The uninitiated often mistake Thaumaturgical Cartography for little more than mapping of ley lines. This is an error born of inexperience. Ley lines are merely the roads. What we truly map is the currents that flow across them.
- Snippet from a professor's class in Introduction to Thaumaturgical Cartography
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I vomited a lot. And cried. And vomited some more.
I pride myself in staying level headed throughout most situations, a key trait in my profession. Suffice to say that was the ultimate test.
Whatever magic A had put upon me to allow my mind to ignore the worst of my situation exited violently upon my entry.
I lay upon the grass facing the sky around me stretched a seemingly vast forest beyond my small clearing. A smaller unfamiliar hand partially blocked the sun's rays from my pupils. A dark toned color faintly reflective underneath morning light.
The pent up feelings I once had seemed to depart along with the copious amounts of fluids resting on the roots of a stoic tree.
A distinct vibration awakened me from my idle contemplation. I felt my pockets and noticed my hands weren't the only thing smaller than my whole body was.
I don't claim to be a survivalist expert, but I know enough to know the first steps are to take account of what you have and find out where you are.
I was in a forest; alone, in the body of a small child, and with zero means of self defence.
Admittedly I wasn't the largest Tensura fan, but from the scraps of knowledge I could remember.
I was more likely in the Jura forest if "A's" sick humor streak continued. The Jura forest… the one with monsters.
Huge monsters.
Putting that aside for my own sake I fished into the beige coarse wool trousers and gripped a comforting sleek object.
My phone. A brief respite from death that was more than likely lurking just behind a bush.
Opening it up my screen flashed with a large notification taking up the whole screen.
A message from "A".
Yo, forgot to run you through some stuff regarding your situation. Quick breakdown:
In order to upgrade your magic wish I had to sacrifice some of your stats. You have the physique of a 10 year old child. You're about a century before the main storyline. You're somewhere in the western states there's a village just outside the small patch you're in. Choose in a random direction and hope. There might be more I needed to say don't care though good luck
Maybe he does care. In a twisted vaguely parental way.
I chucked my past thoughts to a far away place. Set off opposite of the setting sun and walked at a brisk pace whilst navigating my phone.
My home screen only had three options.
Magic textbook along with a built in note panel. Google. And a camera.
I halted in place. A camera was exactly what I required. First impressions are everything in my industry. And judging on the sickly sweet taste of vomit lining my throat I'm not in tip top shape.
I clicked.
I beheld through the lenses a young androgynous face, skin almost obsidian in tone, catching the light with a faint natural sheen. Framed by snowy white hair.
And eyes a deep mauve with cascading patterns resembling the cuts in a jewel. And slightly pointy ears of course.
This could work. The easiest way to start a following is to have something that separates me from the masses.
The bit of vomit at the corner of my mouth would have to be done away with first of course.
For now exploration through the phone continued to learn about the magic that A "graciously" bestowed upon me.
Opening the magic textbook I decided to start with Thaumaturgical Cartography. Quite the mouthful.
Thaumaturgical Cartography: A magic type focused entirely on mapping, measuring, and navigating magical or natural forces.
Could be a lot worse. It wasn't the power to manipulate biology on a cellular level, but I'd make do.
Skimming through I focused on a useful starter spell.
Detect Water Source: Tune your magicules to the presence of water before emitting in a broad shape of choosing. Water sources depend on the shape of the magicules form within mind. (Ex: large line indicates river, small circle likely pond)
Dragging my meager supply of magicules I launched a thin web focusing on the distance over precision.
I felt the feedback form instantly. Projected into my mind: A large line dug itself through the land. North of me not too far off.
Where there is a river civilization is never too far off. And I could also wash out the ever-present taste in my mouth.
I made my way through the forest. Occasionally I spotted a small critter distantly observing me. Birds chirped. A nice harmonic scene was very different from what I was expecting.
The river was crystal clear. And further up just above the trees I spotted smoke.
I cleaned up in preparation. A grin stretched across my face far too wide unbefitting of my stature. I couldn't help it.
There was nothing that could match the anticipation of guiding the masses.
Every fiber of my being tingled. From the top of my head to my toes.
Twenty four years of experience, but I still get giddier than a school boy on his first day.
Following the river upstream I schooled my expression into an ethereal distant expression.
Just before I exited the forest I felt another vibration.
It was A again.
How ya doing :) I remembered what I meant to say. Hold your phone and say your name to vanish it. Also did you forget about the other magic? After all that effort I put forth >:( That's the thing with your type. So caught up in the rush best tone that down eh. (Almost forgot you have a very strong affinity for the magic chosen. Duh. So they'll be easier to start) Anyways talk to ya soon, or not.
It hadn't crossed my mind. I guess I did get carried away, but looks are a good portion of starting a cult. It's easier to convince people of a higher origin if you look at it. That's what made his start as rough as it was. He was about as plain as it gets and unwilling to do any modifications. Raw charisma substituted well fortunately.
I reopened the magic textbook selecting resonance and once again gave it a skim eager to get over to my future followers.
Resonance: The authority to establish, transmit, and manipulate alignment between entities through any medium capable of carrying influence. Divided primarily into disruption and harmonization.
This has potential. A lot of it. In fact it's just what he needed to speed up the process. Skimming through the beginner spells he found the perfect one for his first act.
Basic Harmonize spell: Body alignment - Resonate using magicules to bring the body back to its natural state.
I glanced across the edge of the clearing for a target to practice on.
There was no way I'd ever catch this critters even without testing my body. My walk has told me enough. I do have a lot of dexterity, but only in comparison to the average ten year old child.
No one is better than myself. Probably.
Closing my eyes I sunk within myself. Seeking my tune. It revealed itself as a faint pressure building within me eagerly awaiting usage humming in tones no ear can comprehend.
I let it carry into the air an iridescent hue emerged from me. My tune carried itself across the nearby magicules before bending to my call and rentering my flesh.
My light fatigue vanished and I felt subtly sharper.
More than that I could feel it deep within me. Even without actively calling upon it my tune worked to enhance me, bringing me closer and closer to perfection.
It was better than anything I could have ever come up with.
As dawn set I recentered myself before leaving the forest behind and welcoming a new beginning.