Taking Flight.

I fell asleep before the heated discussion about my request was resolved, and so when I woke the next morning, I still didn't know the outcome. 

Rather nervously, I climbed out of bed, made toilet, dressed, and padded along the corridor to the kitchen where, as usual, Lissa was humming as she cooked.

"Here is my archmagi," she said cheerfully, when I wandered in. "Did you sleep well sweetie?"

"Yes, thank you mother," I replied.

Lissa wiped her hands on her apron and came over to me. She picked me up and kissed my cheek.

"We talked long and hard about what you asked last night," she said. 

"And?"

"It wasn't an easy decision to make, but we decided to allow you to stay here."

"You did?"

"Your mother and I are going to miss you terribly, but we understand what you want. However, there are going to be some conditions."

"Of course."

"Firstly, whilst we are gone, Hungerford will be in charge. He has graciously accepted to be your guardian. You will listen to him, and obey him. Do you understand?"

"Yes mother," I replied, solemnly. Hungerford! I had hardly spoken to the man! He always looked so serious, although the few times we had spoken, he seemed to be fairly level headed and sensible, and, for what it was worth, had never treated me unkindly.

"And we may have to find a magic tutor for you as well, although that one may be a little hard to do, out here. We're not exactly a thriving city, with lots of mages. I am going to ask at the temple for advice."

"As you say mother."

"Good boy." Lissa hugged me tightly. "Oh, I miss you already."

"I miss you too." I hugged her back.

"Right then," she put me down and wiped her eyes. "You are expected outside for training, which, by the way, Hungerford will also be supervising whilst we are gone. I think your mother expects you to be at least intermediate Sly style by the time we get back."

I giggled. I had my doubts I could manage basic Standard, let along intermediate Sly, but I trotted out anyway.

So, we carried on as before. Morning physical training, and then me slipping off for my language practice with Gisel, although that was going so well now, it was beginning to turn into more magic practice.

This time I wanted to try out something new. I'd been slogging my way up hill every day to our clearing, but sometimes we lost track of time, and had come back late, to be scolded by Lissa. There had to be a way to increase my travel speed. I hadn't managed to figure out how to teleport, assuming that was even possible, but when I had been playing around with some wind spells, I had had an idea. The previous day I'd worked on the incantations that I needed, and now I was eager to try them out.

"Hey!" Gisel was waiting for me. Today she was munching on a meat pie. She offered me a bite, but I declined. Still full from Lissa's meal. 

"So, what is the plan?" she asked, as I dumped my bag.

"I," I stated grandly. "Am going to fly!"

"You are what?" 

"Well, maybe not fly in the sky fly, but float? Hover? Anyway, if this works I will. First though, I have to experiment a bit."

"Very well, but be careful. I don't want to spark a war with the humans if I have to bring your broken body back."

I made a face at her, but she just grinned, a frightening expression on a being with fangs, and stepped back a few paces.

Before I had died, back on the other side of the multiverse, I had seen videos of small jets that people had attached to their arms and legs, which, when turned on, provided enough boost for them to actually fly. It looked a bit precarious, but it seemed to work. That had set me thinking. My wind spell created, well, a wind. If I could sustain concentrated jets of it, starting a small distance from my palms and the soles of my feet, I should be able to replicate the effect.

Of course, that would mean having four jets going continually, and all at once. All I had done with wind so far was blast a short, but powerful, burst of it.

Hence the first thing to do was test if I could maintain a constant flow. In theory, it shouldn't be too hard, but I wasn't sure how much mana it would take to maintain. 

Bracing myself, I held my hand up, palm out, in front of me, and ran my Jet one incantation at the lowest power.

"Oh!" Gisel gasped, startled, as a steady gust of wind blew from my hand. 

"How strong is it?" I asked her. 

Carefully, she crept forward and put her hand into the stream. 

"It's like a strong wind, but… sudiffssas." She saw I didn't understand that last word. "Small," she clarified.

Localised then. 

"Very well, I'm going to slowly turn up the power. You can hold your hand there, but be ready to pull it back."

"Okay." She said this in actual English. Something she'd picked up from me when it slipped out sometimes.

Cautiously, I upped the power. At first I imagine it was probably like a hair dryer, something I should remember when I had my hair washed. Maybe I could warm the flow? 

Concentrate!

Slowly the power increased, until Gisel could no longer hold her hand there, and I was struggling to push back against it. I could see a potential problem here. There was a chance I could hurt my wrist if the recoil was too strong.

I stopped the spell, and nodded. Time to up my game. This was the dangerous part.

"So?" Gisel asked.

I explained what I was going to do.

"You're even crazier than I thought!" was her measured response. 

Well, maybe she was right.

Figuring the safest way to start this was not standing upright, I placed my palms on the ground, so I was in a four legged position, so to speak. Then I activated my main incantation, slowly at first, and then harder.

And flipped head over heels when my foot jets became more powerful than my hand ones.

I cut the spell and lay staring at the sky for a moment, slightly dazed. Gisel's bright amber eyes gazed down at me. "That was funny."

"I am glad one is amused." 

The problem was my cowardice perhaps. My foot jets needed to be stronger then my hand ones, which would be mainly used to steer and balance. At least, that was the theory. I had forgotten this, so in my four legged start position I'd been flipped. There was nothing else but to try from standing.

"I'd get clear," I said, standing up. "And be ready to catch me."

She gave me another Look, but skipped back a few paces.

Standing legs slightly apart, with one arm in front of me, the other behind, palms down, I tried again. And I actually flew into the air! I was so shocked that I moved my hands, and was immediately thrown to the side. Losing control, I ploughed into the ground with a bone jarring impact.

"Are you all right?" Gisel rushed up to me. It was sweet how concerned she was. "I'll get in trouble if you're seriously hurt!" 

I take that back.

"Sh…shaken," I said. 

"Can you heal yourself, with magic?"

I shook my head. Hadn't figure that one out yet. I wasn't even sure there I had the right magic needed. I know Lissa could heal, but her spells had divine backing.

"Come on, sit up," Gisel helped me from my prone position. "You did it though! You actually flew into the air!"

"Thank you."

"And then you flew into the ground." She giggled.

"I am pleased the princess is tickled." I brushed myself down. 

"Are you going to try again?"

I stood up and checked myself. A scrape here and there, and my elbow hurt. "No, I think today was enough. I need to figure out a way to keep stable."

Gisel looked disappointed. "Okay. In that case, I need to cut our lesson short today. My father is having a meeting with the elders of another tribe, and I should be there."

"Very well," I said. "Give my regards to your father. I would like to visit your village again at some point too."

"And I would like to visit yours," she replied. "I've never been to a human settlement." 

"Mmm." I scratched my chin and thought about this. "I shall see what I can do."

~*~

My parents heading back to the academy was a fairly emotional event. It was, of course, the first time we had been parted since I had been born, and it probably hit them harder than it hit me, although I was surprised how much I missed them. 

There was a kind of postal service in this world, but, as you would expect, it was not totally reliable, especially when travelling between different countries. Even so, I promised I would write.

Before they went, Hungerford had given me an 'assessment' alongside Rath, on my sword skills, such as they were. His opinion very much mirrored my mother's, insomuch as I didn't have any great natural talent for sword play, unlike Rath and Freia, but with work I should be able to reach a decent level. Enough not to be a pushover at least.

"He's strong for one so young," Hungerford said to Rath, as I lay on my back, panting, after he had put me through an intense workout. He had even allowed me to try and block some of his swings, (he used a stick) which I had totally failed to do, resulting in several hard wallops to my body. I would have bruises in the morning.

 "And fast too," Rath added.

"Indeed." The thin man looked down at me. "Boy, I hear you can use magic without incantations. Is that true? And stand up when I'm speaking to you."

I scrambled to my feet before answering. "Yes sir."

"You may call me master."

"Yes master."

"Interesting. Can you cast whilst fighting? Whilst holding a sword?"

"I should be able to."

"If he can do that," Hungerford addressed my mother again, "perhaps we train him in the Saint style."

"I didn't realise you knew Saint," Rath replied.

"There are many things you don't know lass," he said, but kindly. I had never heard anyone else call my mother called 'lass'. It was strange. 

"Si… master, what is Saint style?" I asked.

"It is a rare type of swordplay, where the fighter uses magical ability to enhance their speed and power, and also to hinder and obstruct the enemy. Let us see what you have boy. Come at me, and use any magic you can."

Really? 

"As you say master." 

I took a half step back, and then lunged forward with my blade, at the same time casting a blast of air at his face, using my flying jet spell.

Hungerford moved at an incredible speed, dodging the blast of air, and easily avoiding my sword, casually knocking it to one side and stepping in to prod me in the stomach with the end of his stick.

I doubled over, winded and gasping for breath.

"Nice try lad," he said. 

"That was actually impressive," I heard Rath comment, over my wheezing.

"Indeed, when he's older and stronger, that could be a killing blow. Very well, I shall train him."

"Thank you."

"It is my pleasure. And I enjoy a challenge."

So, with me left under Hungerford's watchful eyes, my parents departed, using the same wagon we had arrived in. 

"See you next summer sweetie," Lissa shouted, waving from the back of the wagon. "Be good for Hungerford! And be careful with your magic!"

"I will mother!" I shouted and waved back.

I kept waving until the wagon disappeared behind the trees, and even after that, I stood for quite a long time, just looking at the road. 

Eventually I sighed. I had asked for this, but it still hurt. 

Shaking my head, I turned and headed back towards the house. 

Hungerford was waiting to give me my first lesson.