Chapter 16
The next morning, Chad found himself back in Professor Emerson's study, this time accompanied by Brianna and Bas.
The room seemed different somehow, as if the very air was charged with anticipation.
Sunlight streamed through the stained-glass windows, casting colorful patterns across the worn wooden floor.
Emerson paced before the fireplace, his silver hair wild and his light blue eyes gleaming with an intensity Chad had never seen before. Bas stood by the window, her emerald robes shimmering in the sunlight, her gaze fixed on something only she could see.
"It's time," Emerson said, his voice carrying a weight that made Chad's breath catch. "Time for you to understand the full scope of what we're facing, and the role you must play."
Bas turned from the window, her piercing green eyes locking onto Chad. "The visions are becoming clearer and more urgent. We can no longer afford the luxury of gradual training."
Chad felt a chill run down his spine at her words. He glanced at Brianna, who gave him a reassuring nod.
Emerson stopped pacing and fixed Chad with an intense gaze. "What we're about to tell you may seem impossible, even in light of what you've already learned. But I need you to listen with an open mind, and more importantly, an open heart."
Chad nodded, steeling himself. "I'm ready."
Emerson took a deep breath before speaking. "The Library of Congress is more than just a repository of knowledge, Chad. It's a nexus point - a place where the fabric of reality is thin, where the barriers between worlds can be breached."
Chad's eyes widened in disbelief. "Worlds? As in... other dimensions?"
Emerson nodded gravely. "Precisely. The library sits atop a convergence of ley lines— channels of magical energy that crisscross the Earth. This makes it a place of immense power, but also vulnerability."
Bas stepped forward, her voice low and intense. "For centuries, the library has been protected by a secret order of magical guardians. They've kept the barriers strong, preventing incursions from other realms. But now, those barriers are weakening."
"And let me guess," Chad said, a sinking feeling in his stomach. "I'm supposed to help strengthen them somehow?"
Brianna squeezed his hand. "Not exactly. Your role is... different."
Emerson stroked his beard thoughtfully. "You see, Chad, the weakening of the barriers isn't a natural occurrence. It's being caused by a group that calls itself the Aether Pirates."
Chad felt a chill run down his spine at the ominous name. "Who are they? What do they want?"
Bas's eyes flashed dangerously. "We think they are a cult of dark magic practitioners who believe that by breaking down the barriers between worlds, they can gain unimaginable power.
They seek protected magical artifacts to plunge our world into chaos, to reshape reality itself according to their twisted vision. "
"And they're targeting the Library of Congress because...?" Chad prompted, though he feared he already knew the answer.
"Because it's the lynchpin," Brianna explained. "If they can breach the barriers there, at such a powerful nexus point, it could create a chain reaction that would weaken barriers all over the world. It would be catastrophic."
Chad felt his head spinning with the enormity of what he was hearing. "Okay, so we need to stop these Aether Pirates. But what does this have to do with me specifically? I'm not a magical guardian or a powerful witch."
Emerson and Bas exchanged a meaningful look before Emerson spoke. "You, Chad, have a unique ability that we believe is crucial to stopping the Aether Pirates. Your growing psychometric and clairvoyant abilities are just the beginning. We believe you have the potential to become a Word Wizard."
"A what?" Chad asked, baffled.
"A Word Wizard," Emerson repeated, his eyes shining with excitement. "It's an incredibly rare ability, even among magical practitioners. A Word Wizard has the power to shape reality through the power of words alone."
Chad blinked, trying to process this information. "Shape reality... with words? Like spells? What does that even mean?"
Brianna leaned forward, her expression earnest. "It means that when you write or speak with intention, your words can literally change the world around you. Create shields, open portals, even alter the fabric of reality itself. It’s more powerful than spells. At least for you."
"But that's..." Chad trailed off, shaking his head in disbelief.
"Impossible?" Bas finished for him, a hint of amusement in her voice. "I thought we were past that word, Professor Patterson."
Chad ran a hand through his hair, feeling overwhelmed. "Okay, let's say I believe this Word Wizard thing is real. How am I supposed to learn to use this power in time? The Aether Pirates aren't going to wait around while I figure out how to— what, write reality into submission?"
Emerson's eyes twinkled. "That's where your training comes in. The exercises in the Compendium of Clairvoyant Practices aren't just about developing your psychic abilities. They're also designed to awaken and strengthen your latent powers."
"And you'll have help," Brianna added, squeezing Chad's hand reassuringly. "I'll be working with you.”
Bas nodded solemnly. "The entire League will be supporting you, Chad. But make no mistake… your role is crucial. And you’re going to need to take a sabbatical to get up to speed in time.”
“That’s a relief. I’ve had a hard time preparing lessons, teaching, and grading, alongside my own studies. I imagine you’ll approve this temporary leave, Dr. Emerson?”
Emerson nodded, a hint of a smile on his face. "Of course. I've already spoken with the dean. As far as the university is concerned, you're taking a sabbatical to work on a groundbreaking research project. Which, in a way, is true."
Chad let out a breath he'd been holding. "Okay. So, what's next? How do we start this... Word Wizard training?"
Bas stepped forward, producing a small, ornate box from within her robes. "We start with this," she said, opening the box to reveal a sleek fountain pen that seemed to shimmer with an inner light.
"This pen," Bas explained, "is imbued with ancient magic. It will help focus and amplify your nascent Word Wizard abilities as you learn to control them."
Chad reached out hesitantly, feeling a slight tingling in his fingers. Was that the pen? Or was it his nerve endings quivering with fear?
“How will I know if I’m about to make a mistake? I could word something in a way that could be misinterpreted, couldn’t I? The English language is full of double meanings.”
“You’ll practice with a good old-fashioned pencil first,” Brianna said, smiling. “You can run your practice spells by me before you commit to anything with that pen and parchment. Before you know it, you won’t need anyone to double check your wording.”
Chad cocked his head to the side. “Let me guess… You’re not really a CPA, are you?”
Brianna laughed. “Actually, I am. When I moved from Massachusetts to New York, I gave it up to work for the L.A.W. full time, but that includes keeping their books.”
“And thank the Goddess for that,” Bas said. “What a pain in the ass that was for me.”
Hearing the powerful witch use a crude expression brought a sense of normalcy and a welcome bit of comic relief. Chad couldn’t help the smile that stole across his face.
Later that evening, Chad sat on his bed, knees up, holding his lap desk, staring at the blank sheet of paper before him.
The magical fountain pen Bas had given him lay untouched beside it.
He'd been practicing with regular pencil and paper for days now, under Brianna's watchful eye, but this was different. This was real.
"You can do this," Brianna said softly from her perch on the edge of his bed. "Just start small, like we practiced."
Chad nodded, taking a deep breath. He picked up the pen, feeling the tingle of energy coursing through his fingers. Slowly, deliberately, he wrote:
"No air in the room stays still and warm." He expected a cool breeze.
As the last word left the pen, Chad felt a subtle shift. The faint sounds of traffic outside faded away, and a noticeable chill settled over the room. His eyes widened in amazement when he suddenly realized he couldn’t breathe. “Air!” he gasped. “Need air!”
Brianna nodded and pointed to the pen.
He wrote, “Let there be air,” feeling very foolish for wording it as if he were God, and for getting the wording wrong in the first place.
A gust of air blew through the room, and both of them inhaled deeply. “I’m never going to master this…” Chad wailed. “I had expected cool air to circulate.”
“You will. This is why we’re practicing.”
Chad slumped back against the headboard, feeling deflated. "I almost suffocated us, Bri. How am I supposed to stop interdimensional invaders if I can't even control the air in my own bedroom?"
Brianna scooted closer, placing a comforting hand on his knee. "Hey, don't be so hard on yourself. This is incredibly advanced magic you're dealing with. The fact that you made anything happen at all is amazing."
Chad sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I guess. It's just... the stakes are so high. What if I mess up when it really matters?"
"Again… That's why we practice," Brianna said. "Look, why don't we try something a little less vital? Something that can't accidentally kill us if it goes wrong?"
Despite himself, Chad chuckled. "Good idea. Any suggestions?
She sighed. “Let’s call it a night. I think you need to relax, and I need to get back to the mansion on Long Island to prepare for the Imbolc sabbat.”
“The what?”
“Imbolc.” She rose from her spot on the bed and strolled to him. “It’s a minor pagan holiday compared to others, but the L.A.W. coven celebrates them all.” She smiled, bent down and kissed him.
Chad felt a warmth spread through him at Brianna's kiss, momentarily pushing aside his worries about his newfound abilities. When they parted, he looked up at her with a mix of affection and curiosity.