The End of Magic - Chapter 4

The End of Magic is an original multichaptered fantasy work that I am currently publishing on both AO3 and Dreamwidth. You can find the master post of all chapters here or just click the "end of magic" tag. (AO3 link here.)

The morning saw the house bustling with activity. The uncle had hired a boy to help pack up his belongings in preparation for his departure. Nadide must have gone to the Stand at dawn, because she arrived with a priest and a sacrificial bull whose horns had been painted white. The priest cut its throat over the entrance to the house and thanked the Lord for lending Ozal bajedi his strength. It was an extravagant display of piety, and not one Mahir would have expected from a family that had to make due without help. It even looked like there might be an argument between Nadide and her uncle on that subject, but it was interrupted by Ozal walking slowly down the stairs aided by a cane. His Mucevhed followed silently behind.


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The End of Magic - Chapter 5

The End of Magic is an original multichaptered fantasy work that I am currently publishing on both AO3 and Dreamwidth. You can find the master post of all chapters here or just click the "end of magic" tag. (AO3 link here.)

Berdu departed early the next morning. Most of Kadehir still slept, but Ozal and Nadide were there to see him off. Ozal did not think he was imagining the relief in his uncle's expression at the thought of returning home, but still he dawdled on their doorstep.

“My wife has so many fond memories of this house,” he sighed. “Almost two centuries old, but still so beautiful. Ozal, you must do everything in your power to ensure it stands for at least two more.”

The look he gave was too pointed for that to be merely a platitude. Ozal was not so cruel as to ask which prospect frightened his uncle more: his bachelordom or the accusations he had made only yesterday against the most powerful magician in the Empire. It was not like his uncle's answer would sway his mind on either topic. Instead, he just nodded.

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