efficient and to the point. He still had his rifle out, but it was no longer aimed at Markus.
"Alright Shadowknife, I'm Markus. I could sense you here and decided it would be easier to travel in a group, safer that way."
"I suppose you're right, vampire." The goblin set the rifle aside, he had been resting and finishing his lunch time meal before finishing breaking camp and moving along for the day.
It was nearly noon as the unlikely duo set out to travel as far as they could that day. The sun was irritating Markus, but it was not as bad as he thought it would be. He had cast and maintained several spells on his body that minimized the affects, the only problem was every hour or so they had to be recast or recharged, and they were not simple spells, they required a substantial effort to keep going.
As they walked onwards, crossing the hills and ridges at an increased pace, because it was easier now, they could help pull and push each other up and over the more difficult to climb areas, without having to expend any magic that they could save incase they truly needed it.
Markus did not know a whole lot about Goblin culture, he knew that Gringotts all around the world were run by goblins, and that goblins would occasionally revolt and rebel against the wizards, but apparently it went many levels deeper, deeper than Markus realized.
The goblins used to be in complete control of the world, during the Age of Goblins, about thirty five thousand years ago. Due to their old status, and their much lower status today there was much friction politically and socially with the goblins and other races, most notably the dwarves.
Very few all dwarf settlements remained, in fact very few dwarves remained. If they were classified as muggles classified endangered animals they would not quite be endangered. While a reasonable number were left they typically did not leave their stronghold fortress cities, few of which were left.
The goblins and dwarves were at a state of perpetual warfare with intermittent ceasefires and armistices.
The current armistice had been standing for a hundred and twelve years, an unprecedented length of peace between the goblins and dwarves.
Currently the world was enjoying an almost unprecedented level of peace, at least among the magical world. The werewolves and vampires were not openly fighting currently, although tensions ran very high, and were only increasing. The dwarves and goblins had been at peace for a century, although again the tensions were running increasingly high. The centaurs and elves and other magical races had not fought any battle more significant than a skirmish against each other in about a decade, and the mortal magical beings were being surprisingly reasonable and cooperative with the other races.
Of course while all of the peace was nice it was inevitable that it would come to an end, and with the way the tensions were rising and the sides beginning to form again it would not be very long before the magical world erupted in war again.