Tangled

Unshift 238

Unshift 238

238 Ava: A History of Magic

"That makes sense. Finished with my vegetables-all crunchy and drowning in garlic, which. seems to be a favorite Fac flavor-I attack the first steak on my plate. It looks similar to chicken, and has some sort of thick layer of cheese melted over it.

Once it enters my mouth, I have to bite back a groan.

Delicious.

Everything I eat here is good. I need to ask Magister Orion about learning how to create food. out of nowhere, but I'm too busy shoveling the food in my mouth to ask something so practical. Besides, I'm not able to replicate the magic anyway.

Later.

I'm definitely going to learn it later.

It would really come in handy.

"When we introduce ourselves, we rarely include our family names. It is always our full name and title, if we have one. You humans have both names as your identity, and so we often use them. If it bothers you, I can always call you by your short name."

"It doesn't bother me at all, I assure him, stabbing into another bite. "If you use titles, I should probably mention that Vanessa is a Healer in the Westwood Pack." But I can't remember her last

name.

What's her last name? Shit, I'm a terrible person. I'm pretty sure she introduced herself with her full name when we first met. Then again, I was pretty out of it.

Still.

I should know this.

in my manners. May I ask your full

feel like there was someone else with that

mate's delta. Delta Ryder Thorn. You've met

must be his

now, and I didn't even know she had a brother/ cousin/something who works with Lucas

to my people and learn

a thousand questions about their family life and histories? Such things come out in time. Vanessa doesn't even talk that much 238

no surprise she doesn't talk about

my chest. That's right. I didn't even know she was mated to Vester for ages. They don't show off

can tell she loves him deeply, but their relationship is very different from many mated couples. Then again, as

Healer Vanessa Thorn. And you, sir?" He turns to Marcus, who's been quietly observing our

Finley," he says, his voice gruff but respectful. "Just Marcus is

not one for unnecessary words. Especially when he's on duty-which, right now, is literally every hour

properly introduce myself as well. He stands, his

I'm holding clatters to my plate. Grand Sorcerer? I knew Magister Orion was important, but this sounds like a lot more than just some old man with

"I've heard of many terms now-magician, witch, wizards. Now

intimidating-sounding rank. "Sorcerers are Fae who have also manifested as a wizard. Also known as witches, or magicians. Over thousands of years, many names have come about for humans with magic. Illusionist, arcanist, shaman. While every school of magic focused and taught in different specialties, the core of human magic is always the same. It comes from within, an innate magic that has deep ties

and human magic, then?" Vanessa's forgotten all about her food, leaning over the table as she

birth. We are attuned to the world around us. To nature. To the air we breathe. We cannot create from nothing, but

did you make this food

asking the questions my sluggish brain can't come up with, too over-awed by the

eyelids threaten to

A History of

a struggle to stay

that is why I am the Grand Sorcerer," Magister Orion says with a smile. "I have manifested. human magic. It isn't impossible for Fae, as we already have a core of magic within us. But it is incredibly rare. There

magic taught by humans. And thus I am also a Magister. A teacher of magic. As a Grand Sorcerer, I am the bridge between the human and Fae worlds for magical affairs. As Magister, I am the bridge between humans and their magic." Then he laughs, a big, booming sound