Convergence: Eclipse Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Boars and Swords

Read chapter 2 of Convergence: Eclipse by J.L.Hollingwell on NovelPedia.

When first heading out into the unknown, an individual must plan for all possible outcomes. Do you have sufficient supplies of the energy source appurtenant to your species? Can you move around in the environments and conditions you will doubtless find yourself in? And, most of all, how will you defend yourself? The multiverse is a harsh and unforgiving place; without weapons or defences, your journey may be a short one… How to survive the multiverse: A guide for idiots Relit Gron Not expecting the chair to vanish when the starting zone began, Laurie had fallen hard to the floor. Now, he was lying flat on his back, looking up at the underside of the large trees. A notification had appeared, something about a quest, but he had dismissed it without reading it. Unfrozen, the forest was transformed. The sun was shining down through the thick canopy, and the trees were swaying from side to side, groaning with their gentle movements. Watching the trees was much easier than trying to understand what was going on, but, like a mosquito buzzing incessantly around him, his curiosity slowly began to take over from the fog of confusion and fear. After a moment, Laurie sat up, slowly, his armour creaking conspicuously as he moved. He didn't want to look down at himself, but made himself do it anyway. Oh good, the medieval cosplay is still there! Laurie lay back down, defeated. He sighed, and scrubbed his hands over his face. So, magic is real, let’s start there. He lifted his hands, looking at each in turn, and tried to focus inwards, at where he thought his magic might be, searching for that strange, sparking current that had flared to life after his affinities were assigned. Instead, he found something else, something that hadn’t been there before. It felt like it was condensed right in the middle of his chest, a heavy, shifting pressure like a water balloon, full to bursting, desperate to be thrown. He poked at it mentally, then tried to visualise it, but nothing happened. Instead, Laurie focused hard on his right hand. A burning sensation flared in his chest, as though the balloon had ruptured, heat running from his heart to his shoulder, down his arm and into his hand, branching into each finger. When it reached his fingertips, the energy stopped, as though beating against the barrier of his skin. It felt very uncomfortable, pressure building unbearably in his hand. He didn't know what to do, or why the energy wouldn't come out. He willed it to his hand, trying to summon it to his palm, but nothing happened. He waved, made a throwing gesture, even tried finger guns, but nothing happened. His movements became wilder, stupider, more exaggerated. “Exit! Fly! Shoot!” Nothing happened. The pressure was continuing to build, reaching the edge of pain. Laurie was just starting to panic when the vision of the eclipsing planet forced itself into his mind. Light and shadow. Shadow and light. Shadow , Laurie thought, and pictured the planet again, its dark, sunless bulk. As he did, the pressure slipped out of his fingers, pooling easily in the palm of his hand. Laurie sat bolt upright in surprise. There it was, in the cup of his palm. Magic. It had the texture of mercury - not quite liquid, but not a stable orb, either. The edges were rough and frayed, and energy seemed to be seeping out and escaping into the air. He could feel the flow of mana from his chest, through his body and out of his hand. He could feel the same energy in the shadow too, but more muted, a faint hum, rather than a buzz. The pool dissipated slowly, until he couldn’t feel it anymore. Laurie sat staring at his hand in wonder; he had just done magic, real, actual shadow magic. He laughed aloud, incredulous. Magic is real. I can do magic . It was surreal, overwhelming. What else can I do? Laurie looked at his other hand, this time thinking of light, of those sweeping, flaring tendrils of sunlight that had crested over the shadowed planet like a wave. The same burning sensation r