Chapter 18

CHAPTER 18

F ollowing Mac and Gray through the laboratory, Solomon pulled out the paper and went over the instructions.

They paused long enough near a set of large offices. Cormac split off and entered one. Pulling on the light colored jacket, he adjusted the sleeves and cuffs so they lined up. Then he snagged hold of the travel backpack that was left on a chair.

Solomon poked his head around the door and looked around. “This is your office?”

Cormac looked around at the comfortable office filled with dark wood furniture at one end of the room. Built-in bookshelves had a variety of books and scientific nick-knacks he collected. On the opposite side was a comfortable sitting area with a small couch, some armchairs, and anchored by a colorful rug on the parquet floor. “Yes. Gray has the one next door.”

“Don’t really use them to do actual work. Most of our work is done in smaller offices closer to the lab rooms. These are more for show when we need to meet with important guests, contributors, or benefactors,” Gray said.

“Best not let that part get out,” Solomon said with a snicker.

“Too late. It’s a known secret.” Mac slung his backpack over a shoulder.

Leaving the laboratory, they headed toward an open field with multiple rounds of rocks and vegetation. On the far side was the portal building. A pair of guards stood in front.

Between them and the field was an immense crowd. Some in lab coats. Some in scrubs. And others dressed from casual to full suits. Every single one stopped their conversations when Solomon exited after the scientists.

Pausing a few moments, he took in the immense crowd. He adjusted his glasses.

“It’ll be all right. I’ll stick next to you,” Mac said.

“Didn’t expect I would do this in front of a crowd,” Solomon said.

“I think you’re going to get more of it once word spreads of your arrival and as knowledge of what is happening continues to be shared.”

“Why?”

“Arcane mages are rare, Sol. There are a few mages who have arcane gifts, but nothing like you,” Mac said.

“Not to mention the portal battle with the cloaked goons,” Gray added.

“I didn’t mean for that part to happen,” Solomon said.

“Too late. Deal with it.” Gray nudged Solomon with a grin. Then he turned to greet some within the crowd.

Some people stepped aside to let them through.

Near the center, the crowd left a large circle closest to four mounds of massive rocks with hints of citrine gems and plants.

Solomon felt the energy shift underneath him. He tilted his head and paused while he sorted out the energy and magical waves.

“Excellent spot?” Mac asked.

“Yes.” Solomon saw a couple step forward. Dressed in outfits similar to Mac, they kept on their lab coats. Standing shorter than Solomon, one had rimless glasses over his bright blue eyes and pale hair. The other man was a touch taller, with rich cocoa skin and black hair, but had spectacular golden eyes that stood out against his dark skin.

“Greetings, Doctor Cadogan, Doctor Wyn,” the man with glasses said with a warm smile. “Is this our arcane mage?”

“This is our arcane mage,” Mac said. “Professor Solomon Windham, I would like to introduce our magi-geologist, Doctor Zephyr de Vere, and his partner, our magi-botanist, Doctor Jamal Mohammed Belghiti.”

“Greetings, Professor Windham, it’s an honor to meet you,” Zephyr said while he offered his hand.

Solomon shook Zephyr’s hand and followed it with Jamal’s hand. “A pleasure to meet both of you. Call me Solomon, please.”

“I’m Jamal and this is my partner, Zephyr.” Jamal rested his hand against Zephyr’s back and stood close. “Our studies and work send us throughout the North. We study the combination of gemstones, rocks, vines, and magic.”

“While we noted several types of sentient plants, we never met a sentient vine or plant connected to the gemstones here,” Zephyr said.

“Perhaps you didn’t know to look for one,” Solomon offered. “The Spiny Leaved Gloriosa Vine are the sentient plant that protects the Scarlet Crystalline Laumeldite in Nucira. They didn’t introduce themselves until seven annuals ago.”

“They connected to a dryad. Correct?”

“Yes, my friend, Professor Julian Scarlett. Though they prefer to connect to anyone with some type of earth magic, they’ll create a connection to others they consider worthy. It’s all about trust with these particular plants.”

“I hope you’ll be able to introduce us to this magical partnership that rests underneath us,” Zephyr said.

“That is the hope.” Solomon removed his satchel and held it out to Mac. “Could you hold this for me?”

“Of course,” Mac said while he took the satchel.

“What do you need from the rest of us?” Zephyr asked.

“Keep the main crowd back. If I can connect to the plants, they usually like to have a local human protector they can speak too. Would you like the position?” Solomon asked.

Zephyr and Jamal exchanged glances.

“Yes,” Zephyr said.

“Stand a little in front of everyone. Until then… wish me luck.”

“You have it.”

Stepping out into the center of the field, Solomon pulled the laumeldite gemstone from his pocket. Pulling in a deep breath, he lowered until he rested one knee on the ground. Placing his hands and the gemstone on the ground, he exhaled.

Raising his voice, he said, “Greetings to the protector and guardian of the Citrine Pear Helidinite from the Spiny Leaved Gloriosa Vine, protector and guardian of the Scarlet Crystalline Laumeldite in Nucira Realm, East. I am Solomon Windham, a friend of the Gloriosa and sent with this message of greetings. We need your assistance if you are willing to make your presence known.”

Lots of thoughts filled him while things remain quiet.

Lowering his shields, Solomon released all the controls on his arcane magic. Waves of brilliant white magic swirled and flared around him. Then he sent it straight to the ground and let it spread out.

There were literal gasps all around him. Perhaps the strength and brilliance of his magic surprised them. Arcane magic was rare.

Feeling something under his hand, Solomon lifted it and watched the laumeldite sinking.

Then several vines broke out and surrounded Solomon. They were similar to the Gloriosa, but had long fernlike leaves instead of the broad ones. Odd shaped cones appeared and bloomed into flat-topped clusters of delicate white flowers with yellow centers. They were almost lace-like flowers with a delicate scent.

There were more gasps and cries of delight.

“Greetings,” Solomon said.

A vine caressed his neck. He felt a presence within his head.

::Greetings, arcane mage from the East. We are the Wild Laceflower Fozlane Vine, the protector and guardian of the Citrine Pear Helidinite. Please call us Fozlane. Thank you for the gift of the arcane magic to refresh our gems and our energy. We appreciate the gift of the laumeldite from the Gloriosa. They are an ancient and prominent vine.::

/Thank you for the greetings, Fozlane. It is an honor to make your acquaintance./

::You are only a visitor and cannot be our protector. Your destiny lies elsewhere.::

/Destiny? No, I’m passing through, but there is a couple who would like to meet you. A magi-geologist and a magi-botanist. They are standing together just behind me./

::We sense and remember the flavor of their magic energies. We sensed them multiple times over the annuals. They are caring and knowledgeable humans and scientists. Yes, they will be a good match for us. We shall greet them.::

Solomon watched more vines appear and unfurl the lacy blooms around the scientist couple. Once the vines stroked their skin, Solomon could almost see their connection solidify.

::You mentioned the Gloriosa needs our assistance. How can we help you?::

Solomon explained what happened above ground with the Carmine. The Gloriosa requested they connect to all the vital connections across the realms. It will take their combined strength to restore what was almost destroyed in the Central realms.

Fozlane listened to all of it. :: The Gloriosa is the strongest. While not the first ones to be created, they were the first to gain sentience and create the unique connection. Then they revealed how to the rest of us. If the Gloriosa calls for assistance, we will answer and be there. We will pass on messages to the other vines to welcome your visit. Then we shall pass on messages, send out vines to connect to other realms, and search for darkness and emptiness. Please take some of our gemstones to assist in the rebuilding of the Central realm.::

It took a few moments, but a leaf-woven bag appeared out of the ground next to him.

Solomon accepted the gift. He peered inside to see multiple helidinite gemstones. /Thank you for the gift and the assistance./ Disconnecting from the vines, he rose and sent the bag into the magical pocket. He was a little wobbly from the intense connection and releasing all that magic.

“Easy there. You haven’t given yourself enough time to release that amount of energy since the poisoning. We can do a lot with magic and medicine, but it isn’t perfect yet. Drink this, it’ll restore your energy.” Mac rushed to Solomon’s side. He handed over a small bottle filled with a bright blue liquid.

“Bottoms up?”

“All of it. Relax, there is a berry taste.”

Snorting since most magical energy drinks were rank, Solomon took the bottle and drank the contents. A berry flavor was light. Not the best tasting thing.

“It’ll be a steady increase over a few minutes.” Mac took the empty bottle and sent it away.

Returning to the crowd, Solomon smiled at how Zephyr and Jamal continued to stroke the vines and flowers.

“This is… more than I could ever imagine,” Zephyr said.

“We already learned so much from the Fozlane,” Jamal said.

“The Fozlane will assist you in protecting the gemstones and the realm. Once they sense the dark energy, they’ll remember it. If they sense it, anywhere in the realm, they’ll alert you. Just keep the sense of their connection to you in the back of your minds,” Solomon said.

“We will,” Jamal said.

“I need to visit the rest of the realms and connect to their vines. With all the vines, we can regain control of the Central realms. Get them away from the Carmine. Take down the society and we save the realms,” Solomon said.

“And bring back the truth regarding arcane. It’s vital to maintain the balance of life,” Zephyr said.

“Yes, it is part of the balance,” Solomon said.

Others within the crowd agreed with Solomon and called out their agreement to the plan.

“Anyone who wishes to join in the battle, please speak with me. I am collating teams to assist the RASI,” Gray called out.

“Excuse me. Do you need someone to create portals to the other North realms?” a lady asked as she stepped forward. She twisted her black hair up in an elegant twist and secured it somehow. Her choice of clothing was simple traveling style. Her dark eyes sparkled.

“Tara, greetings. I thought I spotted you in the crowd,” Mac said. “Solomon, this is Doctor Tara Moreno. She’s brilliant with portals. I was going to ask for your assistance, Tara.”

“Greetings, Solomon. A pleasure to meet you,” Tara said.

“Same here. If you can help us, that would be wonderful. It could take a couple of days and multiple portals,” Solomon said.

“I can manage the trips. Do you have a preference where to begin?” Tara asked.

Mac handed over the list. “Start at the farthest realm and work our way back toward Central. Though we have another plan that will hopefully get us into Central.”

Tara studied the list. “I can manage this. Shall we go? We can leave from the portal station.”

“Yes, please,” Solomon said.

“Gray, we’re heading out,” Mac called out.

“See you near Central. Will know more when we hook up,” Gray called back with a wave.

Inside the portal station, Tara spun up a portal. “Let me step through first and speak with the locals. I’ll flash the colors to purple and you can step through. If it’s red, have someone shut the portal down.”

“Understood,” Mac said.

Tara disappeared through the portal and the color flashed to purple.

“Here we go,” Solomon said and stepped through to begin the next part of his journey. Luckily, now he had Mac at his side.