A Mage's Power (Journey to Chaos) Read Online Free PDF Page A

crash Eric made when he landed. The sun shone brilliantly on them
both.
    “You can't do this!” one shouted. “It's too dangerous!”
    “Yes I can!” the other one shouted back. “For science and
the human race!”
    “You could damage the Sun and thus the human race!”
    “My experiment is flawless! Nothing will go wrong.”
      Look too closely at the Sun and you will be blinded. The sixth of such voices to speak inside Eric's head. Unlike the whispers of
the wind and water, or the bellows of the earth and fire, this one was gentle
like the darkness. He felt like his mother was warning him against playing in
the street.
    The first scientist threw up his arms in frustration and
left. Eric groaned as the bruises he collected made themselves known and the
remaining scientist noticed him.
    “You! Help me do this and I guarantee that you will have a
glorious future. Everything you've ever wanted will be yours for the taking!”
     Eric glanced from the scientist to the glaring sun. I
see where this going . Look at the Sun and be blinded by its light; look
at how noble or grand your cause is and be blinded by that instead.
      Eric smirked. “No.”
    The scientist glared. “You are making a big mistake.” Eric
didn't waver and the scientist shrugged. “Oh well, I'll show you the exit.”
    This room was occupied by a table, two chairs, a chessboard,
and a creature with pointy ears. The last sat behind pieces of a golden-brown
color and the empty seat controlled pieces made of a clear material. It was
just moving a pawn when he heard the door open.
    “Hello, Eric!” Tasio said, smiling as always. “Are you
finished working?”
    “I haven't even started.” He frowned. “While Hanson
Enterprise does produce commercial energy, I did not need to
visit those places personally!”
    Tasio gasped. “Ohh! I'm so sorry, Eric! I must have
misunderstood.”
    Eric rolled his eyes. “Well, to prevent further
misunderstandings, I want to go to room 3A of Hanson Enterprise HQ. That's Head
Quarters, not Ham Quartet or Hot Quills or anything silly.”
    Tasio's grin was so big it creeped Eric out. “Right away,
Eric.”
    Tasio snapped and Eric was blinded by light. When the light
faded, Eric was greeted by dust and crates: Room 3A, the storage closet. Another
difference was Tasio hovering next to him.
    “Is this the right place?”
    “Yes, you got it right this time.”
    “Yay.” Eric grabbed the knob. “Don't forget this.”
    Tasio was holding his briefcase. Eric could have sworn he
was holding it at the first teleport.
    He left the storage closet with Tasio floating close behind.
He passed a random co-worker on the way to the elevator who said he was late.
    “Yeah, I know.” Eric glared at the seemingly empty air. “My
alarm clock didn't go off.”
    “Hanson's pretty mad; I hope your report is good enough to
make up for it.”
    “Is it?” Eric asked Tasio.
    “Yes, of course,” Tasio replied. “If you hadn't fallen
asleep when I was reciting my resume, you would have known I've helped countless
people write reports.”
    Aaron awaited Eric at the elevator. “Did the baby sleep in
today?”
    “This guy needs to get a life,” Tasio said. Eric smiled and
Aaron frowned.
    “You won't be smiling when the general is done with you.”
The look on his face squashed any relief Eric might have been feeling and he
stood in the elevator like someone awaiting execution. This may have been
accurate; Hanson looked like Grim Death.
    “Private Watley, you are very late.”
    “I'm sorry, sir.”
    Hanson leaped up and bellowed, “Sorry doesn't cut it on the
battlefield! I won't stand for any excuse!” He sat back down. “Do you at least
have the report ready?”
    “Yes, sir.” Eric placed the report Tasio made on Hanson's
desk and stood straight while Hanson looked it over. Not a minute later, he
tossed the whole thing in the garbage.
    “What is this?”
    Nausea hit Eric's stomach like a bomb. “M-my r-report,