Read Online A Mage's Power (Journey to Chaos) by Brian Wilkerson - Free Book Online

whispered in his ear, “What if . .
.” he began, sneaking glances at the dorm keeper as if he were eavesdropping. “What
if . . . it's a ruse?”
    “A ruse?” Eric asked.
    “Yes!” Aio said urgently, “To turn you into an emotionless
zombie like him !!”
    The dorm keeper became a little more annoyed, even mildly
disgruntled. “We have a schedule to keep, Mr. Watley. Please follow me.”
    It was a long walk and gave Eric another chance to study the
city. The streets were split into a road, made of compacted earth, and
sidewalks of stone on either side. He didn't see any cars, motorcycles, or
anything else motorized, but every now and then, a machine would fly overhead.
They didn't look like the airplanes of his world and didn't make as much noise.
    They must function differently . . .I wonder . . .
    The Heleti General Hospital was a tall and sprawling
building made of wood, stone, metal, and other materials Eric didn't recognize.
There were as many kinds of entrances as there were branches of medicine: holes
in the ground for moles, windows for birds, hatches on the roof—all in addition
to the standard door for earth walkers and even those varied depending on the
earth walker's stature. The griffin motif decorating the building was more noticeable
than anything. They were in the sidewalk, on the doors, and standing guard in
the lobby. Eric was about to ask what they were for when he spotted a familiar
face.  
    “Jemas . . .Wotan. You're from Squad Two, right?”
    “Yes. I'm honored you remember me.”
    “Mercenary, what are you doing here?” Monotone man asked.
    Eric wondered why he called Jemas “Mercenary,” when he had
just said Jemas' name. Jemas himself seemed to take no offense, so Eric let it
go.
    “The Captain has been hired for an emergency, and being her
lieutenant, I came along.”
    A bell dinged and an intercom announced, “To the person passing
out experimental cough syrup, please identify yourself.”
    Jemas paled. “Oh no . . .Oh, please no.” He put a smile on
his face and bowed before Eric and Monotone. “Excuse me. I have business to
attend to.” With that, he ran off.
    “Mercenaries . . .” Monotone muttered. “Come, Mr. Watley.”
Eric was led through a number of doors and hallways until Monotone spotted a
particular room.
    “This is the examining room. Please cooperate with the
healer. I will be waiting outside.”
    Eric was anxious to see what a Tariatlan doctor looked like.
Where they human or some other creature? The person that arrived was more
terrifying than either: long blonde hair and a white doctor's coat, a staff in
one appendage and a notepad in the other. She locked the door behind her.
    “Hello, Otherworlder. I will be your healer today.” The
jewels on her staff glowed.
    “So no one was harmed by the Salcion spit?” Jemas asked.
He'd rushed to the Clinic to stop his captain, but was too late; the room was
filled with people burping uncontrollably. The healer on duty explained what
happened.
    “Apparently not. Instead of coughing, they're burping.
Otherwise, no adverse effects.” Jemas sighed in relief. “But still the fact
remains—”
    “AAAHHHHHHHH!”
    Jemas' eyes widened. “I am sorry, but there's something
urgent I must attend to.”
    Dashing to the hall, Jemas searched for the right examining
room. He smashed the door open to find Hasina, dressed like a resident healer,
zapping Mr. Watley with bolts of energy. Every half minute, she fired another
bolt, which revealed a different body system.
    “Fascinating,” Hasina muttered to herself while scribbling
notes with her free hand. “So similar to the others and yet different.” She
continued zapping as she wrote. “Like a watered down version . . . no . . . a
withered version is more appropriate.” Jemas jumped between them and brandished
his staff.
    “Captain! What are you doing?!”
    “Oh, Lieutenant, good timing.” She nonchalantly handed him
the pad. “It's so hard to take notes