Tangled

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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.

manners. May I ask your full name?" Vanessa straightens in her chair, a small

was someone else with that name, but I

delta. Delta Ryder Thorn. You've met

She must be his sister.

what feels like ages now, and I didn't even know

my people and learn more about them, and I

family life and histories? Such things come out in time. Vanessa doesn't even talk that much 238 Ava:

no surprise she

was mated to Vester for ages. They don't show off their mating bond much in public,

is very different from many mated couples. Then again, as I think has been established several times now, Blackwood

to make your proper acquaintance, Healer Vanessa Thorn. And

Finley," he says, his voice gruff

on duty-which, right now, is literally

fair that I properly introduce myself as well. He stands, his massive frame seeming to fill the entire room. "I am Magister Orion, Grand Sorceror of

was important, but this sounds like a lot more than just some old man with an enthusiasm for human magic. It sounds awfully important

Vanessa asks, coming in clutch with the important questions. "I've heard of many terms now-magician, witch, wizards. Now we add sorcerer to

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 to the elements. Not all humans can access the elements, but some can.

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

tied to their magic from birth. We are attuned to the world around us. To nature. To the air we breathe. We cannot create from nothing, but we can encourage or manipulate what already exists. Fae cannot

from nothing, then how did you make this food appear?"

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

but my eyelids threaten to droop and leave me asleep

Ava: A History of

a struggle

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

much knowledge as possible about the magic taught by humans. And thus I am also a Magister. A teacher of magic. As a