Ebudae Read Free

activities.
    The large workroom they entered had magical
items scattered carelessly on tables, stands, chairs and shelves.
There were old, comfortable couches that the girls liked to sit in
while studying and a couple of writing tables with ink, quills and
paper. Bookshelves against the stone walls held over a hundred
books, a luxury few could afford. They were kept more neatly than
anything else, showing an added amount of respect. The comfortable
smell of book bindings and paper permeated the silent room. Unlike
the library, which held tomes of history, politics and vapid
poetry, the books in this room were from the ruins below the city.
Many contained artwork and stories that would make adults blush,
forbidden philosophies and more importantly: books of all things
magic.
    The girls went into the secondary workroom.
A large rune of concentric circles drawn in silvery liquid on the
floor of one corner took up a quarter of the room and had candles
all around it. Other rune circles were drawn on the walls around
the room, though they were in mundane colors. Three worktables had
different components Ebudae used to make magical items. Bubbling
liquids in various tubes, bottles and vials filled with colored
liquids were scattered around a potion-making table. Odors from the
long-brewing potions tickled Pelya’s nose uncomfortably.
    “We’ll work on defenses against magic some
more,” Ebudae said. “That’s going to be your biggest need in the
Guard. There are wizards everywhere in this city and all of them
know how to overcome someone with a mundane weapon.” Ebudae stopped
in front of a table with a scroll on it. “The Guard wizards are
good at their job, but it’s even better if you can take care of
yourself too.”
    “The problem is that using magic is tiring
and I need all my strength to fight with the sword.” Pelya chewed
on her lip and crossed her arms. “Casting also requires gestures,
which means I can’t draw as soon. It also leaves me light headed
for a moment when I need to be assessing the battle.”
    “The spells I’m teaching you are ones you
can cast when you know you’re going into danger, especially
when you go alone.” Ebudae opened up a scroll. It would be a
perfect spell for Pelya to learn.
    Pelya rolled her eyes. “Guard units always
stay together when on duty and the rest of the time I’m with an
aunt or uncle, Daddy, or you.” She looked over Ebudae’s shoulder.
“What spell is that? I can’t read the writing.”
    “It’s a spell that protects your mind. You
can’t read it because it’s in one of the ancient languages you
haven’t learned and probably never will.” Ebudae knew her friend
had other interests like using swords and hitting people with
chairs. Pelya could read nine languages and speak four fluently,
but that didn’t compare to the twenty-three Ebudae could read or
ten she could speak.
    Ever since learning to read, Ebudae had
spent every available moment soaking up each book she could find.
When she was nine, she had discovered a magical necklace in the
ruined academy below that enabled her to absorb languages even
faster and even speak them if she was willing to put in the effort.
Still, twenty-three languages was a feat few people accomplished,
even old wizards in their towers. It was an extraordinary
accomplishment for a sixteen year old, but Ebudae knew she was an
extraordinary person even though she tried to hide the fact from
people.
    “It seems to me that a scroll that old would
make it harder to learn and be more powerful.” Pelya put her hands
on her hips. “That means that it’ll knock me out even harder before
a battle. And how can I learn it if I can’t read it?”
    Ebudae rolled her eyes. “I’m going to
teach it to you and there’re only a few words you’ll speak during
the casting that you need to learn.”
    “Oh.” Pelya stretched like she was warming
up for drills. She paid extra attention to stretching her fingers,
which amused