After the Portals Opened (Aether Ascension Book 1) Read online

  I weaved through the crowds, enjoying sounds, smells, and the sights of people. The noise was a stark contrast to the dungeon and provided a sense of civilization. I leaned into that noise every time I left the dungeon. I used it to remind myself I survived another descent. My feet lead me down several streets and side paths to my favorite animal trainer’s shop.

  "Hi Zara," I said, pushing open the flimsy wooden door. Zara was sitting behind a large counter and didn't raise his head at my entrance or greeting. He was an older elf with Rapunzel-like white hair, although I would never tell him that. He wore loose leather pants and a clean white shirt. Tolkien hadn't been right about everything when it came to elves, but from what I had seen, he was right that they had pointy ears. He was also right that their skin was light, almost luminescent. Zara practically seemed to glow.

  Zara waived at me several moments after I entered the shop. He was focused on a small cage sitting on the counter. I walked up to the counter and saw the cage contained what looked like a tiger. Since the opening of the portals, you never assumed any animal was the same as before. The tiger-looking animal prowled its cage with authority, confident in its power and looking for anything that might disturb it. I was a bit concerned about how powerful it appeared, despite being only several inches in size.

  Cage was a bit of a misnomer. The cage was based on the same magic as my dimensional storage rings, only it was made for living creatures. The tiger creature’s cage was likely hundreds of meters in size on the inside, if not more. The tiger creature itself was likely a few thousand pounds of pure muscle. The dimensional spells shrank the habitat and tiger down to a manageable size.

  We were only able to observe the creature based on the magic of the cage. Zara’s shop contained hundreds of similar magic cages, allowing him to house hundreds of creatures and allowing the creatures huge spaces to live. Powerful ascenders would bond with the creatures and use them in climbs or dives.

  “I’ve got Doom Rabbits’ guts, meats, and furs to sell,” I told Zara.

  “Why do you bring this to me?” he responded. “Every day you hunt Doom Rabbits and other creatures that live on the first five levels. They are practically worthless, you know this.”

  "And just like I tell you every time you ask, it's practice," I replied. "I'm not going to make the same mistake as the people who came before me and die because I went lower before I was ready."

  This was an old argument we had at least once a week. Zara bought the Doom Rabbit parts from me because he used them as a treat for his animals, but only for a pittance of coins.

  “Five rabbits,” I told him.

  “Five copper,” he replied.

  Doom Rabbits were individually worth five coppers, including the core, Zara knew I always removed the core before selling the rabbits. It was the only thing he never told me I was doing wrong. That meant something, because usually when we discussed the dungeon, he told me I was doing a lot wrong.

  “I can hunt anything in the first five levels. Once Tobin delivers the book, I will start advancing my mental path. Then, and only then, will I descend deeper into the dungeon.”

  “Tobin is practically stealing from you,” Zara stated.

  “I know, but I want that book before I start down a path I can’t come back from. You grew up in a world of mana and aether. I didn’t. I’ve seen the mistakes other people made and I’m determined not to make them. Yes, I hate waiting and hate having to pay Tobin, but it’s better than making a stupid decision.”

  "You know that book might not even be right or contain the information you're looking for," he responded.

  “I’m willing to risk it. At least it gives me a starting point. Also, taking my time is what allowed me to buy the skill books on mana manipulation and meditation.”

  I sighed in frustration at having to explain myself again to Zara. It wouldn’t be so frustrating if I didn’t have this argument with myself nightly.

  “The truth is if this book doesn’t have the answers I won’t keep waiting. I find the answers in this book, or I find the answers by descending,” I said.

  “You should have just purchased imprint books instead of going on this search. You spent money on skill books that would have been better spent on imprint books. The skills you picked to learn should always be learned through imprint books. They are too dangerous to have learned through skills books,” Zara said quietly.

  Imprint books were magical tomes that allow the reader to instantly learn and grasp the book's knowledge. The level of knowledge learned was limited to the level of the imprint book. An imprint book on advanced swordsmanship would instantly teach a person how to use a sword up at an advanced level, whereas an imprint book on basic swordsmanship would instantly teach a person how to use a sword up to a basic level. All they needed to do was pick up a sword and they were ready to go after reading. There was no need for practice or training. Imprint books were only limited by the level of the book and the reader's own physical or mental abilities.

  A skill book on the other hand taught a person the theory and basics of the skill contained in the skill book. The reader then had to practice and use the knowledge contained in the book to learn the skill. A skill book on advanced swordsmanship would instantly teach the reader all the theories of advanced swordsmanship, how to hold a sword, the various striking and blocking positions, where to position their feet, strategy, etc. The difference was the reader then needed to pick up a sword and start practicing. The reader had to use the skill, grow in ability, and learn how to put the skill to use.

  There were countless theories about which type of magical tome was more beneficial. It came down to two theories. The theory that imprint books were better was based on the premise that the person instantly learned everything they needed, and there was no risk of learning incorrectly or miss understanding a basic skill. The theory that skill books were better was based on the premise that the reader learned the reasons behind actions in the skill and could apply those lessons in different situations outside of the specific skill.

  For example, if a person used an imprint book to learn how to wield a sword picked up an ax, they would not know how to use it. All the skills that person had were specific to using a sword. If a person used a skill book to learn how to wield a sword picked up an ax, they would not know how to use an ax, but the person could apply the principles they learned from the sword skill book. The skill book user would know where to plant their feet to get a good base, how to swing a blade to get the most power, and how to move while holding the ax, despite it being a different weapon.

  I had picked skill books partly because I believed they were superior to imprint books, but mainly because skill books were significantly more affordable. Doom rabbits did not bring in enough coins for me to spend extravagantly or retire a wealthy man.

  The skill book Beginner’s Mana Manipulation was how I learned to create mana bullets. I also learned to create physical shapes like the half-moon I used to dig up the flower.

  The skill book Beginner’s Meditation taught me to meditate. Meditation allowed mana users to refill their well more quickly. While meditating, individuals could better examine and grow their skills. Beginner’s Meditation also taught the skill of channeling mana. Channeling mana was the process of gathering ambient mana for use in spells, instead of pulling mana from a magician's well.

  “Those two skills books have given me a great start,” I told Zara.

  “Your dream of the Imperium - - “ Zara started, but I cut him off.

  “I know what it meant when I didn’t get accepted to the Imperium of Magic. I will never be a mage, but I can be an extremely dangerous sorcerer. I looked up every bit of information I could find on mages. If I could have been a mage, I obviously would have chosen that route and gone to the Imperium. The Imperium of Magic teaches its students about mana, how to manipulate the elements, how to use runes, and any other number of skills. An Imperium mage’s medallion opened doors I couldn’t even imagine.
But I didn’t get accepted and I’m not going to let that stop me from learning.”

  I always got frustrated when talking about the Imperium of Magic. Graduating from the Imperium of Magic school was the only way to become a mage. The Imperium of Magic ensured it had no competitors within the Empire that trained mages.

  When the Aldari family and the Empire came to Earth, the Imperium came as well. Well, the Imperium of Magic opened satellite campuses. The Imperium of Magic’s main campus was on the planet Zraka.

  The Imperium of Magic opened seven satellite campuses, one in the United States. I applied but didn’t get accepted. I contacted the school and they said there was nothing that I could do that would get me into the school or even get me considered. I had almost given up on magic when they crushed my dreams. I had since learned there were other schools for wizards and witches, but none of them were as good as the Imperium of Magic.

  I briefly considered following the physical path and becoming a warrior, but it never appealed. Most ascenders followed the warrior path, so there were hundreds of warrior molds to follow. I considered the subsets of knight, ranger, blade master, fencer, mauler, and even the rogue type. Nothing captured my mind or my heart. Even the subsets of warriors that tried to combine mana and might, such as spell blades or rune knights, didn’t interest me.

  I would become a sorcerer, a self-taught magician. It was the path I would walk.

  "Regardless of the Imperium, you should prepare yourself with skill books. The benefits of knowing a skill in and out far outweigh the risks," Zara said, trying again.

  "Thank you, Zara, but no," I said. Trying to change the subject, I asked him a question. "At some point, I'm going to visit Elizabeth's today. Any words of wisdom to win her over?"

  “Elizabeth, why are you going to visit her?” Zara asked as I turned to walk back towards his door.

  “I found a plant in the dungeon,” I answered. I stopped to show him the small white flower I found at the base of the tree. “It looks exactly like one of the plants she sells in her shop. I’m hoping she will buy it from me.”

  “A white lily,” Zara mused while looking at the plant. “I’m sure she will want to buy it. It might not be enough to buy a skill book, but it will be significantly more than you have been earning selling Doom Rabbits.”

  “Thanks,” I said on my way out.

  I left Zara’s and entered the large store next door. It was not Elizabeth’s shop; I was saving that visit for later. This shop was set up with three large counters shaped in a U. The counters all held the same things, small, almost jewelry-like boxes. Each box was open and held a dungeon creature’s core.

  Behind the counter was a small and squat dwarf, although I could only see his upper body. Theron stood at barely five feet and was almost half as wide. His skin was bronze, making him look like a metal statue. Whatever Theron lacked in height he made up for in muscle. It wasn't fat that stretched his body wide. Sadly, he didn't have a beard. It always disappointed me.

  “Hi Theron,” I said as I approached.

  “Hello Ethan,” Theron said in response, a high-pitched voice. He had an impressively high voice for his impressive short and squat stature.

  “I’m here to sell five Doom Rabbit cores,” I told him. I pulled the cores from my storage ring and held them out to him.

  “Every time you sell me junk cores,” he said, slowly shaking his head. “You are lucky I’m a generous dwarf. Most would not put up with the quality of cores you bring to sell in here.”

  “I know you are,” I humored him.

  We both knew that Theron would sell the junk cores to aspiring craftsmen. A junk core wasn’t worth much, but it was a great core for beginning craftsmen to use as practice.

  “Twenty copper,” he offered.

  “That’s insulting,” I responded. “Five cores are worth at least twenty-five.”

  “There is nothing insulting about it,” he replied. “I’m a businessman, I have to make a profit to feed my family.”

  “You are the best core supplier in this dungeon market, your family is well feed,” I said.

  Theron always discussed how he had to feed his family when negotiating, but never in any other context. I wasn’t sure if he actually had a family, or if just liked to pretend he did for better sales.

  “Twenty-three coppers,” I countered.

  “Twenty-three, you have a deal,” he grumbled.

  Theron deposited the cores in a cabinet behind the countered and held up the agreed-upon coins.

  "Thanks," I said and quickly left Theron's shop.

  He didn’t like to talk once a deal was done, or people who loitered in his ship. His shop was for business and business only. I tried to talk to him after completing a deal one time, and only one time. I would not make that mistake again.

  Elizabeth's shop was deeper into the market. I walked past some outdoor vendors displaying their wares and other small shop fronts. Elizabeth's alchemy shop looked like an old British pub from the outside. It was painted a dark green, with small glass windows and a rickety door.

  I stepped inside the shop and entered a different world. Elizabeth's shop took Apple's minimalistic look and perfected it. It was a simple square in design. The store had a counter at the back facing the door, and the two perpendicular walls were lined with shelves. The shelves were made from dark, rich wood.

  The two walls covered in shelves looked the exact same. On one side the shelves held four potions and only one potion of each kind. On the other side, the shelves held plants that were arranged identically. Four plants per shelf and never the same plant twice.

  The counter of the shop was manned by Brader. I had met Brader a handful of times, and each time I got the distinct impression he didn’t like me. Brader was a tall, bald human who was always dressed impeccably. I wasn’t sure if he was from Earth or if he was an off-worlder.

  “Hello Brader, how are you today?” I asked.

  One of the previous times I met Brader I tried to kill him with kindness. It hadn’t worked and only seemed to anger him more. I had since stopped trying to be his friend, but I was always nice to Brader after that because I enjoyed watching him get so angry.

  “You look nice,” I said before he could respond to my initial greeting.

  “What?” Brader responded.

  He hadn’t noticed me when I walked in, engrossed in a book on the counter. He took a moment and realized what I said. His eyes widened with the realization that I had complimented him.

  “Why are you here?” he barked.

  “Where did you get your outfit? I like your style,” I asked, ignoring his question. Angering Brader was a small joy, but I took immense pleasure in it.

  “Do you think I could pull off a similar look?” I questioned.

  I twisted myself sideways while looking Brader up and down. Brader was wearing an Earth suit vest and matching nice pants. He was dressed to impress and did so.

  “That’s enough,” came from behind Brader.

  Elizabeth stepped out from behind a wooden door on the same side of the counter as Brader.

  “As much as I enjoy your visits Ethan, you need to stop antagonizing Brader,” Elizabeth said.

  Elizabeth was an athletic, five-foot tall off-world human, dressed in a simple pair of pants and a nice blouse. She had short brown hair that touched her shoulder tops. Despite her friendly appearance, I found her absolutely terrifying. I had never seen her so much as frown or speak ill of someone, but I was thoroughly terrified. I had no idea why I was so scared of her. I didn’t ever want to find out why I was so scared either.

  “I just thought Brader looked good,” I answered Elizabeth. I had trouble restraining myself when it came to Brader, he was just so much fun to piss off. “But I actually came in here today looking for you Elizabeth. I found this in the dungeon.”

  I showed Elizabeth the small white flower that I found in the dungeon. It had survived the brief trip from the dungeon to Elizabeth’s shop in my po
uch.

  "An average white lily grown in a dungeon," Elizabeth stated, taking the plant from me and looking at it closely.

  “I wasn’t sure the best way to transport it, so I tried to keep as much dirt around its roots as I could,” I informed her.

  “Not the best way to transport a plant,” Elizabeth informed me. “But you could have done worse.”

  She did not deign to tell me what a better way to transport the plant was. Instead, she continued to look closely at the plant. I noticed a small amount of mana passing between Elizabeth and the plant. I was not talented enough to tell who the mana was coming from, but I assumed Elizabeth was inspecting the plant with more than her eyes.