The Weight of Magic

WEIGHT OF MAGIC ©2023 DK Holmberg This book is protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser. Any reproduction or unauthorized use of the material or artwork contained herein is prohibited without the express written permission of the authors. Aethon Books supports the right to free expression and the value of copyright. The purpose of copyright is to encourage writers and artists to produce the creative works that enrich our culture. The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book without permission is a theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), please contact [email protected]. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights. Aethon Books www.aethonbooks.com Print and eBook formatting, and cover design by Steve Beaulieu. Artwork provided by Antti Hakosaari. Published by Aethon Books LLC. Aethon Books is not responsible for websites (or their content) that are not owned by the publisher. This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead is coincidental. All rights reserved. ALSO IN SERIES The Weight of Magic The Shades of Magic Contents ALSO IN SERIES Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Chapter 31 Chapter 32 Chapter 33 Chapter 34 Chapter 35 Chapter 36 Chapter 37 Chapter 38 Chapter 39 Chapter 40 Chapter 41 Chapter 42 Chapter 43 Chapter 44 Chapter 45 Chapter 46 Chapter 47 Thank you for reading The Weight of Magic Chapter 1 THE TEMPLE RUINS Torian had always found the ruins of the ancient temple to be somewhat peaceful, something that he knew strange given that it was a place of destruction from the war that had raged through these lands long ago. In the generations that had passed, most of the remnants of the war had been cleared and repaired, including his town of Sarot, so that little of the days of the split of the Siansaal Empire remained. Other than the temple ruins. “Pay attention, Torian,” Gaspel whispered. “The temple might be gone, but you should still honor the Saith.” Torian looked over to his instructor. Gaspel had been in Sarot, teaching at the school for the last year and had been generally kind to him, something that Torian could not claim about all of his instructors. Gaspel hadn’t reached the same level of frustration at his lack of progress the way so many of the others who came in from the university in Corsalt had, but his experience suggested that would come in time. “I’m paying attention. I’ve heard this speech a few times.” And he didn’t want to admit that he struggled with his faith in the Saith. Willa, the most tenured instructor and the only one who claimed to have come from Sarot herself, stood not far from him and several other students—including Torian’s younger sister Liana—while talking about the ways that the empire had once celebrated the god in this temple. “It’s still polite to pay attention to your instructors,” Gaspel chided, his appraising look telling Torian that he somehow knew about Torian’s lack of faith. Torian knew better than to argue, especially with Gaspel. He had been generally patient with him, and under Gaspel’s guidance, Torian had managed to learn a few more of the first-tier patterns that he had not known before. At least, he had learned the technique of them, even if he had not yet managed to successfully use them. Dary, the younger boy of significant potential, shot Torian an irritated look. He was standing close to Willa and shifting his feet with just as much irritation as Torian had. Probably more, Torian decided, as Dary really had no interest in the academic side of school. All he wanted was to learn how to use his patterns, summon power that he felt was his right as a budding sahir, and probably head off to the university. The local sahir school taught students to reach the power of the Saith that fueled the magic of the world: light, dark, air, water, earth, cold, and metal. Each of the patterns they learned helped to harness one aspect of that energy. When—and if—a student mastered the primary patterns, they progressed to learn additional tiers of patterns. If someone could master the third tier, they could train at the university in Corsalt. That had always been Torian’s dream—even though he knew it unrealistic. Even if he never went to the university, he’d love to be able to call himself a sahir, but that took mastery of the first tier, something Torian still hadn’t achieved. “I’d like for each of you to find me a marking of the empire,” Willa said. Torian had missed most of her speech, having let his mind wander as he looked around the ruins. Most of the stone here came from toppled walls that had once towered over this land. The school had drawings of what the temple had once looked like, and even seeing those drawings depicting it, it was difficult for Torian to visualize what it must have been like. The temple would have been impressive. Even in its ruined state, it was still impressive. That was part of