An Unexpected Wakening

Artifacts of the Arcane by Jake Kerr, Book three, The Cup of jam Sheet, Chapter four. An unexpected wakening. Unlike the night before, I fell into the most wonderful dream. I was sitting with my father, my grandfather, and my great grandfather in Park Monceaux, near the lake. We were having a lunch, and while no one said anything, everything was just peaceful. I didn't have the staff and I didn't have the coat. It was just us. My father had died, my grandfather and great grandfather were estranged, and I was on an important mission. So it was, of course just a dream. So I cherished us being together, my father smiling at me with pride, my great grandfather looking philosophical, and the wind blowing through my grandfather's hair, the four of us just enjoying being together as a family. It was an impossibility that hurt my heart, even as the dream filled me with joy. I once again looked at my father sitting next to me. When a piece of the sky fell in my lap, I looked at my great grandfather, Joseph. There's no peace for our family, is there? At that point, the sun filled my entire vision with a bright, warm light. The park began to fade replaced with a fuzzy vision of my hotel room exploding around me. Sharts of wood flew past me or stopped inches from me, the coat protecting me. It was only after I sat up and looked at the entrance to my room that I noticed it was a huge hole leading to the corridor. My grogge mind finally realized what was happening. I was under attack. There was a group of perhaps ten Germans standing or kneeling in the hall, firing machine guns and casting spells. From the damage that surrounded me, I was sure that somewhere another soldier was restocking a bazukat a cause even greater damage. Taking stock of the situation was difficult. The ceiling had collapsed, with furniture strown around me, including a sofa which tumbled from above to the base in my bed. Bullet holes covered everything, and it was at that point that I looked at my legs and torso could the non magical weapons be so powerful as to hurt me? Of course not. The bomb hadn't hurt Anastasia, and the Bazukah and clapp ceiling didn't hurt me. I slid off the bed and stood up I was in my pajamas, so any attempt to look intimidating was a lost cause. But I still wore the coat and I had the staff. I held it up and created a bright light, almost blinding, but not quite. The soldiers and magicians shielded their eyes, and I slowly walked toward them with a feeling of calm. It wasn't the calmness born of having overwhelming power over someone. It was knowing that I didn't need to have power over them, as they could not affect me at all. I looked at one magician who was calling up some kind of devastating spell, and smiled at him. He looked confused and scared. You know you can't hurt me. The sound of the machine guns ineffectively firing bullets that fell at my feet made it difficult to be heard. So I swung my staff, indicating the four soldiers holding guns, and raised my voice stop that The men glanced at each other and then lowered their weapons. There were five magicians, and it appeared that one was weaving a shield while the others were prepping spells. You cannot hurt me, you know this. Leave now before I'm forced to do something. I don't want to do. At that point, I heard a door slam in the distance, Naomi, I thought. I rushed forward, pulled the magical blade from the cane that disguised the staff, and sliced through the magician's shields. They scrambled back as I walked through their midst and turned to the door leading to Naomi's room. It was closed, but there were scorch marks on the carpeting in front of the room. I turned the soldiers and magicians go and seared their eyes with a painful light. They stumbled away from me as I ran to Naomi's room. I tried the door, but it was locked. I pounded on it, Naomi. I was going to pound on the door again when it flew open. Naomi stood in front of me, an angry scowl on her face, her golden hair loose and flowing behind her shoulders and over the front of her black dress. Are you okay? Her eyes looked past me and into the hall as she stepped into the doorway. I'm fine, she shoved past me. Her hands were already glowing with detonation spells. I was about to tell her that everything was okay when she cast both of the spells down the hall. I turned to see a man groaning on the ground. Naomi, what are you doing? I grabbed her shoulder, slapping my hand away. Naomi turned me, her face full of anger. Saving you? Or did you you missed the cavernous hole in the wall leading to your room? Naomi, listen. I grabbed the lapel of the coat and tugged it forward. I can't be hurt. You don't need to save me. Naomi looked like I'd punched her in the stomach. The magic in her hands snuffed out as she lowered them, and she turned away. I couldn't see her face, but her voice was clear after she cleared her throat. Well, sign, mister indestructible. But did you think that maybe the other residents in the hotel may not like having bullets whizzing into their rooms and explosions caving in their ceilings or collapsing their floors. The Nazis fled, I don't think we need to worry about that. Without looking at me, Naomi marched down the hall toward the elevator. She didn't look back as she. Spoke, we don't need to worry about that now, But what about next time? Naomi. She ignored me and turned the corner toward the elevators, but from the distance she yelled out. Don't worry straight, I'll take care of them. Who holed my eyes and suppressed a scream. Would she ever be able to control her temper? I knew better than to go stop her, though, best to get Iggy and prepare to leave, dragging her along when things were ready, while threatening to leave her behind if she wanted to run around chasing Nazi magicians. A few steps and I was knocking on Iggy's door. He opened it almost immediately. Iggy, did you hear the explosions and noise? I was under attack? He looked utterly unconcerned. I did. Why didn't you come out to help? I couldn't believe he just stayed in his room while I was under attack Because you wheeled the coat, Any attack on you will fail. I couldn't help but laugh. Well, that's true, but I still would have liked to see you. Iggy didn't reply, so I dressed the matter at hand. Can you get the car ready? We need to get away. Naomi is ready to blow up Paris, and I think it would be best for us to put some distance between us and anyone wanting to follow, for their sake as much as ours. I smiled at my joke regarding Naomi's temper and power, but Higgy just nodded. The car will be out front in thirty minutes. I will bring the bags and meet you there. Okay, I'll go and try to track down Naomi. It should be too hard. All I have to do is listen for the explosions. That is true. I'll get our supplies. He turned and left me without another word, closing the door behind him. I walked down the hall, but couldn't hear any explosions. I knew that Naomi would rush to the front of the hotel, or wherever she thought she could find enemy magicians or soldiers, so I took the elevator down to the lobby where I expected her to be. The door opened and I was greeted by the warm glow of the chandelier in a quiet room, marked by the night clerk half asleep on his elbow. Naomi was nowhere to be seen, and there were no scorch marks or broken furniture that would indicate her passing. I strode across the lobby, glancing left and right, and then out the front door. The night was dark and quiet. In the distance, I thought I heard a horse, but it could have just been a random night sound. The hotel had an expansive front lawn, and the lanterns that lined the front entry walk were bright and cheerful. Again, it didn't look like the scene of a magic battle between Naomi and a member of the Brotherhood of Saturn. I was tempted to call out Naomi's name when it hit me that it was much more likely that the Nazis would have gathered in the rear of the hotel, where they would have been able to operate without being seen. I took the long walk around the hotel, and when I reached the rear, I was once again faced with a calm Parisian scene. I did see what looked like cars moving in the distance, but they were moving away from me. Those must be the Nazis. I appeared toward the now departing vehicles to see if Naomi had tried to chase them, or to see if there were flashes of spells, but I saw nothing. The quiet, while seemingly normal, made me nervous. How could the German magicians have just disappeared, and where was Naomi? I started to worry that they had captured her and were driving off with her as a captive. My heart fell. What if the Germans had decided to force me to trade the coat and staff from Naomi's return. My fear that it had already occurred made me turn and rush toward the hotel. My only thought to get Iggy in the car and chase after the Nazis who held Naomi prisoner. I was at the rear door of the hotel when I heard a voice calling my name, well not exactly my name, street light. I turned over so much relief that I had to take a deep breath to stop from saying something stupid. She was safe. Naomi, you look like you just left a meeting with Cain. She smirked, knowing that there was no one that made me more miserable than Kin more like I'm annoyed. I had to track you down. I turned back toward the hotel, hoping that my tone would let her know that it was not a game. We had to flee the ho hotel as who knew when the Nazis would attack again. Diggy has the car ready at the front of the hotel. We should get going. Naomi skipped up next to me, and I couldn't help but glance at her. She was ignoring me, ultimately casting a ball of light in her hand and snuffing it out. Rather than say anything, I walked in silence, watching and wondering if she would ever make up her mind to let the light just remain. Iggy stood at the end of the walk leading to the entrance to the hotel. A shiny black sedan with its engine running was waiting at the curb. The driver was tossing our bags into the trunk. Higgy stood impassively. As we approached nice car. Iggy looked over the vehicle. Did you have to break any bones to get it? I slapped Naomi's shoulder, but she just smiled wider. No. I bribed the driver with a month's wages to drive us. So no violence. I glared at Naomi. It was not necessary. Can we just get going. An hour later, the car had reached the outskirts of Paris. I could see the dim light of the approaching dawn, giving the green hills and dappled fields a warm glow. The driver, who had been quiet the entire drive, suddenly said something in French. Iggy replied, and the driver's face changed to alarm. What is it? He asked how much further? And I replied that we were going to Germany. I was rather shocked. I did not expect a driver to take us all the way to Germany, even for a month's wages. Clearly Iggy did. However, I don't think that's realistic, Iggy. Yes it is, Tommy. The road is clear the entire way, and the French military is focused on the other side of the border. It should not be difficult for this car to make it that far, although we will need to stop for fuel a few times. Naomi chuckled, that's not what I meant. Iggy. The driver could get fired from his job. He probably borrowed the car, expecting to return it at the end of the day with some kind of story that would save his job or at least keep him out of prison. He did not say that to me. Iggy turned to the driver and then spoke in French. The driver nodded his head. It appears you are correct, Tommy. However, we do not have transportation arranged other than this car. Ask him how much it would cost to drive us to Germany. Before Ady said anything, the driver was shaking his head back and forth. Iggy plowed forward anyway. The driver answered Iggy, which led to his six inc comment. Of he says he's going to stop within the next hour, and he won't go further. A deep red, glowing ball appeared in Naomi's hand. Before I could tell her to stop, she shoved her hand into the front of the car, near the driver's face. If you don't drive us to Germany, I just may have to cast this at you. The driver didn't flinch after glancing at Naomi's hand. Iggy tell him what I just said. Iggy repeated the words in French, and the driver glanced again at Naomi's hand and shrudk uged. To my surprise, Naomi slowly pulled her hand back and closed it into a fist, snuffing out the spell that she had prepared. Her face was blank. She didn't look angry, but I sensed that something was wrong. Before I could say anything, she turned to me. Did you see that? What? He didn't realize that I was holding a spell near his face that could incinerate him from the inside out. It's how the world is Tommy Magic is dying. It's practically dead. Her eyes were intense as she stared at me. It's why I have to destroy things. There are no subtle threats with magic anymore. You can't threaten someone with magic when the person doesn't even know it exists. It's not like that, Naomi. Look at the German wizards, Look at the magic and Park Monceaux. Look at us heading to Germany to free Lady Dragon. Magic is everywhere. Don't be blind, Tommy. Naomi fell back in her seat and closed your eyes. We talked about this many times. I've come to accept it. I'm preserving magic in the last hope of keeping it alive, but the world has already moved on. Look, no matter what is happening around us, I need you. You are amazing and powerful, and even if you can't scare a hotel car driver, you still scare Nazi magicians. Naomi turned to me and smiled. You know, street light, Sometimes you just say the perfect thing. Iggy interrupted Naomi from saying anything else, which annoyed me. Tommy, you said that you were going to Berlin to capture the Cup of Gem sheet. I didn't understand Iggy's question. I am why are you asking me that that's the entire reason for our mission. You just stated that you were going to free the fearsome dragon. I'm asking because that is not what you said before, and I do not understand which answer is true. I couldn't help but smile at Iggy's literal nature. He heard two answers and could only see one is true. Oh, I see where you're mistaken. Okay, I am going to capture the cup, and that is and has been my immediate goal. But after I capture the Cup, I'm going to free the poor dragon that jam sheet enslaved centuries ago. Iggy didn't say anything. A Podcast Alchemy production