Lita Burke

Within the pages of the Necronomicon Enchanter book in Lita’s library, the curious may learn the Enchanters’ magical matters. Beware, for the knowledge might drive the reader mad with bitter desire and luscious regret. Today we read about essence madness.

Previously: Evolution of Sole-Source Magic

The Enchanters’ Magical Discipline

The ten enclave magicians learned from the sentient Old Forest how to prepare and consume the rich magical essence. According to the Old Forest’s instructions, they consumed tree essence five times a day for twenty-five days.

The essence glut irrevocably changed the mages’ bodies, their lives, and Sye. Their health became robust. Skin blemishes, stature, weight, and physical endurance improved significantly. The magical essence made them physically attractive, especially their eyes. Memory, the ability to learn complex spells, and the intuitiveness to construct elaborate magical mechanisms blossomed. Their intelligence and literacy also increased.

The Enchanters’ bodies transformed the unpalatable tree magic into magical essence that non-Enchanter magicians could readily use. The ten magicians named their emerging craft the Enchanters’ Magical Discipline.

They created charms to store and deliver their essence. The ten Enchanters distributed hundreds of these charms to travelers who carried them to far-away towns. Some Enchanters left the enclave and established homes in the larger towns where they spread rich magical essence to anyone who wanted to taste its enchantment.

But there was a dangerous downside.

The onslaught of palatable essence was too much for some non-Enchanters to bear. These unfortunate ones lost their wits and developed an unquenchable lust for the magic. They coveted the essence charms. When the charms’ magic went dry, the mad sought the traveling Enchanters and attacked them to get magical essence from the source.

Next time: Essence Kiss

Find out more about the books in the Enchanters of Sye world:

• Wrath, Prequel to Tredan’s Bane
• Tredan’s Bane