Mike was stupefied, his entire knowledge of the energy had been how he believed ammo in games worked. He had reserves and he could use them to destroy things when he needed to. That knowledge was made obsolete now.
Radiant Sorcery, the art of utilizing radiant energy for tasks that could be otherwise considered impossible. Throwing fireballs and water cannons were under radiant sorcery but they were the basics, elemental abilities.
Beyond the isolated island Reas, radiance had been refined to meet the level of sophistication required by the society and individuals.
"How?" He questioned the white-bearded rave, his eyes telling the awe he felt.
"Radiant Sorcery young one."
"Teach me."
It was not that Mike was suddenly able to speak Afharian, he still spoke English, but the sorcerer could read his will and intentions as the radiant aura homed on both of them. Gaus was practically reading his mind.
The sorcerer nodded, "Who are you and where are you from?"
Mike shook his head, he was so joyous over the question. Transporting here, and struggling to survive had taken a chunk on his identity, and the question was what he needed to hear, a reminder of who he was.
"I am Mike Thawnfield from Actonville." He announced.
The rave turned to Algar and repeated what Mike had told him in Afharian. The man simply nodded.
"What were you doing before you were found?"
"Trying to survive really."
Mike was cautious about not giving too much away, he wanted to tell all about himself, he craved another to listen to him, but he understood people, if he made himself seem utterly helpless then they would take him as such and try to use that to their advantage. He cannot let that happen.
"Before that…?" The rave man inquired.
"Beasts that can blow flames and wind."
"Ohh, you have met radiant beasts."
"Radiant beasts? That is what they are called? It is a cool name. Yes, if radiant beasts blow flames and torrents of wind then yes I have met them."
"Hmmm…" the sorcerer squinted his eyes.
"Got one tamed?" He asked with a much different tone. He had been asking questions with an interrogative demeanor, now, this one came off as friendly.
"I do not know what that means." Mike answered, his face bearing a look of mild confusion.
"I see."
Mike could sense disappointment whenever he heard it, and the old rave was disappointed by his response.
"What more do you want to know, boss?" The sorcerer turned to Algar.
"Well, what has he said so far?"
"Nothing useful."
"Hmmm… do you think he is safe to keep around? Would he be an asset?"
The old sorcerer turned to Mike who was oblivious to their words. He looked intently and then turned to Algar.
"I think he has great potential in being a rave."
"That is what I like to hear. Little by little, we will grow powerful enough to do what we need to do instead of running, and killing weak nobles."
"I would say we are doing enough." The old sorcerer refuted.
"Not enough. Think bigger Gaus, the boy is in your care. Teach him to be like you."
"I will try."
Algar grinned and walked off.
And like that, Mike got both a magic tutor and a spot on the Lancer Hawks before he even knew it.
The sorcerer turned to Mike, his radiance still encapsulated the young man and he could read his thoughts.
'I wish I could do that.' Mike thought.
"Do what?" He asked. A second later and he would have known.
"This thing that you're doing, the way you can read my thoughts, and essentially communicate. We speak very different languages, and yet, you are making it work."
"One of the many mysteries of radiance. Come with me."
Mike walked by the Sorcerer.
"Radiance is everywhere, in everyone, and in everything." Gaus spoke.
"Everything?"
"Yes everything."
Mike had understood radiant beasts, dwarves and Gaus having radiance, but everything and everyone? That seemed a little far-fetched. How come he could not sense radiance from most inanimate objects, even Gaus did not seem to have a lick of the force.
"You and I cannot see it, but the great mages have, and still do. You have a lot to learn. And…" Gaus paused. He turned to Mike, staring at the young man in the eyes, the sorcerer was a head taller than Mike, and his robes had him appear bulky.
"I know you have a radiant beast in possession. I do not know where you have kept it, but I can sense a different radiance within you."
"Ohhh…" Suddenly the spell felt intrusive, and Mike wanted it off him.
"I understand, too invasive." Gaus spoke, and his aura around Mike halved.
"I cannot read your deeper thoughts now, only those that you speak."
They got into Gaus' tent which had a bit of distance from the others.
"Unfortunately I like my privacy, and it's depressing being the only rave in this congregation. Fortunately, you have appeared."
Mike nodded.
'How did he get to know that I have a radiant beast with me? Does my aura show more than a singular one? I know so little.'
Life had been all about survival since appearing but now, Mike had another drive, he wanted to learn the ways of magic.
"Don't worry, radiant beasts are not accursed objects. I even have one, a cute beautiful one." Gaus said with excitement.
"Bloom." He spoke and clapped.
A wisp of flame materialized in thin air beneath the tent. Mike had his hands over his face in reflex, then put them away upon realizing the absence of danger.
"Ohhh, he's quite cute."
"She." Gaus corrected.
"Right."
What hovered between them was a creature of flames—if fire morphed and took the shape of a frog with a long thin reptilian tail—almost like it was a small dragon.
"Isn't she beautiful?"
Though small, Mike could sense quite an ample amount of radiance within it.
He nodded, "Yes, she is."
"Let's see yours."