Chapter 12 - The mage and the Candles

  Low lit flame danced on the candles wick. Like a flash it was there and gone only for it to reappear again , dancing in a game of light and shadow.

  The three candles lit every room of my home. It was an imitation of a a mini sun lit environment , something I enjoyed viewing when I came home .

  Except , I thought walking into my living room , this .

  It was to the right of a large double seater bean bag , above a poster that showed three idols , adjacent to a katana with a hilt shaped into a frog. It dripped with access color , so much so that it illuminated the low lit room .

  It was a pentagon. A magical circle of protection sealed via paper and slapped on the wall with a light glue also provided . When I peered closer into the fine lines I could see the crystal bounce of the inscribed crystalline magic jewel that was threaded and inscribed with lines of protection magic .

  Or so Dana had said .

  I sat deep into my bean bag chair, reclining, the memory of an hour earlier settiling upon me . Yes , the way I sat now was just like then , the only difference was that cushion was like -

  “Your cushions are leather Dana. “

  Dana shuffled a stack of cards loosely her seemingly delicate fingernails tapping them into the counter bouncing them twice thrice and more, then shuffling them out in neat little piles .

  She eyed them carefully before deciding on a stack of eight second from the left. She scooped up the cards , paired them with two cups of tea , and placed them on a silver tray she carried with her.

  “Do you have a problem with leather couches ?”

  “No , I just thought it worth mention.”

  On a small stool went the tray . On the other side of the couch went Dana .

  “Honey right ? “

  “Two scoops . “

  “So greedy One. As usual . “

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  ‘Drop. Drop.’

  “Thank you.”

  “Of course. “

  I took a small sip of the tea then reached down for the stack of cards. On it we’re different images , complex and simple of gadgets she had devised.

  “Any of those your type ?”

  I scrolled through the eight cards and upon finding one shaped like a shield I tossed it down.

  Dana pouted . “Really , not one of the fun ones ?” She flipped over a card of a beetle.

  “No , “ I said shaking my head . “I still have a few shots left. “I just need an item that’ll let me sleep peacefully tonight. “

  Dana went from a pout to a thoughtful gaze , “I know just the thing.”

  She went behind her main counter and pulled out a drawer on the bottom left, her fingers wrapped around a rectangular disc she decided to bring back.

  “This , is a sonic defense spell.”

  She stood in front of me and placed the spell to the left. “Spell, attack enemy.”

  ‘WuvWuvWuvWuvWuvWeeeeeee!’

  The magic star hummed five times before letting off a blast of vibration that seemed to implode the air.

  “Enough. “ Dana spoke.

  With a whirr the sound tapered off.

  “Cool , no? “ she said jostling the pentagon . “It can recognize the sounds of an intruder and send imploding waves at them . Should be perfect for you. “

  It was . It was also a crazy thing to have on hand . “Thanks.” I took the pentagon out of her outstretched hand and placed ten silver on the tray, a number that had been written on the back of the card.

  Dana whistled when she saw the size of my money pouch .

  “….Ya know , if you have the extra coin , I’d recommend something else as well. “

  “Oh yea , what’d ya have in mind?”

  Dana disappeared behind the counter and came back with a small box wrapped in gift wrap. She placed it upon the tray and opened the lid slightly so I could see within .

  My eyes bugged out .

  “Holy……..shit.”

  “For a man who runs into trouble as much as you, it should come in handy . “

  I looked over the contents for a while. “I'll take it.”

  Gently the lid was closed.

  “Will that be all , One? “

  I finished the rest of my tea. Actually no, there was one last thing , I need. “

  “Really.” Dana said surprised. “What per se?”

  “Is there any chance , you'd have a grimoire. “

  Dana smiled , “I knew I liked you, One. “

  The memory faded as I sneezed from the evening air.

  I was tired, much too tired to reminisce. Sheesh , I had a double date tomorrow too with my buddies' criminal girlfriend who he had rescued from the ax and her friend. …… Hopefully the friend would be cute.

  With a yawn I fell deeply into my large bean bag deciding this would be resting place for the night, but not before grabbing a small black book with silver words.

  The grimoire for Magic Conduits and Circuits.

  It would be hours before I slept.