Why are all magic users just blasting with power, not blessings, enchantments and potions? I love that angle so much.
"... that is twelve percent, Master, not ten percent tax..." Orion said, his voice tiny as he tried to help the man reading out the Declaration of Tax given to him by Uther's men.
Jason, his master, turned and backhanded him to the ground. "You are slow and fat and lazy, what do I need you to correct me?"
Shivering, the boy barely managed to cover his face from another blow when a soft voice stopped the violence.
"That is quite enough." They both turned and saw Geoffrey of Monmouth the Court Librarian, who looked cold and unhappy. "How much for the boy?" Geoffrey threw a handful of coins onto the counter before turning to Orion. "Come with me, I have a better job, if you so want it." With some fear and hate, the boy hurried after Geoffrey. "The job is at the castle, so follow me, dear boy."
Calmly, Orion lifted himself from his meditation, hating the way that memory still made him shake. It still amazed him how one bad moment created a life time of change. After taking a moment to stop his trembling, he turned back to the books before him. They were on enchantment, and he had decided that they and potions would be his point of mastery. Unlike many other types of magic, they did not require a lot of power, just skill and layering of magics. A weak person, like him, could create something mighty with enough time.
There was another purpose though, he had decided it was time to create three specific artifacts of power.
One, a talisman to magnify his magic in times of great need or to create other enchantments over time through the focus a talisman would give him. It would give him greater protection and security and ensure that he was not as endangered by Uther's madness if he was ever discovered.
Second, a simplistic artifact to make people unable to find his training room, the secret room with his grimoires and other such books. The fear of others finding the room filled him by the minute, especially after the Death of Thomas Collins. He could not afford to not create something. His very life was in the balance if it was not protected.
Lastly, he wanted to layer spells on a real sword in case he ever had to fight a real magical being. He would never, likely be able to overpower a Lamia or whatever, he needed security and this was a good way to do it.
It would take time, he knew, and so he planned to start now. The books he found told of spells that actually could do what he wanted, it was just a matter of adjusting the words he used in the ancient language and over time he could create something amazing. First would be the talisman to focus and magnify his powers, it would create protection and access to greater powers, which he desperately needed.
'I am so sorry, Thomas, but your death will not be mine,... I will learn from that tragedy to create the path to my own greatness and survival.' Turning back to the books, he saw a reassuring theme rather fast. 'Magical objects made from mystical materials are innately more receptive to the essence of enchantments and potions can be used to create said enchantments... rowan is great for defensive magics, amber for purifying spells and silver for channeling raw energy... all easy to get ahold of and make. Now I just need to get a knife for carving and hope I don't lose my fingers.'
''''
'Easier than I thought.' Orion thought as he walked through the halls of Camelot with pieces of Rowan in his robe pockets, the only advantage of dressing like Geoffrey, other than it masked his growing strength. Pocket, loads of them. He also managed to buy some silver and some quartz, which if anyone wanted to know was to try and make jewelry, a lie he made up with actual books on making Jewelry in his room. Oh and he also bought a knife, to start carving. He had managed to sketch out several designs to mask his spelled objects and knew what to get away with. For example, creating a talisman that looked like a horse to mask his secret place, or a cute teardrop shaped amber necklace for his personal talisman... something few would question.
Maybe even one day he could enchant his mirror, who knew?
As he walked through the halls of Camelot's castle, he heard the familiar sound of people tossing food at someone in the stocks. Turning he saw a skinny boy with black hair being pelted with all sorts of things.
"What a brave soul." he heard the soft voice of Gwenivere say.
The woman was looking out of the window, always the most stunning woman in any room. A beauty equal to Morgana herself, a rarity all it's own.
"Hello, Gwen, who is that?"
She turned to him, smiling softly. "Oh, hello Orion. That's Gaius' nephew, I don't know his name, but he stood up to that brutish Prince of ours, and he was put in the stocks for it."
"Brave indeed... tell him he is welcome in the library any time. We could use more brave souls in there."
She laughed. " Indeed."
And with that he left her, hurrying to his room, getting ready to really get started on his new pet projects... grateful that he was not required to be at the Feast that day, he could always claim more work or just his hate of Uther which Geoffrey knew all to well...
Oh, the joys of anonymity.
Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.
This was a blast to write, I am really loving this story.
Love, your Ninja Overlord,
Mika.