The Accidental Archmage - Book Five, Edmund Batara [best way to read ebooks txt] 📗

“Why do you keep fading in and out? Your brothers and sisters have a specific shape. They either have solid mortal forms or still are misty clouds, though the latter isn’t true anymore, considering these two have mortal figures already,” said Tyler as he nodded in the direction of Machi and Polemos. The pair grinned impishly.

Now they have hands to play with the forest spirit’s hair. I hope Birki’s talents include putting back torn extremities, the mage told himself.

“The Staff God was never able to interact with the rod long enough for me to gain a solid shape. I am incomplete and even my memory has gaps,” answered the being.

“I am sorry. I should have gotten him to touch the staff for a period of time,” answered Tyler, pitying the situation of the boy.

“Oh, I doubt if you would be able to get him to do that, master. Wilan knows what will happen if he holds onto the weapon for a long time. And he maintains a strong, nearly impenetrable, barrier around himself. My memory is indistinct, but there appeared to be a few instances in the past where that exactly happened. I felt consternation, a lot of worry and effort on his part as he resolved the ensuing problems.”

“I guess we have to work with what we have,” replied Tyler. “And by what name do you wish to be called?”

“Apulli.”

“Lad, that means powerful in Quechua. Isn’t that being presumptuous?” Birki addressed the boy.

“I intend to be a powerful entity. That’s the only way we can be of proper service to the First Mage,” the energy being answered in all seriousness. “Hopefully, I can regain the full power of creation… and destruction wielded by the oldest of the gods.”

I like his attitude. A leader in the making, I hope, thought Tyler.

“Then Apulli you shall be called,” decided the mage. “Give me your hands.”

“Remember, you are part of a family now. Protect and care for your siblings,” Tyler told Apulli as the magical process started. The boy nodded and the mage noticed the playfulness in the eyes was gone for a moment, replaced by a profound depth of purpose.

What an exceptional boy. Playful and childlike yet clearly capable of understanding adult concepts. From what I have seen, they’re all more or less like that. Is Elder energy responsible for such individuality? With or without me, Adar will be changed when these children reach their full potential as a group.

It was as Birki said. A lot easier and less tiring. As Apulli went back to his seat, the other boy had already stood up and was walking toward the mage. Tyler noticed a limp accompanied his strides.

“Why are you limping?” the mage whispered when the boy reached him.

“A legacy of the original source of my being,” came the straightforward answer. Tyler looked at the boy’s feet and saw he did have a clubfoot, same as Hephaestus.

“Ah, you’re the one I have to thank for all of those fiery ground eruptions.”

The boy smiled.

“Extremely talented. The imagination of youth and the power of his forebear. Quite a potent combination,” volunteered Birki with pride. “He built this keep. It’s made of indestructible adamantium. A magical metal uniquely their pantheon’s work. Though the lad is quite artistic. The metal looks like stone. Feels like it too.”

The boy smiled at the unexpected praise.

“My thanks,” said Tyler. “Any ideas about your name?”

“Vathys. Deep in the language of the Greeks.”

Birki smiled as he heard the word.

“Now Vathys, would you like me to complete your form and get rid of the ailment the energy of Hephaestus burdened you with?”

“That would be excellent, First Mage.”

Tyler laid his hands on the fellow’s shoulders which were materially substantial enough. After his exertion of will and power, Vathys went back to his seat with a grin on his face. Tyler even thought that as the lad walked, he exuded more confidence and the back was straighter. The mage sat back. Though the exercise for Polemos, Apulli, and Vathys was less exhausting, it did tire him out a little. He looked at the girls arrayed on the left side of the table. From what he could see, the Aztecah and Nike’s gift appeared to be fully-formed individuals. Only the forest spirit, seated at the end of the table looked as if it needed help. The one closest to him was the Aztecah girl. He now turned his attention to her.

“Do you need any completion as to your form?” he asked.

The girl sweetly smiled and shook her head.

“I was complete when the Feathered God gave me to you. Except for the name, of course. But I would like to be called Nehua.”

“Nehua?” remarked the surprised Birki despite himself.

“Your chosen name also has me confused,” said Tyler. “It means me or myself in Nahuatl, doesn’t it?”

“Yes, master. But you don’t know how good it feels to have a form, a permanent one! Before, I was but one of the energies available to the deity. Not even in a definite shape. We all existed as energy streams with the potential of being manifested. Now, I am me!”

Tyler smiled. The genuine smile of joy the girl displayed was infectious.

“Then Nehua shall be your name. And how about you?” he asked the winged girl who was dressed in a lighter version of the armor of Polemos and Machi.

“I am also complete, master. But I would prefer to be called Seier, meaning victory in the language of Skaney. I can’t take Nike’s name or any of her appellations. But Seier would do nicely. As to my powers, there’s a lot I can contribute in battle and I do retain the martial knowledge of Nike.”

Tyler nodded and voiced to the ether his acceptance of the name of Nehua and Seier.

The choice of names by the entities around the table surprised him. For children or young adults, the selection showed a lot of maturity, a fact indicating much promise from members of the group. All they needed was to grow in strength and power. And, of course, some discipline, but that would be thankfully Birki’s