This is a short story I wrote when I first endeavored to become a writer three years ago. The magic is based on the MBTI personality system, I dont have the skill to make it into a full book yet, but I believe you will enjoy the short story.
Constance walked up the narrow path leading to his lookout at the top of the mountain. Smiling to himself in satisfaction, he surveyed his stronghold as he made his way to the summit. Once the valley had been as dry and barren as the rest of the range, but over the years he managed to transform this desert into a verdant life-giving home.
It’s about time to find another storm, he thought as he passed one of the catches he hand-dug in the side of the mountains. The rainwater shouldn’t be below half, he thought, that one is nearly empty.
Reaching the summit a few minutes later Constance searched the horizon, not a cloud in sight. He turned to go back down, but paused, looking furtively at a dustcloud in the distance. Movement on the desert road caught his eye, he couldn’t quite make out what was approaching his doorstep.
Steeling himself he sharpened his vision, as he zoomed in on the motion he saw only a passing caravan, nothing to be concerned with. He would take a trip out to visit them, he used up all of his paper for scrolls, he could trade some of his fresh vegetables for supplies.
Setting off at a steady pace he set himself to make the journey. As he got closer a woman started screaming. Bounding to a rocky outcropping, he scanned the area for danger. The emperor’s soldiers were attacking the convoy.
The men in the convoy formed ranks behind the caravan, with a sudden burst they sped into the soldiers, moving at superhuman speeds.
The soldiers scattered, reforming some distance away. A second battalion arrived and casters started shooting jets of fire and electricity into the convoy. The men regrouped and charged at the castors, the first group empowered, speeding into the charging refugees. Some of the men from the convoy went down, the rest turned and ran, trying to put some distance between themselves and the soldiers.
The woman had been busy while the men fought, loading their children into the wagons, and gripping the rails they pulled the wagon along at enormous speed.
A set of soldiers broke off in pursuit, some of the men from the convoy tried to cut them off but the casters opened a line of fire between them and their spouses.
Constance stood on his rock, wondering what to do. Dont get involved, he thought to himself. The emperor let you leave, don’t bring yourself back to their attention.
The scene before him reminded him of the day he left the service, a day that had haunted him until he fled into the wilderness to make his home.
Speeding down the mountain he double fed his body to speed himself faster than most eyes could see. As he neared the military troop from the flank he split his chi feeding both his empowerment and his shaping. He struck through the troop striking out and crippling their military discipline and order. Rushing through their ranks he hit pressure points and major muscles to slow and inconvenience them but not kill or permanently maim, he had caused enough death in his life.
Gripping onto his resolve again he double fueled his body, sprinting at speeds far faster than anyone else on the field. He took one of the magic sources and quit fueling his body, his speed slowed dramatically as a result. Remembering a hurricane from years before he blasted a gust of wind through the enemy casters. They went down in a heap.
He was through the enemy like a flash and concentrating solely on empowerment, disappearing into the scrub. Circling back he attacked from behind rapid-firing wind and water attacks, disorienting and debilitating them. They were in utter confusion now, thinking themselves under attack by a much larger company. They circled, watching for the Constance nonexistent backup.
Constance double fueled again, racing into the soldiers. He dodged among them, too fast to be caught, and soon dispatched the lot.
Standing over the field of battle he felt a glow of pride, as he had many times before, dread surged up however overpowering his pride.
Leaning down he felt the neck of one of the younger soldiers, the boy’s pulse beat weakly, Constance might be able to sleep tonight.
Fatigue warred at the edges of Constance’s vision, if he let go of the magic now he would collapse right here among the soldiers, he had not pushed himself this hard in a long time.
The soldiers started to wake up as Constance rushed off. Pausing a ways down the road he watched the soldiers to see if they would follow. They were dispirited and unwilling to keep on chasing their prey. The soldiers quickly turned, heading back down the road towards the empire. Abandoning the caravan as they fled away from Constance’s mountain stronghold.
Constance rushed ahead again; he was tiring but he still had enough force to unite with the refugees. Stopping in the road a ways in front of them, he sat down in the road in plain sight. He did not want to surprise them and he had seen how they dealt with their enemies. His magic control was better, but he was nearly spent. Survival often depended on equal parts caution and recklessness, using each where appropriate. Now he needed prudence. So, he sat and waited as they slowly approached his position.
The main group held back while one man came forward. He walked towards Terrance, showing no sign of empowerment. The man held his hands open and slightly out from his sides signaling he was unarmed and wanting to talk.
“What is the news of the day friend”, the old man called across the gap between them. “That was some amazing empowerment you did back there, we are grateful for you and your help. My name is Terrance.”
Constance toyed with the idea of letting Terrance believe he had support hiding in the bushes but decided to tell them the truth instead. “I am alone”, he said simply. Then almost as an afterthought “Where are you headed.”
The Terrance considered, “We don’t have a destination, just a home we can no longer return to. The emperor chose our lands as a tribute and so we were driven out from our homes. On the way, one of the commanders took a hankering for one of our women and decided he would like some slave labor and tried to capture us. We took them by surprise and escaped, however. We are looking for a new place to live. Do you know of any place in these desolate parts where our clan can settle?”
Constance surveyed the crowd, a few hundred individuals in all. So much for my quiet valley, he thought.
“I have such a place,” he said instead, “A valley secluded and verdant. No one knows where it is but you will have a lot of work to make a home for so many people. As the crow flies you are facing a day’s walk but unless your people can all empower the journey will take longer. The way is a winding path up into the mountains and the route is over treacherous terrain. No road leads to my valley, you will have to scout the way as you go. If you are interested, I will lead you to my home.”
The Terrance looked at him quizzically, “Why would you offer your home to a group of strangers who caused you nothing but trouble? How do you know you can trust us? We will accept your hospitality of course; we have no other options and you have shown yourself to be a fierce friend in a tight place. We managed to load food and seed on our carts, and we have empowered to help, though none near your prowess. “
Constance got to his feet and laughed, “There are few at my level of empowerment, though I am not primarily one of the empowered, rather I am a shaper. My name is Constance and I would be honored if you joined me in my home. I live alone, at first because I was not fit to be around others but later because I came to love my valley and I have none to share my home with.”
The two old men shook hands and started towards their new home.
My first novella, around a half hour to an hour read, is on Amazon now. If you like what you have read support my writing by buying my eBook at https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B093G62TKM/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i0
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