After saying goodbye to Chive, I led Samantha through the Sword Guild, agreeing to meet with my mother once she was all set. I took her through a few halls until we reached a large dark room. The ceiling was circular and I saw small white dots shining almost like stars. Samantha let out a small awed gasp as we entered.
“We might be in the Sword Guild, but that doesn't mean we only have sword wielders,” I explained, “We have a few mages from the Magical Library to help us out with a few things like Alice, for example. Then there's the mages who help us out in here in the port point room.”
“What is a port point? You guys mentioned it before, but I've never heard of it.”
“It's basically a magic door that transports you to somewhere else. In our case we're going to have a mage set the coordinates to my dad's house in the mountains. See those arches in the walls?” I pointed towards the empty curved indentations that lined up all around us, “All of those can be used as a port point. The rule of thumb is that if it looks door-ish, it's a port point. So any mage can make a port point almost anywhere... In theory, at least.”
“I thought you didn't know anything about magic, Bryer?”
“Oh, I don't. I've just heard this so many times it's pretty much engraved into my brain.”
“You failed to mention how you would return without a mage,” I heard a familiar female voice ring from somewhere in the darkness.
“...Alice?”
“At your service, as always.” In a sudden flash of light, the mage's face appeared directly in front of me, causing me to step backwards in surprise. “Teleportation is one of the most dangerous pieces of magic to master for newer mages. If they were to lose focus for a single moment while attempting to transport them and their party, the results could be disastrous.
“But port points aren't the same as manual teleportation, right? It's not the same as you grabbing me and taking me somewhere else.”
“Correct. Port points will always show the destination when prepared correctly, thus making them the safer alternative for long distant traveling. However they take time and can be easily interrupted, making them useless in a combat situation.”
“Interrupted? What do you mean?” Samantha asked.
“If the archway is destroyed, the port point is destroyed as well. Or if someone wishes they can use magic to disable the port point. However the biggest issue would be being followed. Once a port point is opened, it takes the mage who created it around three minutes to close it if they are not next to the point of entry.”
“Can't you just destroy the exit, then?” Alice smiled at the suggestion.
“Very good, Samantha. However, depending on the structure used to create the port point, this might not be an option. A port point made of steel or metal would take a while to destroy, much longer than one made of thin wood.”
“So they got you making our port point, Alice?”
“That's right, Bryer.”
“I thought you had some...uh, magical securing to do elsewhere?”
“I haven't forgotten, but when the call came for a port point to the Alma home in the mountains, the Guild asked me to be the one to create it. Bryer, come to this archway, please.” Nodding, I followed the mage toward one of the many structures built into the walls, Samantha trailing behind us. “Normally, a port point would take anywhere between five to ten minutes to create if the mage is unfamiliar with the area. They need descriptions, hints, and visual aides in order to pinpoint the exact archway that will be used as an exit.”
“But since it's you, you're gonna do it an under a minute, right?”
“I might be gifted, Bryer, but I'm not a miracle worker. That being said, I will most likely be able to conjure the exit quicker than most.”
“So you want me to tell you about the spot in the mountains?”
“No, I want you to think about it.” The mage placed an open palm over my face, her pale skin erasing what little light the fake stars above us provided. “Concentrate on the memory of the archway. Close your eyes and visualize it. See it in your mind's eye and lead me to it.”
---
I opened my eyes and saw a single streak of light. It blinded me in my otherwise darkened void and I placed a hand in front of my face to shield myself. Cotton sheets surrounded my body and I fought against them in an attempt to stand, letting out a sharp cry. Familiar surroundings outlined themselves as I stood on the bed, backing myself into a corner.
“Bryer?” I heard my mother call out from somewhere as I tried to piece everything together. This was my room, but not the one in my apartment: this was my dad's house. The door opened suddenly as I saw my mom's red hair slowly poke it's way into my room. “Sweetie? Are you okay?” My breathing was rapid as I stared at my mom for a second, then darted my gaze all around the room.
"What's going on? Why am I here?!”
“Bryer, you took time off, remember? Because of...” Emily. A sudden wetness rolled down my cheeks as I remembered why I had stayed. We just held the funeral behind my dad's house the day before; we had decided to lay her to rest here because she loved the mountain air so much.
“I saved her,” I told my mom while trying to hold back my tears, “I got to the town and she was alive. I did everything right! She should still be here!” I slid down the wall until I was sitting back on the bed, my mom slowly making her way towards me. She held on a hand to me and I took it before being pulled into her in an embrace.
“I'm sorry, Bryer. Life sometimes isn't fair. I'm sorry.”
---
Alice's hand slowly moved away from my face and I felt a small gust of wind blow passed us, making me aware of a cold sweat.
“I apologize, Bryer. I do not believe I should have witnessed that memory.”
“I—“
“If you wish, you can simply describe the area to me.”
“No, it was my fault. It's...not a big deal, really. Try again.” The mage nodded before placing her hand over the exact same spot it was in earlier. There was nothing but silence as I did my best to picture the stone archway my dad built near his home by a stream. I did my best to visualize it without straying away to the rest of the area, including the tombstone that was on the other side of the house. A few minutes later, I heard a soft humming noise in front of me as Alice removed her hand once more.
“Is this the location?” The archway glowed brightly, showing us a few trees as well as the small river. In the distance I could see a two floor house made of a combination of wood and stone.
“That's the place, yeah.” I took a step toward the port point, but Alice placed a hand to my chest, stopping me.
“You still haven't explained to Samantha how you would return here without the help of a mage.”
“Oh, yeah right. Uh, so basically the mage that creates the port point hands us this powder stuff that will reactivate it and lead us back here.” As I explained all of this, the mage reached towards the magical doorway, her hand sucking in small particles from the magic. When she was satisfied, Alice produced a small brown bag and carefully dropped the magical dust into it, sealing it with a bit of knotted string before finally handing it to me. “Once we have the powder, we just throw some of it at the empty archway and the port point will reactivate itself.”
“How long does it stay open when you do it that way?” Samantha asked.
“I think the mage that opened it in the first place senses that it opens up again and has total control over it. Usually they wait around ten minutes before closing it back up.”
“I'm guessing they can also tell when someone goes through the portal? That way they can tell when to close it properly, otherwise the person on the other end might be out of luck.”
“Exactly, Samantha. You're displaying more intellect about the arts than both Bryer and Chive ever did.”
“Gimme a break, Alice.”
“Combined, I might add.”
“Can we just,” I motioned to the portal with both hands in an attempt to move ahead, “you know, get this over with?”
“Certainly. You two can move ahead and I'll explain to Mylene that you went first.”
“Thanks, Alice. You ready, Sam?”
“Yeah. A little nervous though.”
“I thought as much. Don't worry, it happens in a flash.” I held out my hand for her to take, but she shook her head.
“I can handle it,” she told me with a small smile. I returned it and we walked into the portal.
I didn't feel anything as we entered the port point. There was no sudden gust of wind or any kind of supernatural force weighing down on us. It was as if we had walked through any other door leading outdoors and the fact that we had just traveled hundreds of miles in a single second was difficult to get through to my mind. Yet the sunlight was such a strong difference to the room we were just in, and the trees surrounding us were undeniable proof that we were just transported elsewhere in a single fluid motion.
“Whoa.”
“Crazy, right?”
“I thought I'd feel...something. Tingles or goosebumps at least.”
“You would if it was a normal teleportation. Port points are literally just doors.”
“Bryer? Should I be...jealous?”
“What? Jealous?”
“You and Alice get along really well.
Too well, even. I kinda feel like the third wheel.”
“No. No, of course not. Alice is a good friend, but that's all she is.”
“I'm just worried I might have rushed us way too fast.”
“You totally did.”
“Excuse me?!”
“That's not a bad thing, though. I needed a swift kick...or a swift kiss? Whatever, I needed someone in my life to make a move. Ever since Emily I've been holding off on any real relationship,” Except that time I hit on the secretary...Not sure what I was thinking, “so in a way a headfirst approach is best for me. You saw how my mom acted with you, right? It's because she's been trying to get me to date someone for a really long time now.”
“So what, are you just going to be with me because you think you
need to be?”
“Sam. If I didn't like you, we wouldn't even be having this conversation,” I lightly kissed her forehead before continuing, “the truth is, you're probably the most important person to me.”
“That's so cheesy.” She said with a smile.
“Sorry. I'm not used to this I guess. The point is, you have no reason to be jealous.”
I heard a soft rustling sound from behind us before I could, uh, 'seal the deal,' and turned to face it.
“Aw, did I give myself away?” A female voice said aloud. From behind a tree walked a girl about one year younger than myself. She wore a red chest plate and matching leggings, and was just a little shorter than I was. Her eyes were a dull gray similar to my own but her hair was an almost fiery red. “Hello, Bryer.”
“What the hell are you doing here?” I told her angry.
“Aw, come on. This place isn't under the Guild's jurisdiction, you know that.”
“That doesn't mean you're welcome here.”
“This land doesn't belong to you yet, Bry-Bry. It's still under Viktor Alma's name.”
“Even so, you don't belong here.”
“How rude. You haven't even introduced me to Emily's replacement yet.”
“Lili, you have ten seconds to leave before--”
“Before what? Are you going to stab me with your sword? Strike at me with your dad's hammer? How about, oh I don't know... Shoot me with a crossbow?”
“Hey!” Samantha yelled behind me, “What the hell is wrong with you?!”
“Oh look, the elf can speak our language. Here I thought you were all uncultured swine.”
“Alright, that's it.” The elf grabbed the bow behind her back and stepped in front of me, arrow notched up and ready to go.
“Samantha, wait!”
“You don't have the guts to shoot at me, little elf. Put the bow down.” Without a second's hesitation, Sam let her fingers go of the drawstring, sending the arrow flying at Lili. I saw her eyes flash yellow as she easily stepped to the side, avoiding the projectile.
“Is violence prominent in elves, or just you?” She asked as Sam fired off another arrow. This time Lili grabbed the arrow in mid air and ran in front of Sam at a speed I only barely caught, her fist raised and about to strike at Sam's face. My palm quickly grabbed the girl's fist as she threw the punch, my eyes matching her blaring yellow pupils.
“You will
not use my mother's technique like this,” I growled at her as I squeezed her fist, “and unless you want to see firsthand all the things I've learned since your banishment, you will leave this place and never return.” Lili gave me a smile as her eyes returned to their normal gray color.
“Fine. I'll leave,” she told me as she pulled her hand back and made her way to the now empty archway, “but remember this, Bryer. You aren't the only one that's been learning.” She held her hand out towards the doorway and in an instant it activated itself, showing us a dark room similar to the one Sam and I had just came from. “Say hello to mom for me,” was all she said before walking into the port point.
