A.N: *pushes back cobwebs* Hi everyone. I want to apologize greatly for not updating for a year. When I first started writing fanfics it was easy for me to update on schedule because I had school. But jobs are different, and now I got a new teaching job and so much more. It's probably for the best I stop promising when the updates will happen. But I can at least say for certain this story won't ever die. No way, I've come too far. So i'll do my best to just update when I can. It could be in two weeks. It could be in two months. Who knows. But today I do have a chapter for you so thank you so much for your patience everyone.
Chapter 10: A Simple Conversation
Following the Itz'at into his home, Esteban pushed aside the textile that made up the door and stepped in. The Jaguar continued slowly onward but the man stopped when his eyes caught a sight to behold.
Decorating the left and right walls were Maruvian items. Much like the House of Council, there were textiles woven with beautiful designs. Shields with unique animals or motifs designed on them decorated the walls alongside masks ornate with feathers. Shelves were carved into the wall to showcase clay figures, painted ceramics, and even jeweled diadems. Some Esteban had read during his studies, and some he was sure no Maruvian archeologist had ever discovered yet. "You have quite the collection."
The Itz'at stopped just on the other side of a long, stone stable that sat in the middle of the room. He said, "Not so much of a collection as they are family heirlooms or items of great reverence to us that have been passed down over the years. If you want to talk about collections though…" The old Jaguar looked back at the wall behind him.
Esteban looked up at the wall facing him upon entering. His jaw dropped seeing items from all around the Ever Realm. He recognized items from the Tri-Kingdoms like a Yixing Clay Teapot from Wei-Ling. There were even items that he had only ever seen as illustrations in books such as a pouch from the Northuldra people living at the northmost edges of Arendelle. "You've been everywhere," Esteban managed to say through his awe.
"Me? Oh no," The Itz'at said with a slight chuckle. "My time as Itz'at has kept me here. Making sure my people are safe. But I do dream of seeing the Ever Realm with my own eyes. For now, I have these gifts from friends who have journeyed beyond Avalor."
"Beyond Avalor," Esteban repeated. There were Maruvians who have traveled beyond Avalor? Before he could ask who, Esteban got distracted as he watched the Itz'at begin to sit down.
The old Jaguar's back legs shook until he was sitting comfortably up right. Then, like an animal after getting wet, the Itz'at gave a shake of his pelt. Unlike the other transformations Esteban had seen, the Itz'at's jaguar form shed in a rain of green light and glyphs. In his human form, the Itz'at wore the same detailed hip wrap and loincloth from when they first met. His top cape, though, was different from before. It was only green with fringes and it draped over his shoulder to leave his chest bare. While The Itz'at stretched his sore arms, Esteban also noticed the green turban wasn't sporting the large, color-changing feather.
The Itz'at said, "I apologize for not appearing in the way you were familiar with. It's just easier to walk around on four legs instead of two when you get to my age." And however old he was, he didn't go on about it. The elder just motioned for Esteban to sit on the mat set for him on the other side of the table. As Esteban got comfortable, The Itz'at handed him one of two drinking cups that were already set on the table.
Esteban took the cup gratefully, remembering he had come back to the Maruvian's home for the gracious hospitality of the Itz'at. But then he took a sip of the drink and was surprised at what he tasted. He expected water but not… Esteban pulled the cup away and stared down at his drink. "Agua Fresca?"
"Yes, one of the many flavorful inventions of your people I admire. My favorite being–"
"Jamaica." Esteban said with a genuine smile. "It's my favorite as well." Esteban took another sip.
"Oh good. It was either that or horchata but growing a jamaica tree is faster than finding the ingredients for horchata."
Esteban looked at The Itz'at puzzled. "How is growing a tree faster?"
The Itz'at smiled, closed his eyes, and lifted a finger. For a moment nothing happened, then Esteban saw something from the corner of his eye. Esteban nearly jumped off his mat and spilled his drink as the root of some flora slithered next to him. Esteban looked back at the door from where it came from. When The Itz'at flicked his finger up, the root grew upwards and then began wrapping itself around Esteban's staff he had in hand the entire time. Esteban shakingly let go of it as it was gently pulled away by the root before being taken to the entrance. The root set the staff to rest near the door frame before slithered back out from where it came.
"Right… magic…" Esteban stated a bit unnerved at what just happened.
"Still not comfortable with it?"
"I am only just learning," Esteban reminded him. "That's why I'm here."
"But even someone just a bit curious about magic wouldn't be so afraid of it."
Esteban sat up straighter, almost puffing out his chest as he said sharply, "I'm not afraid." Then he immediately relaxed his stance a little realizing he had overstepped. But the Itz'at never waivered. He simply had taken a sip from his drink and then set the cup down, waiting for what else Esteban had to say. "I mean…" Esteban looked down at his cup.
He thought of Shuriki. Forty-one years of serving a tyrant who used magic to scare the whole of Avalor into her submission definitely contributed to Esteban's disdain for magic. Its use for evil further proven by how far Victor went to acquire such power. And then there was Elena's growing abilities sometimes accompanied by her friend Mateo who was still learning the ropes of being a Royal Wizard. Esteban even had his mustache almost burned off by Elena's magical scepter once. Whatever weekly magical adventure they went on was stressing enough as it is. But magic hasn't always been a bad experience.
When Avalor faced an unusual problem that no army could stop, Elena was there to use some sort of magic to help the people. Esteban even remembered he once joined Elena in pranking Mateo with some vanishing spells. That brought a smile to his face as he finally looked back up to The Itz'at. "I have seen what magic can do. For both good and bad."
"For good and bad…" The Itz'at repeated as moved his hand holding his cup in a circular motion, stirring the liquid within. "Yes, that's right, I forget that's how some people view the world."
"Come again?"
"Your philosophies. At least some of them. Especially you, Avalorans, having faced many challenges these last few decades, no one can blame you for seeing the world as right or wrong. But let's not forget Esteban, that even the desire to do good can lead some to do terrible things."
Esteban blinked several times. "How does doing good make you do bad– wait– weren't we talking about magic?"
The Itz'at chuckled. "Magic, Esteban, is a philosophy. For us, magic stems from our perception of the world. Our role within the cosmos." The elder finished by raising an arm out to the side. Esteban's eyes shifted up, down, left, and right, wondering what precisely the elder was trying to say. The Itz'at saw the man's confused stare, sighed, and rested his arm on his lap again. "How about you tell me what you know about magic so far."
Esteban thought about what he was told by the Xi'paals as well as Zopilote. "Well, magic is divided into elements and it is reactionary." There was a tone of uncertainty in his voice as he still didn't understand how those two ideas made sense, especially together.
The Itz'at froze on the word 'reactionary' but didn't say a word right away. He took one last sip of his drink before setting the cup down. "Yes, for Naguals our innate abilities are divided by the most precious gifts of the world. As for… reactionary… that is true but it depends on why you react in such a way. But in order to understand all that you must understand where magic comes from. As I said, magic is based on the perception of the world. Meaning magic has different sources depending on our beliefs. For Maruvians, our magic comes from within us. And not just us, but everything. In every creature, in the earth, in the stars. Because we all come from our creators, the gods."
"The gods," Esteban repeated. "I do remember reading that Maruvians believed in these–." Esteban paused, seeing the raised eyebrow the Itz'at gave him. "I mean, that your people venerate powerful beings." He quickly took a sip of his drink to keep himself from saying anything else.
"I do not intend to impose our beliefs on you, Esteban. Only that you respect them. But if you remain confused, there is a more scientific way to explain why magic resides in everything." The Itz'at looked to shelf on the right wall where a small star with multiples points made of barro negro sat.
"How so?"
"Stardust," the Itz'at answered as he looked back at Esteban. "It is still a very young concept, but enough evidence has gathered that elements that are found below our feet, even within people, can be found in stars that have fallen from the sky."
Hearing this made Esteban smile about the time Isabel raved nonstop about such discoveries of people having traces of similar elements found in meteorites. But the more he thought about it, the more The Itz'at's words made sense. "Everything can be traced back to one source," he said, almost flabbergasted at his own words.
The Itz'at nodded quickly with excitement. "Yes! Whether it be by residue from the stars, by celestial beings, or perhaps both. You get to decide but the idea remains."
Esteban looked at the black star on the shelf. A small huff of surprise escaped him before he took one last sip of his drink and set the cup on the table. "So if magic is in every person, why can't everyone use it?"
"Because everyone CAN learn but not everyone wants to learn. But one's Teyolia only needs a simple spark, and the curiosity begins."
"Teyolia?"
"We believe three forces make up a person," The Itz'at slowly raised a hand to point at his forehead. "In the head, our Tonalli." He then moved his hand down to rest over his chest, "In our hearts, the Teyolia." he finished by pointing at his abdomen. "And in our liver, the Ihiyotl. Each one works to make an individual unique from all the rest. Our Tonalli makes up what we are, physically. Our status, our health, our willpower. The Ihiyotl is our emotions, memories, and passions. When it comes to magic, however, it's our Teyolia that we focus on because it is our knowledge and reasoning. Like I said before, magic is a philosophy, a perception of the world. The more our Teyolia reasons with the world around us the more we can connect with different abilities. So the more we understand how the world and magic intertwine, the more magical abilities we can connect to. The greatest Maruvian Wizards were the most in tune with the world."
"I see…" Esteban said as slowly as his mind was working all that out. He was still confused about how such forces that sounded similar were very much different. But what was most confusing was how the Well of Takaina proved that what The Itz'at said wasn't entirely true. Esteban just fell in and suddenly he had the ability to teleport and who knows whatever else. No reasoning of any kind happened. "What if… what if someone just gets magical abilities?"
The Itz'at's head shot up but the corner of his mouth curled up in curiosity. "And where does this question come from?"
"From…." Esteban began but hesitated to finish. Ash said that the Maruvians had hidden the entrance to Takaina well and she herself barely managed to figure out the map that led her to it. Now that Esteban knew Maruvians was alive and well, who's to say they'd be happy to hear that it had been discovered? Wait a minute, he wasn't the only one to suddenly obtain magical abilities. Especially Maruvian in origin. "The crown princess of Avalor. I hear she had been stuck in that amulet for so long that she obtained magic. And then there is her scepter which is said to be magical. I'm sure that's not the only magical item out there."
The Itz'at nodded, a small frown appearing for a moment before disappearing. "Yes, we have heard the same. It is true our people had a way to create magical items that made it quicker to connect with the magic within. But, they are like tamboritas or wands. Conduits that helped young wizards train to focus their magic as they went through intense study. But such items are limiting. Only certain abilities can be harnessed. Once Maruvian Wizards completed their training, they could use their innate abilities without the help of these conduits."
Esteban looked back at his staff again. Esteban knew he couldn't use any magic without his staff, but the staff was useless in anyone else's hands but his. So if Esteban understood correctly, he himself and the staff together were a conduit of magic. Esteban wrung his hands below the table so that The Itz'at didn't see his distress.
The Itz'at leaned forward, an elbow resting on the table so that his chin could rest on his hand. "Which is why the abilities you've demonstrated, the ones my granddaughter had witnessed, are so interesting." The Itz'at's smirked as his eyes shifted between Esteban and the staff behind him. "You use your staff like anyone who studies magic today. But your abilities are so unique, they almost sound Maruvian."
"Does it seem Maruvian?" Esteban tried to look surprised by putting a hand over his chest. "I had no idea."
Once again, the Itz'at frowned. Esteban wondered why the elder had done that twice already before he sat up straight again and gave Esteban a cheerful smile. "Well, there are many ways to discover why, but one of them is through physical training."
Suddenly, light from the evening sun filled the room from behind Esteban. The man nearly jumped but looked back to see who had pushed back the textile door. It was Zyanya. She was lightly panting as if she was finally recovering from a long run. She looked at her grandfather with eyes wide as she almost yelled, "Mam! Nechokihto Mazateikautl–" (Grandfather! Mazateikautl told me–) Then she stopped as her eyes trailed down to Esteban. Her jaw slacked as she almost whispered, "You came back?"
"My Aabil, you have come just in time," The Itz'at exclaimed as he grabbed his cup from the table once again. He looked down into the cup to see what else was left. "Esteban should begin the second part of his training as soon as possible."
"The second part?" Esteban said as his brow furrowed and he looked back at The Itz'at, "What about the first–" Then he stopped as the Itz'at calmly took a sip of his drink, a small smile betrayed him. This entire conversation. It all started with talking about the jamaica drink. But Esteban didn't realize how fluidly it segued into magic. "This was part of my training." He knew he was learning something new with all this information, but not once did he think it was a lesson. "We didn't always talk about magic, though."
The Itz'at put his cup down on the table. "The method of conversation is one of my favorite methods of teaching. It allows for questions. And information is understood, not memorized." Esteban blinked several times but a small smile appeared on his face. TheItz'at was a very interesting man to talk to, indeed. The elder motioned to the door. "I am delighted that you returned, Esteban. Now, more learning awaits."
A.N: Yes, lots more information, but this time more about how magic works. This was one of the reasons I took so long to update cause I was still struggling to get Mesoamerican ideas to fit with the rules of magic in the show. Now I just hope that I didn't lose you guys through that conversation haha. Excited to give you more magic action next chapter. But for now it's time for your daily dose of…
Fun Facts:
Itz'at's Collection: More of an easter egg than a fun fact but I just had to reference Sofia the First and Disney princess films. I just really love how they are all connected in the same world.
Agua Fresca: popular chilled and flavored drinks in Latin America. In Mexico, the two most popular are horchata (juice of blended rice and cinnamon sticks with added vanilla and sugar) and Jamaica (from the hibiscus flower). Do I think Esteban likes jamaica better? I really don't know, I just like it myself lol.
Gods or Stardust: there are so many beliefs out there, but my goal is to teach, not preach, about Mesoamerican beliefs. I still needed Esteban to understand that everything was interconnected but it wouldn't be right to force him. So I remembered how one of my theology professors once made an analogy to the theory that we are made from elements of the Big Bang. We are all connected in some way or another.
Tonalli, Teyolia, Ihiyotl: in Mexica (Aztec) belief, the body is divided into these three forces. They represent and reside exactly as the Itz'at described them to be. Further more they are described as gaseous substances or divine sparks. The Tonalli is the most talked about given the importance of it's physical attributes, but each one is important. And the way I figured out how magic can work given the different ideas of where magic comes from in the Ever Realm (ex: the Mystic Isles), it made more sense that perception, in the Teyolia, is the source.
Hope I can update again soon. I'm KikaKatTIOI, peace out!