Hi everyone,
I'm back for the next chapter. I sincerely didn't think this story would attract so many people with only its first chapter since it was only a mere introduction to the story. Thanks to all those who have started following me, or added the story to their favorite list. I didn't think this would feel this good to have my work appreciated (even if it's only a handful of readers, it's way more than I expected).
Sorry I think I got a little too carried away with this introduction so let's have a recap and dive into this new chapter.
Previously on Any- and Everything:
Eleanor explained to Riley that she is a genie and he was her master. Basically, she's compelled to: answer all his questions without any lies or loopholes; follow every direct order; grant him any wish he desires with a limit of three per day. He quickly gathered enough information with which he managed to grant her freedom while still benefiting from the power of her wishes. After that, Riley went back home. Once alone, Eleanor realized that the few wishes Riley have made had set her horny. After relieving herself from the pressure, she also realized that she started to fantasize about Riley. Meanwhile, a character named Mike made his appearance and swore to make Eleanor his.
What is Riley up to at his house? How can Eleanor explain her new attraction to Riley? Will Mike already set his evil plans in motion?
Let's discover the answers in...
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Chapter 3: A Quite Innocent Goodbye Kiss
Unaware of what was happening in Eleanor's room, Riley made his way toward his home. If you ever could call an empty house a home, that is. The walk to his front door from Eleanor's bedroom window wasn't too long and before he even knew it, he was walking through the doorstep. When inside, the usual loneliness that was tied to the place hit him in the face.
Riley had the luck of living a good life as a kid. He was blessed of having two loving parents. He was an only child though. While his parents had the intention of gifting him with a little sibling, he, unfortunately, hadn't the chance of seeing it happen. The first incident was the one to blame. 'Incident', what an odd name to give to one of your parent's death.
At the age of seven, his father passed away in a car accident. His mother and he only made it alive by pure luck: they weren't in the car when the accident happened. His father was supposed to pick them both up after they spent the afternoon in the town's library. When they realized he was several minutes late, they didn't worry: 'the sun is not hurried by early riser', that was his saying. They both assumed he was caught up by something and didn't want to catch up by breaking the speed limit.
It only added to the horror when they found out the truth. About thirty minutes later, a few policemen and some paramedics informed them that, unfortunately, his father wouldn't be able to pick him up at all.
From what he understood, another driver didn't apply his father's saying to the letter. He had jumped a red light and hit his father's car in the side, right at the driver's seat door. He was killed on the spot.
To make matters worst, her mother had turned catatonic from the shock. Although he was seven years old, he was still smart enough to guess that he would be taken away from her if the child protection services knew. He pretended she was very sick and took care of her and the house while she was (mentally) gone. After around three months, she came to her senses and apologized deeply to her son for letting him bear such responsibilities at his young age.
From then, she tried to give him as much care and love as a single parent could give. The trial they were getting through strengthened their bonds in the end.
When he was twelve, as he just started to recover from his father's disappearance, the second 'incident' came: His mother was diagnosed with lung cancer.
She had hidden from him that she was smoking after his father's death. However, she had taken the diagnosis as an incentive to stop her unhealthy habit. She did not succumb to despair and had fought with every bit of her strength to protect her son from bearing responsibilities that did not suit his young age. She even managed to slightly recover from the disease to the point that two years later, she could safely try and remove the deadly cells by surgery. The operation was a success. While they couldn't cut out all the rebellious tissues, they took out the most advanced parts and the few remaining ones became dormant.
Until yet another year...
When he was fifteen, his mother's disease came back with a vengeance, and they quickly grew out of any affordable treatments for middle-class citizens.
She eventually passed on when he was sixteen. After the burial, he asked his aunt and godmother to stay independent. While reluctant at first, she understood that he was two years from adulthood and very capable to take care of himself. She agreed that he could stay at his current house, with the express condition that he would call her every day and that they would meet every weekend to keep in touch.
Two months ago, he turned eighteen and became officially independent. He still kept in touch with his aunt though and she still made sure he didn't lack of anything.
After a few seconds of this recollection, Riley sat down on the couch of his living room. He tried to gather his thoughts and decide what to do now. As he just learned that magic exists, now he wanted to explore and practice what this new world had to give. His main problem was that he couldn't just rush blindly without knowing what was ahead of him. He needed some kind of a guide, like a database in order to understand what he could encounter.
Eleanor's ability to answer any question once asked could be useful in that matter, but he was determined to not compel her to join him on his quest. He had thought about it at Eleanor's place and during his walk back. The answer laid in something he was used to by now: a book, more precisely a
Guidebook
.
However, he didn't want a book that could explain everything right away. The idea had come to his mind when thinking of an old video game he used to play, where a little dragon traveled through different worlds and his guidebook could only give information on one of those worlds when discovered. He wanted a similar thing here, he would first have to encounter the magical topic he needed information about before having its knowledge stored.
This was a safety measure to make sure he wouldn't stay shut-in and pass his time reading again.
Having made his decision, he walked toward one of his bookshelves. There he spotted a large, hardcover book that featured the story of a random fiction he had read several times. While not the best read of his life, it was still decent, but he thought that this book looked the closest to how he pictured his
Guidebook
.
He closed his eyes and focused on what he wanted from this book. "I wish this book would store any knowledge about magic as I encounter them." He felt grateful that he didn't need to be too precise with the words since his intentions mattered more.
As he opened his eyes, he saw that the original red cover had turned brown. All titles, pictures, or any text had been replaced by a large '
Guidebook
' title at the center of the cover. As he skimmed through the pages he noticed that it was empty for now, as he expected, except for the first page that acted as a kind of a preface about magic. Since he already discovered that magic existed, he wasn't surprised to have a page that gathered general information about magic. It read:
Preface
If you skim through this book, it means that you learned recently that magic existed. This page will gather what you need to know as an introduction to magic in general.
Let's start with a clear definition of what magic is. While the term had been used with several different meanings throughout history, the most precise way to describe it would be: Any actions performed with the use of the natural energy that flows from every being's very soul. While having different names, the most reckoned for this energy is mana.
Although, some species are tied to using this energy in a specific way (djinns for example), most (like humans) can channel and model it to fit their needs. This led to the existence of different categories of magic, each tied to a way to expel the mana stored inside the body.
The first step to handling magic is to learn to identify mana. In order to feel the mana flowing through your organism, you must remain perfectly still for an extended period of time. By repeating the process several days in a row, you should be able to correctly identify the flow of the mana inside your body. You will know you have achieved your training when you will manage to feel your mana even when in motion.
By that time you will be ready to channel your mana in order to generate magic. The way you use it will determine which magic category you belong to, although one mage can wield different magic types.
After this introduction, it's up to you to discover what are these magic types, and how to channel your mana to use them. Be aware, as a final warning, that mana incarnates the very essence of your soul, and the more you use it, the more drained you will become, which can further lead to your ultimate demise. That is the price to pay for every mage.
Well then, good luck and have fun!
After reading this, Riley's mind was set. His main objective would be to discover all magic types and learn to wield them all, one by one. Riley then closed the book and put it aside.
He tried to assimilate what he just read when a foul smell caught his nose. Investigating closer he realized that his fight with Bradley was not without a sweat. Not so incredible since he nearly died back then.
Deciding he deserved some rest & relaxation time, he went to fill his bathroom's tub. When he had the water at the right level and temperature he closed the faucet and sink into the warm calming liquid. 'Hey, maybe a nymph will appear in the tub' he joked to himself now that he knew magical creatures existed (yes, he'd read erotic books too).
While relaxed he let his mind wander over the events of the night. In less than an hour, he beat the crap out of Bradley, nearly died, discovered that Eleanor was a genie (and furthermore his now), and more than once he surprised himself at feeling attracted to her.
If he wanted to be honest with himself, he had felt an attraction toward Eleanor the first time he saw her. After all, she was one of the most beautiful girls in the school, with average size, blonde hair, slightly tanned skin, and electric blue eyes (well gold now, but still quite hypnotic). He quickly brushed those aside though. Given her haughty, proud behavior, and groups of acquaintances at the time, he figured (and was right back then) that she wasn't interested. He knew better than to obsess over a woman he didn't even know.
