15 comments/  23485 views/  28 favorites

The Magic of a Touch

By: Fantasyboy69



"I am the worst caster to ever stain these halls," say Jeremy Dream-Mender. And he was right in his assumption too. Not many people in the entire history of the Academy had ever been such a bumbler when it came to spell casting. At the age of nineteen Jeremy should have been doing something more impressive than lighting candles or dusting shelves with a wave of his hand. He should be doing something more useful than conjuring balls of colored lights or roses to give to the ladies who found his face pretty. "I mean were I a Wizard, Archie, I would be the prime student." 

Archie, short for Archibald, sat there and stared at him like he was a moron, for that is the nature of cats.

"Don't look at me like that. You know it's true. How many Wizards can boast of casting a dozen spells before their thirtieth year, huh? Tell me that!" He thrust his finger into the air as if making a point, a small globe of soft blue light appearing. "Oops," he said and dismissed the cantrip. "But I'm not a Wizard, I'm a Sorcerer. And as such I'm a huge failure. I was born casting spells so I should be able to pick up the newer ones with ease." Jeremy flopped onto his bed with a sigh and looked again at the picture of his mum. 

Now there was a Sorceress! No one could ever hope to break one of her enchantments, not even a dragon. She had been both revered and feared by most she met for with a look she could ensnare the senses and turn a man's worst fear against him or bring him his wildest dream. Many squabbles she had ended just by being in the room and she never had to cast a single spell. All she would do was look at the party she thought was in the wrong and say, "No, you are wrong, I am sorry," and it would be settled.

Yet he had none of his mum's famed power. Sure he had the potential, enough of that to be one of the strongest casters the Academy had ever seen, but potential was not enough for a sorcerer. He needed to break down the walls that kept him from accessing his energies. He could not cast anything useful. He could do all of the most basic cantrips, those primer spells, yet he could not even charm a fly into leaving him alone. Jeremy should have had SOMETHING to show he had her blood in his veins. Not a spell above cantrip could he cast save one and it was the most useless spell he had. The rest were useful if for no other reason than to say he could cast spells. But no, his only strong spell was useless to him for one reason. He was not attractive at all.

His spell was touch induced and could not be stopped if he touched skin. It was a lust spell so potent he could bring a man to full arousal or a woman to near orgasm. They would instantly want to have sex with the person they were most attracted to in sight, which for poor Jeremy was never him. He would never be on the Wizard Ball teams. Too skinny and short, not a good caster of spells. He was 5'5" and would never get taller. Jeremy also weighed about as much as a sack of grain. "A large sack," he would say in defense of himself for he knew he was slight. He weighed a mere 5 weight, or one hundred pounds. He was skinny and short with a naturally hairless scalp and body making him look like a Clerical student who were required to remove their hair. With eyes the color of mustard greens no one really wanted to look him in the eye. Nope, to poor Jeremy the spell was useless.

"Might as well get packing," he said to Archie. Today was to be his last chance to exhibit any sort of use of the potential, yet he knew he would fail yet again as he had the previous two times. When he failed today he would be sent home a failure for the entire family to shun for the rest of his long life. Jeremy sat up and waved his hand, his suitcase floating from the closet to his bed where it landed perfectly open for use. The he gestured again and all of his clothing, books, supplies and even riding broom went in. All except his bedding since Archie lounged on it. The spells could not lift more than ten pounds and Archie was a big cat. "Are you going to makes this hard on me?"

The cat just looked at him like he was dumb to even ask such an obvious question.

"Fine then," Jeremy said with a gesture and a spray of water shot from his pinkie finger to douse the cat. It leaped from the blankets and glared at him for such an affront. "Serves you right." He bundled up hid bedding and put it in the suitcase that could hold a thousand times the volume of its size. A gift from his uncle Corny. Surveying his room for anything he missed, he sighed and zipped up the case, knowing that his entire life fit into one minor case of holding. He should have mounds of books like his eleven brothers and ten sisters, all of which were far better spell casters than he was. He was the youngest, smallest, and weakest of all of them and was probably the reason why his mother, known to love kids and for also being a slut, had stopped with him as the last kid. Jeremy should have been able to fill four of these by his eighteenth birthday, but nope. Once again, in familiar fashion, he fell short.

"I'm going to go fail now, Archie. No teleporting around the school while I am gone, please. Not today." Having a blink cat for a familiar was hard for even the best Sorcerer, but for him it was a constant drain on his patience and pocket book as he had to repair anything the teleporting cat had broken. Only Druids seemed to be able to control the beasts, but Archie had come to him and that was that.

Archie stared at him with those intelligent green eyes and nodded once, curling up in the sun of the window.

"Thanks." Jeremy shut the door and locked it with a spell. Not like anyone in the entire school couldn't break his simple lock spell, but it was the only thing he could do to safeguard his belongings. Adjusting his shoulders, he left his dorm wing.

Jeremy was an oddity there at the Academy. He was not the smallest or the youngest, not the oldest either. Not the ugliest and definitely not the best looking. He was not the mage with the smallest repertoire of spells. Nope, his oddness came from his clothing. He was the only one who still wore his jeans and T-shirts when it was fashionable to wear your robes everywhere. Looking around he was the only one in the campus quad that was not wearing a robe that said he was a spellcaster. White for the Clerics, green for the Druids, gray for the Wizards, and black for the Sorcerers. There were even some purple robes of the visiting Psion students from the Grimholst Academy of the Mind in Yorkshire. Jeremy wore jeans and a Wizard101 shirt with hiking boots knowing he would have to search for something out in the woods or mountains as part of his testing.

Walking past the girls' dorms, he heard laughter as he always did, knowing it was for him from the comments that came to his ears. "Shortest guy ever," on girl would say while another would say, "He should learn to cast a polymorph so we don't have to look at those drab eyes." And Jeremy would just walk on by like he was oblivious.

This time though there was a new voice in the crowd. "Be nice guys. Poor guy is about to get expelled. Would you want to be him today?" It stopped him in his tracks and he looked back. There, in the midst of the gaggle of giggling girls, was a person he had never seen. She was fair and lovely and so far out of his league he wondered why she knew he was spending his last day here. "Do your best, Jeremy."

"Thanks." He smiled at her and she returned it. Then he turned back to go face his committee for the last time. But he ran right into the Captain of the Wizard ball team.

"Gonna finally leave this place for good?" Erich Fire-Maker was a class A dick.

"Yup, that way I don't have to look at you anymore." Jeremy was not scared of him even though Erich could really hurt him. Before Erich could retaliate Jeremy touched his bare hand and unleashed his spell. The reaction was fierce and sudden and very obvious. Erich groaned and showed a huge erection under his robes in seconds, his gaze casting around for a lovely young lady. When he found the best looking one to him he crooked a finger and she went with him willingly for what would probably be the best sex of her life since Erich was known to be a great lay. Jeremy put it out of his mind and continued on.

The Admin building was actually deserted about then because it was testing day and no one was allowed in unless you were to be tested. He passed by the receptionist who gave him a number and a sad smile. "There are a few who will be missing you, Jeremy." She was one since he was the best filing assistant she ever had. Good mind and great organizational skills, he often volunteered here to help the ladies with their work. "And maybe you can come work here."

"I may do that, Gladys. Then maybe the magic will eventually sink in by osmosis." Her smile said she really would miss him. Jeremy went to sit in the waiting room. There were three other students there. One Cleric and two Druids. Both were considered Divine casters, their magic coming from outside of them. Clerics got their magics from the Gods that normal people did not believe in. Which ever deity had claimed them would teach them slowly through prayer and meditation. Their faith in their deity was their source of power. Clerics were healers and dealt with combat of a spiritual and otherwordly nature. They battled undead zombies and vampires that normal people did not really believe in anymore.

The Druids were akin to them as their powers stemmed from the nature around them. Having fewer deities did not lessen their powers as at all as only a few deities dealt with nature. They could heal almost as well as a Cleric but were more known for their weather magic, helping bring rains in droughts, or quelling forest fires. Their destructive side could summon walking trees and monstrous insects that could kill a man quite easily. They also protected the normal people from these entities so they could live their blissfully ignorant lives in their cities.

No one spoke, they were too intent on passing their tests today. Yet when the committee member came in the room they all stood to receive their assigned materials to gather. The other students left without a word while Jeremy got his list. "I know you know this test by heart, Jeremy, but the committee would like for you to come work here. We need someone with your...limits to be able to counsel the others if they find themselves in a similar situation." They all knew he would never find a job in their world with his lacking and were trying to give him something to bolster his spirits.

"I might take you up on that offer when I fail." He held up the page and jogged out of the building and to the front gates. Once he stepped outside the gates he felt a weight off his shoulders and he grinned. He loved wandering the woods and mountains in the nestled valley where the Academy was kept hidden in the northern part of California. It existed within and apart from the normal world by a very thin veil anyone or thing with magical blood could cross. Out here there were dragons and ogres and trolls and pixies and all sorts of things normal people no longer knew about. Yet out here, among the dangers, Jeremy felt freer than within the confines of the walls.

He walked slowly to where he knew he would find the first item. He had to collect a mandrake root. Not hard if you knew where they grew and Jeremy loved herbology. He had memorized all ten books of the curriculum and knew as much as the teacher about the subject. Even some Druids thought highly of his knowledge. Jeremy found the mandrake root with ease and found it was being watched over by a male drake. "Hello," he said to the drake and it looked at him with baleful golden eyes. "How are you today?"

The drake, taken aback by the lac of fear and the conversational tone, answered, "I am fine today. And you?" Drakes were related to dragons but were only the size of a dog, yet they were far more fierce than the other draconic species...and more sociable. Creature lore was one class Jeremy never failed.

"Splendid. I will not insult your intelligence, drake, by lying to you." They also hated dishonesty. "I need some root for my exam and was wondering if you could spare a bit. I know you guard it jealously but it would be a big help to a fellow under sizer." That is what drakes were called by their dragon relatives. Not an insult really, just stating a fact that they were smaller.

"You are smaller than others I have seen. I will share some if you do me one small favor." Jeremy nodded. It was easier to do the favor than risk the drake's wrath. "There is a female drake not too far from here who is getting closer to her season." Ah. That was the only time the males would leave the roots they protected since the root was a potent aphrodisiac to dragonesses. "Could you let her know I am here?"

"Of course. I am sure I could even persuade her to come meet you a bit sooner too." Jeremy followed the directions given and he went post haste to the river where the female was building her nesting grounds in the bank. She hissed a warning at him, a small gout of fire shooting from each nare. "Good day, lovely one. I have a message for you from a suitable suitor who wishes to meet with you for you season."

Her eyes narrowed. "Hmm. I am busy, human."

"I can see that, but I am doing him a favor in exchange for some of his rather large and potent root. If you would like I would get rid of some of your burdens," said the young man to the debris around the newly forming nest. Rocks and chunks of things were strewn around and would be hazardous to the soon to hatch drakelings. "That way you can meet him and decide whether he is good as a sire for your large brood."

She thought it over. "I like your honesty, human. Very well. Clear some of that for me and I will see if I have time." They went to work. In fact his help saved her an entire day's work so she followed him back willingly. When the drakes got to talking he Jeremy collected his root with a thanks and left for the next item. He hoped they had many offspring.

This one would be very hard to get as he had to enter the fens. They were rife with trolls and those were the least of the nasties he had to face. He had to collect swamp leech venom which was not hard since they were large enough to drain a horse dry in seconds but did not prey on humans; they were too small to worry about. Jeremy knew the fens very well actually, having made friends with a hag that lived out here a few weeks ago. She had taught him many things about potion brewing they school had not, mainly because she was evil and the school did not like to teach dark magics and things. He would stop by and see her since she kept some leeches. Trudging through the muck of the fens was best done without robes, but better done with magic. Once again he was out of his element. "Well, aren't you off the track," said a voice.

"I am Hagath. I was coming to see you for some venom. I have some fresh drake root to trade." He looked at the repulsive woman without flinching and she helped him into the boat she had floating above the muck and mire.

"Nice of you to stop by, Jeremy, and bring gifts for an old woman. This your final exam day?" He nodded and went with her to her cabin. "I have my son here with me. He's the black sheep of the family."

"Good looking and sweet?" She shivered and nodded. "Must be hard. I know it is for my family to have me." That was one reason why they became friends. Jeremy reminded her of her son. The outcast, the pariah, the one no one acknowledged as family because they were not acceptable. 

"I know you will like him, he's a charmer." Again she cringed. Hags and their offspring were not known for their manners, although Hagath was nicer than most.

"Poor Hagath. Well, if he is such a disappointment to the family I will most likely like him." They shared a good laugh, hers sounding like a dying cat caught in a blender. They talked potions and for once Jeremy was able to give her a tips on where to find echo weed, a rare plant that grew in moist caverns.

The cabin was small and gnarled, much like the woman who lived there. She pulled the boat up to the docks and tied it off. Jeremy insulted her by offering to help her out and she insulted him by denying the help, but insults to a hag were commonplace and Jeremy was nothing if not savvy about social interaction with other species. Once inside Jeremy got a look at the son and found that he was a stunning man. Average height, he was not gnarled or bent over with a hump. His posture was perfect. He did not have warts or crooked teeth, his face was handsome and smile clean and pure. Yup, he was a good looking hagson and Hagath would be so disappointed in him. "Hagfred, this is Jeremy, that human I always tell you about."

"Nice to meet you," said Hagfred, "I mean, what the hell do you want?" Jeremy saw Hagath grin at the slip but she went to the other room to get some venom. "I try to be a better son for her."

"I know, and she appreciates it. I won't take offense." Jeremy offered his hand and Hagfred shook it.

"And call me Fred. All my college friends do."

"You go to college?" A magical race going to a normal school?

"Yeah. UCLA actually. Going into politics."

"That's evil of you." Jeremy was trying not to laugh.

"I know. I try." They grinned at each other and Jeremy found someone he could like that seemed...normal. They talked a bit and Jeremy was amazed at how strange the normal world sounded. He knew what a car was, but not a plane or a bus. He could not fathom that many people living together in such a small area. Fred was only marginally surprised that he was being expelled from school for something so stupid as not being able to learn magic. "But I can feel it in you. I mean the powers are there."

"You can feel it?" He knew hags had some aptitude for magic but mostly enchanting objects and casting potent curses.

"I know, I know. Not very haglike. But I can feel it. You have a powerful gift lurking in you." Jeremy wished it would stop lurking and start working. "It sucks being us, huh?"

"Yeah." Hagath came back in with a jar of venom, more than he needed really.

"Now for the root." She saw the portion he gave her was more than she would need for anything. "You trying to cheat me of being generous?"

"Yup," he said with a smile. She cackled and ruffled his hair with a gnarled hand.

"You two should compare notes. Maybe you might learn something about about being mean from Jeremy." She waddled out of the room to the kitchens.

"You know how to get along with mom, huh."

"I just try, like you, only you're a nice guy. I know you don't want to be to make your mom proud, but just think of it like a political maneuver. You know it would make her happy to see you off someone just because. Well, meet her halfway and curse them."

Fred looked thoughtful. "You're right. It's not who you are but what you do. I can tell you're a great person but you meet mom half way and treat her as a hag should be." Fred smiled. "Thanks for nothing, Jeremy."

"You're welcome for nothing, Fred." Again they laughed. They could play the game, knowing none of it was real. "I should get going. I need to gather some sprite dust and prism water for my test."

"I'll take you north. Mom, I'm going to go drop Jeremy in the bog." He called to her loudly and being obnoxious. He cringed though.

"Liar." she called back with fondness. "Bring the boat back in one piece."

"I won't," he said with a grin. "That's mom's everywhere. Normal moms do it too." Jeremy could only laugh.

The way Fred took him was actually more scenic than a straight line. It showed off some of the more wild beauty of the fens and not a single creature braved near the floating craft. No one was stupid enough to incur the wrath of a hag and they all knew her boat. Jeremy got to a sprite colony, a fen sprite colony. They were notoriously mean and vicious to anyone yet when Fred pulled up they cam flocking over to pet him. When they weren't swarming you and stabbing you with their tiny daggers they were rather attractive in a dark way. Black hair and skin, they had blood red wings like a dragonfly. Yet they didn't hurt Fred. "I have a way with fae. They like me, all of them."


The Magic of a Touch Ch. 02



So, since you guys liked it here is chapter two. Again, sorry it took so long...but I did this in one day again. I hope you enjoy!

*

Jeremy's trip home was one of interest as he had to do it the normal way. When he had gone to the school his mother had teleported him with her magic...her sex powered magic. He had never been on a train and he found it a bit exciting, but he would much rather travel by floating hagship. That of course had him thinking about Fred and that one thing that led him to know what had been missing in his life. He looked at Archie in his cage, the blink cat actually sleeping the trip away. "You know Arch, I wonder how I'll ever find anyone who was as blind as Fred. Or as good with their mouth."

Archie of course just slept on, as cats do when not interested.

The station was full of normals and Jeremy wondered why he felt so...normal in his jeans and tee shirt. He had gotten so used to robes that to see the simple normal clothes was nice. Gazing around he saw his mother waiting by the bag handlers and getting more than her fair share of attention from men of all ages. "There you are!" she cried and Jeremy flung himself into her arms.

"I missed you mum." and he did. She had always been the only one to ever love him for who he was, bumbler and all. "I got some smashing news."

"Oh? Should it wait for the rest of the troupe?" She smiled to all the men and even took down the number of a dashing Aussie with the biggest dimples.

"Nope. They won't care." He grabbed his bag and they went towards the car. Aside from being a Sorceress, his mother was a teacher at the local college for sex ed. "I made apprentice." Jeremy exclaimed as they got in the car, Archie now snoozing in the back seat.

"That's fabulous. I am so proud of you." And she was. All the letters he had written told her how miserable he was at that school.

"And, I'm Tantric." Immediately she pulled onto a side street and parked.

"What?" she asked with hopeful dread.

"I am, just like you." She let out a whooping laugh and clapped her hands in glee.

"My baby lost his virginity. Was she good?" The look on her face made Jeremy grin. This was a side to his mother he had never seen. She was a vivacious woman and men adored her, but she always seemed so aloof with her kids. Never unloving, just slightly disappointed in all of them as if they never measured up to her standards.

"He, mum. And he was very good." Jeremy waited for the smile to slip saying he had once again displeased her.

But it stayed and even got bigger. "You rascal. Seduce the pants of your room mate?"

Jeremy laughed. "Not quite." He proceeded to tell her all about Fred and that afternoon that happened a few days ago. "I mean it was the best feeling ever, even with the bit of pain."

"A chip off the old tantric block. And a hagson at that. We shall have to have him over for dinner one of these nights." Jeremy nodded at that. "But, don't get attached. Tantrics can't afford that unless it's a permanent thing. Not many people can keep up with our need for power and thus sex."

"Is that why you're called a slut?" She nodded like it was a badgeof honor. "Maybe if I reach my Change I won't be such a runt any more, although Fred did like me."

She clicked her tongue. "He sounds like a great lad, Jeremy, but like I said, unless you're planning on marrying the hagson, it can only be sex." Then she giggled. "And have as much of that as you want with him." They shared a great laugh and Jeremy got to hear many different ways to entice someone without resorting to magic. "And if you like men then I can really give you ways."

"I...I don't know. I still haven't had time to think about it. And haven't been with a woman."

"Shall I arrange something?" Jeremy look scandalized. "A bit too soon for that? Ah well. Got to let you have some fun on your own I guess." That had them laughing again as they pulled up to their house. It was modest on the outside, a simple two story house with a small flat in the back rented by a dating couple. No one could know that one of the locked doors inside the house actually led to the mansion magically hidden from normals that may come calling.

There was no banner welcoming him home, no feast or party. No one seemed to care all save they now had their favorite whipping boy back. The twins came bopping in with smirks on their faces. Jeremy had not missed his elder sisters one bit. "Welcome home Germ. We prepared your room for you." 

He knew they had magically trapped it, but he still had a few drop of that power he had found from Fred. He should be able to get past most anything. "Thanks, Dee and Dum. Mum, I'm going to put my apprentice robes away and let Archie out to terrorize the staff."

"Okay dear. Supper is at half past seven as usual." She kissed his cheek and the twins looked on in well masked shock. She had never shown one bit of favor on any of them. This seemed like a severe breach in protocol as they knew it. Their mother disappeared in a puff of sweet perfume.

Without even a glance Jeremy went to his room through the locked door. In front stretched a long hallway where the rooms for all the kids were, Jeremy's the last one on the right. As he passed each door opened and he could see his many siblings smile with evil glee. They knew what he was in store for. When he got to his door he blinked and his mage sight kicked in letting him know there were two traps. One on the door knob and the other triggered by opening it. Simple traps that would have worked before, but ones he cold disarm without much power now. Waving his hand they faded away and he walked in, a small gasp coming from the hall. "Next time, dear brothers and sisters," he said looking down the hall with his eyes glowing a fierce red, "try harder or not at all. I don't feel like being made fun of anymore." He stepped in and slammed the door, sagging against it and chuckling. Letting Archie out, the blink cat looking afronted that he had waited this long, he flopped onto his bed. "Does it make me a bad person for doing that?"

Archie looked at him and butted his chin with his head in a rare sign of affection.

"Glad you approve."

His siblings must have taken his little sign of power to heart because they did not try to sneak around and get him magically. Nope, they did it openly. Loud noises to scare him, summoning spirits to spy on him while he bathed, even putting a sticking sharm on his supper chair so he could not get up. He dealt with each simply and effortlessly because one thing his mother had said had stuck with him.

"Jeremy, you need not have sex to gain power. Ever heard of masturbation?" she had asked on the car ride home.

"What?"

"You know, flogging the dolphin, choking the chicken, yanking the chain, spanking the..."

"Yes, mum, I have. Never done it before."

"Start dear. It will keep you from draining yourself with small spells. Now, onto technique." and from there she had told him how to please himself by telling him what men she had been with liked. He found he liked quite a bit of it too and was up half the night trying it all out. It kept him from dropping dangerously low, but it was not a good way to get power as it was functional, not fulfulling. He even set a few traps of his own. A slippery patch of ground that had his brother fall on his face. A pimple potion put in his sister's face cream. Even a bit of poison ivy extract in his brother's jock cream.

One sunny afternoon found Jeremy without any siblings to torture him and he wanted to spend it outside by the pool where magic was forbidden lest the neighbors or renters see it. When he got there he saw said renter lounging. The pool was modest, a kidney bean thing with a deeper end and a diving board, but it was nice to not have to worry about swamp leeches or water wights as he swam. "Och, you mus' be Jer'my," said the renter who stood. Flaming red hair, thick pale skinned body and the accent named him Irish in a second. "I'm Billy. Your mum, sai' ye'd be 'ome this week."

Jeremy liked him instantly since Billy was only an inch or two taller and seemed friendly enough. "How do you do, Billy?"

"Fantastic. Your mum is a righ' bonnie lady. Le's us pay whe' we can. Ginnie's at work righ' now or ye coul' meet 'er."

They got to talking and Jeremy learned that both were on education scholarship at the University of Liverpool. They also shared a passion with Jeremy: hating his siblings. Although they thought half of them were cousins and friends, a rule that his mother only had five kids. "'Ow can ye stan' em?"

"I can't, that's why I'm always at school." Jeremy liked the way Billy sounded, much the same way he liked the way Fred had sounded with his American accent. It was better than sneers and jeers any day and made him feel welcomed.

"An' I'm surprise' really. Ye kin sai' ye're an ugly toad." Jeremy laughed and aimed a middle finger at the house and no one in general. "I better no let' ye meet me girl. She likes us shor'er guys." Billy gave him a companionable wink.

"No worries. She'll look at me and run screaming. They all do."

"I donnae see why. Yer a fine lookin' lad." Jeremy rolled his eyes and waved away the compliment. "Ah. I see their poison words got to ye. No one ever tell ye yer ain't ugly?"

"Well...one person. And he...well...we..." Jeremy was suddenly very shy about saying anything.

"Och yer a blusher. Tha's cute. So ye bedded a guy, no biggie. Ginnie an' me don' ha'e the hookups yer kin do abou' that." Jeremy smiled in relief. "He was yer first?"

"And only. A few days ago actually." Billy chuckled.

"Goo' for ye. Le's go fer a swim. Cool off." Billy stood and used the diving board. A perfect dive for someone with a few extra pounds. Jeremy decided to follow suit and went for his own dive, only he did a cannon ball. Except his feet hit a slick spot on the nonslick board and he slipped, hitting his head on the board as he fell in. He blacked out and came to with Billy pumping the water from his lungs. Coughing he stayed there. "Jer'my, ye gi'e me a scare. Tha's not a goo' thing."

Jeremy looked at the board and blinked, his mage sight kicking in to see the fading slippery spell set to only be triggered by a sorcerer. Oh he would get them for this one. He could have drowned. "Thanks Billy." He patted his shoulder. Billy grinned and helped him sit up, but Jeremy swayed. "Okay, laying back down for a bit."

"No' out here. Come to the flat an' lay down. Less sun." Billy helped him into the flat and onto the chesterfield. "Tha's better. Now I'm gonnae change into somethin'. No peekin'...unless ye wan' to." Billy winked and went to the part of the flat where they kept their clothes and bed. Jeremy at first did not look but then curiosity got the better of him when he remembered what Fred had said about his own member. He said it was thick. Well, Fred's had been longer but skinnier. Was there a pattern? He looked at Billy naked and liked the round bottom he saw and then got a look at the front. It was short and thick like his own and topped with a thatch of red fuzz. But unlike him and Fred, Billy was circumcised. "Takin' tha' peek?"

"Comparing." Billy laughed and came over with his shorts in his hands and stark naked.

"Compare away. I'm no' shy." Jeremy did just that. He looked at it critically for a few moments and then nodded as if satisfied. Billy chuckled and put on his shorts. "An' wha' did ye fin' ou'?"

"If we're the statistic then short guys have thick ones and they get longer as you get taller." Billy laughed and sat beside him on the floor.

"Lad, I'm no' the statistic. Mine's buil' li'e me, shor' n' thick. Ginnie loves it and I ne'er ha' a bad word from th' guys." Jeremy raised a brow. "Yeah, I been with a few." Billy just gazed into his eyes with open invitation.

Just then the door opened and in walked a very tall raven haired beauty. "Billy, honey, I'm...wondering who is on the couch." Her voice named her an American in that sentence. "And who gave you that goose egg on your head?" She came over and looked down before going to the fridge and getting some ice. "Here, put this on there for a few minutes." Jeremy did as he was told and Billy was smiling from ear to ear. "Since grinning boy here won't say anything I will. I'm Virginia, Ginnie for short."

"Jeremy." He went to stand but she gently put her hands on his shoulders.

"Stay put. Nice to meet you, Jeremy. What were you boys doing before I interrupted?" She went to the sleeping area, picked up Billy's wet trunks and hung them on the door handle of the bathroom before snagging her own clothes to go change.

"I wa' ge'in' to the poin' of ge'in' Jer'my's pants off."

"Seducing the landlady's son while he's knocked silly? That's low even for your horny ass."

Jeremy grinned. "Innae she gran'?"

"I like her already. Were you trying to get my pants off?" Billy shrugged. "Why? I'm nothing to look at."

"Wait, I heard someone putting themselves down." Ginnie came in from the bathroom with no tops on at all, her perky breasts making Jeremy stare. "One rule when I'm around is no putting yourself down. Or others unless they deserve it. Like your sisters." Jeremy laughed, breaking the spell her breasts had cast on him. "From just meeting you Jeremy I can tell you're a sweet gentleman who thinks far too little about his appeal. Don't listen to your sisters, they're catty bitches anyway." She spun and went back to the bathroom to finish changing.

"I like her a lot." Billy chuckled again and smiled, his eyes once again inviting. "I...hmm. How to say this without getting a lecture." Jeremy thought. "I don't see myself as a catch although others have, albeit rarely."

"Nice one. Me n' Ginnie li'e the insi'e. The ou'si'e is only the wrappin'." Jeremy blushed a bit and leaned into Billy's hand as he put in on his cheek.

"Billy, did he see you naked?" He nodded. "Ah. Cute butt huh." Jeremy nodded. "How do you find them, honey?" Ginnie asked as she came around and ran her hands down Billy's chest. "He has a knack for finding the adorable short guys we both like. Have you even asked if he's interested in you, honey?"

"Nope. Dinnae ha'e to." Jeremy smiled and looked up at Ginnie. With her hair down she looked like a stunning beauty. "Loo's li'e ye got another'n yerself, love."

Ginnie smiled and sat beside Billy. She kept one hand on Billy's thigh and placed the other on Jeremy's. "So you like both?"

"I don't know. I lost my virginity a few days ago to a handsome guy. Never been with a woman. You're gorgeous, but then Billy's got this thing about him too." Ginnie grinned and kissed his cheek.

"A sweetheart. I don't know if we should tag team him, Billy. He may die." Jeremy looked a bit shocked. "I mean both have sex with you at the same time." Jeremy's mouth opened in an O and he nodded like he got it. "You really have no concept of sex do you?"

"Not really. All I know is that blowjobs feel great and having a guy in me felt better although it made my butt hurt at first." Ginnie looked a bit shocked and Billy about died of laughter. "What?"

"Oh boy are you naive. You only got a bj from a top?" Jeremy looked confused. "Sorry. It's just a bit refreshing to find someone so innocent. And I admit, a bit sexy. Listen there is far more to sex than that."

Billy grinned and looked sideways at Ginnie. "Should we show him?" Ginnie looked thoughtful and then looked at Jeremy.

"Hey, I'm a student, you are teachers." His answer had them laughing and Ginnie slid her hand up the leg of his trunks to wrap around his dick. Jeremy smiled shyly.

"Billy, I think he'll be thicker than you." The Irish lad grinned and then stood to shuck his shorts, his full erection visible. It was a thick one alright, much thicker than Fred's, but not quite as thick as his own was getting. Jeremy looked on with a mix of attraction and wonder. He knew guys were "supposed" to want women, and with a stunning woman right there with her hand around him he still wanted Billy too. Ginnie took off her clothes and Jeremy could not seem to find one more appealing than the other, both were just as arousing. "Mind if I take these off?" She asked and tugged at the string of his shorts. Without missing a beat he lifted his rump and she slid them down, his erection smacking against his stomach.

Both Billy and Ginnie stared and whimpered. "Tha's gonnae feel gran'." Billy sat at Jeremy's feet and leaned over to wrap his lips around his dick, getting a gasping groan. Yup, blowjobs felt fantastic. Fred had been good with his hand and mouth in combination, but Billy's mouth was just as good. "Och, Ginnie, yer turn."

Jeremy watched as she lowered her head to him and he jumped a bit as just her tongue slid down the length to his balls and then he groaned. As she bathed each with her spit he could feel his energies rising. This was something he should do more often! And more than often! "Oh gods above, Ginnie, where did you learn that?"

"From Billy."

"Good teacher," he said and then saw spots as Billy took the shaft back into his mouth. Fred had been a warm-up act to these two. He had been a good first, someone to show him what felt good, but these two were teachers! Without knowing how he did it he pulled Billy up and wrapped his own mouth around Billy's fat dick. He somehow knew exactly what to do. Not only could he hear his mother's voice in his head telling him the things she knew about pleasing a man, there was something else in him that knew.

"Oh fuck!" Billy exclaimed. "Slower, Jer'my, u'less ye wan' me to nut i' yer mouth."

Ginnie looked up. "That good?"

"Love ye, Ginnie, but way be'er tha' ye." She giggled and went back to work on Jeremy's balls. "Lass, ge' up here and le' him 'ave a taste. I wan' tha' down there." They switched places and Jeremy got his frst taste of the fairer sex. It was very different and he was thinking it was just as good until he felt something that required his entire attention. Billy had sat on his dick and had it in his ass. The Irish lad was speaking in a language Jeremy didn't know but he sounded like he was in ecstacy. Then Billy rose up a bit and Jeremy moaned into Ginnie's flesh.

"He likes it. I have to watch." Ginnie pulled away and watched Billy riding Jeremy's thick dick. She always had a fetish for watching two guy go at it, and Billy loved to let her. With a stocky leg on each side of Jerem'y slender hips, he was riding the sorcerer like he was a whore in heat and the look of bliss on Jerem'y face was so sexually arousing that she wanted to grab the camera.

Jeremy's breathing was quickening and he knew what this feeling was this time and did not hold back. His hip thrust up into Billy as his orgasm hit, his eyes clenched shut as he gasped out Billy's name. Then he felt the splash of Billy's own orgasm all over his chest and face. His power flared more than before as the sexual energies released them and Billy sagged forward and gently kissed Jeremy. It was amazingly sweet for all the wildness of the moment before. "Wow..."

"Ye said it." The boys laughed and kissed again as Billy got up to get a towel, but Ginnie was there to lick up the mess and wipe up the rest. "Tha's m'girl."

Jeremy insisted the entire family sit down to a meal that night. He did not let his mother heal his wound but left it there for a point. Each sibling came in and saw the bump and suppressed grins of their own. Half way through the meal which had been silent as all meals were in this house Jeremy stood. It was a shock as the youngest had never been allowed to even speak at the table for toasts. "I asked that you all be here to be told I have made apprentice rank and am apprenticed to the potions teacher for this coming term." His mother beamed with pride and the others looked a little sick. "Also to say one thing to each of my siblings. You have made me sick and been a pain in my ass for far too long." His eyes went from mustard greens to poison green and he flung out his power. Each of his siblings were stricken with instant vomiting and loose bowels, fevers and the other symptoms of the flu. "If you ever cause me to slip off the diving board and land in the pool again I will make this curse permanent. As it is, it will only last the hour, but I hope you will see the time of me being your whipping boy is over. I will not be your victim again, is that clear?" They all ran as best as they could from the room to the nearest WC.




The Magic of a Touch Ch. 02



"Messy spell, that. Why choose it over somethng more dangerous?" She didn't really care he had gotten this revenge; their prank could have killed him. It was long overdue anyway.

"I don't want to kill them, just teach them I won't be their target." Then he grinned as he sat. "And Hagath hasn't taught me anything worse yet. She's my only source for nasty spells." His mother laughed at that. She would like to meet this Hagath.

Jeremy spent the rest of his vacation sick in bed. At first he thought it was his siblings getting back at him for his little spell, but they had left him alone entirely, even running from him if they encountered him in the halls. It first started as a bit of chills and tingles along his limbs. Then he got the shakes that came with a Spring fever only without the temperature change. Then it was mild pain along every part of his body, and then excruciating. There was no end to this torture as he laid in bed and writhed. No one paid him any mind, not even his mother. She did say it would pass in a week or two but said nothing more on the subject. Meals were not sent in but he was not hungry anyway.

It was the fifth day when he door opened and Jeremy looked up to see a familiar face. "Hey there handsome. Hope you're feeling like shit."

He managed a weak smile. "Hey Fred. You look like I feel." They smiled as Fred came over to give him a soft kiss on the forehead. "You found me, huh?"

"Not hard when your mom sends an invitation to dinner. I didn't realize I would be coming to a breeding farm for insane spellcasters. Within ten seconds each of your sisters wanted to get into my pants and the twins tried." Jeremy felt a sudden flash of anger. "They won't be sitting or thinking about sex for a few weeks. But thanks for getting angry. Not angry at me for our little fun?" while he spoke flippantly, Fred was hoping Jeremy wasn't upset.

"Nope. I'm tantric like my mum. You knew that, didn't you?"

"I had an idea...and the fae told me as much."

"Huh. But no, I'm not mad. It was something that needed to be done and well, I liked it a lot. So how is your mum?" They talked for a bit until Jeremy started to shiver again.

"Ah. Since your family won't tell you, I will. You're entering you Change. You'll be a new man when you get better, the man I could see when I first met you." He leaned forward and whispered, "the man I want to fuck again when he's well. Rest up, handsome, you'll need it."

The actual change took another three days, Fred stopping in at least twice a day to talk and teach him a few nastier spells to use on his siblings and Jeremy taught Fred a few things to take back to his mom for her potion brewing. It was on that that thrid day that he woke with no pain or sweats or chills. He woke feeling great and sat up. First thing he noticed he was taller...much taller. His hands were larger with long slender fingers tipped in perfect pearl white nails. When he pulled back the covers he could see his shapeless body was replaced with a tightly muscled frame. Not big and beefy like all of his other brothers, but leaner, more elegant. He had a dusting of slivery blond hair on his chest and stomach and around his penis which was huge compared to the last time he reall cared about it. Standing, Jeremy looked in the full length mirror and wondered who stared back at him. Now standing at six feet tall and weighing in at about one hundred eighty pounds with no fat, Jeremy was far better built, but it was his face and head that caught his eye.

His eyes were a natural shade of emerald green so enticing even he was finding himself aroused by his mere glance. Finely arched brows of silver hair, a sensuous mouth begging to be kissed, handsome features and waist length silver hair that was full and fine with a soft wave. He had changed a lot in his Change. No longer the ugly duckling at all. With a wave of his hand a simple robe appeared and he put it on, it coming only to mid thigh. Then he left his room for a bite to eat. His eldest brother saw him as he walked down the hall. "Who are...Jeremy?" He was stuck stupid in the middle of the hall and thus in Jeremy's path.

"Yes. Now please move so I can get something to eat." His tone was neutral but his brother took it like a slap in the face and he leaped aside. There was something in his voice that demanded he be obeyed. Perhaps it was the new depth and richness that rolled out like the softest caress of a lover. "Thank you." Jeremy walked on by like his brother meant little to him, which was true.

The kitchen held a very nice surprise. Fred and Billy were in there, no shirts on, and cooking a breakfast that smelled great. He almost backed out of the room completely because Billy should not see him like this now, not after so short a time. His mother was also sitting at the table with Ginnie but the girl was faced away from him. One flick of an eye brow and Jeremy felt his body shiver as a polymorph spell hit him, changing him to his former self. "There you are honey. How do you feel?"

"Better mum. I assume intros have been made." Jeremy came over and gave his mother a kiss on the cheek, kissed Ginnie's hand, and firm handshake for Billy, but Fred was kissed rather soundly and the man dropped the towel he had been drying his hands on. Had the normals been mages they would have felt the splash of magic as Jeremy cast a spell. Fred could not fight this one off as he had the lust spell; this one was far more potent since it had some energy behind it. "And a special hello to you. Thanks for flying all the way out here."

At first Fred was stuck on stupid, still looking like he was kissing. Then he shook his head and grinned. "You have to get sick more often if I get kissed like that for coming out here." Fred reached for him but Jeremy skipped out of the way with a smirk.

"Not in front of my mum, Fred." Said mum laughed at the sheer dumbstruck look on Fred's face. "That is a lesson in evil for you. Your mum would love it." Billy raised a brow. "His mum is a real hag. Like swamp witch evil hag that will curse you as soon as look at you and then maybe eat you for supper." The last was a lie as Hagath was mostly a vegetarian save for eggs and dairy.

"She is and she would like that. I on the other hand," Fred said and lunges, catching Jeremy around the waist and picking him off the ground, "think it appalling. Tease," he chided and Jeremy grinned as he was set down.

"I have never known you to be so open," said Tweedle Dum as the twins came in.

Jeremy's eyes hardened as he turned his gaze on them. "Because you have the mental and emotional depth of a thimble. If you could see past the end of your stubby noses and think past the attention span of a goldfish then you could have seen I am far more than you ever knew."

Billy was trying to suppress a grin but Ginnie was not so polite. She outright laughed at the stunned looks on their faces. "Why you little..."

"And if I hear about you trying to get into Fred's pants again, I will remove..."

"Quite enough dear," said his mum and he shut his mouth with a slight bow of his head. " Your brother is right. Your treatment of him has been rather harsh as of late and I believe his time at the academy has been very good for his character. I also believe he shall be going back there to finish off his schooling." The other siblings had only gone a year as was required in the magical world. It was expensive and the kids were always told they did not have the money to put them through the full four years. They didn't know that the family was well off. Jeremy didn't know. "Since Professor Tinker has asked for Jeremy to work side by side him in chemestry as his aide, the school will be waiving tuition in lieu of a paycheck. I do expect good grades, Jeremy, it is still a lot of money," she said to him with a stern but proud smile.

"Yes mum. Did he really ask for me?"

"He even sent a letter with one from the dean of students detailing the arrangements." Jeremy's smile was huge and infectious and he laughed as he hugged and kissed Fred, hugged and kissed his mother, hugged and kissed Ginnie, hugged and kissed Billy, and gave his sisters twin middle fingers. They stormed off in a huff. "Very nicely done, dear. Oh, Fred, the bacon." Fred jumped over to the frying pan.

After breakfast, the most cheery this house had ever had in Jeremy's memory, Billy and Ginnie went to get ready for work. Fred made sure they were gone and the sorceress canceled the spell. Jeremy stood to his new height and Fred's jaw dropped. "Thanks for the save mum. I need to learn a spell for that until next time I'm home."

"My pleasure dear. But do be careful with your sisters. You are stronger than them but they are better trained right now."

Fred chuckled and looked away. "That I doubt. Maybe for the higher magics, but Jeremy...he will surprise any who try him."

"A bit of prophecy, Fred?" How much had they talked while Jeremy was in bed?

"Not so much that as I know him. Not for long, but better than anyone in this house, yourself included." She conceeded the point. Without warning Fred flung a curse at Jeremy and he reacted without thinking and sent it flying back at twice the potentcy. When it hit Fred, who expected something a bit different, he burst into laughter and could not stop until he cast his own counterspell. "See?"

"Hmm, well, still be careful. I won't be having any more children thank the gods and I want the Tantric line to go on." Her smile turned to something Jeremy had never really seen. It was primal, visceral, and sexual. "The world needs a bit more seduction." Jeremy grinned and nodded. "Now, I know you just woke up but you leave tomorrow for school again." Jeremy sagged a bit. "I know. You just got up and have to get going. Fred will be taking you until you learn a teleport spell. I would say go pack your things, but none of it would fit. So, since this is the hormal realm, you should go do as normals do and go shopping. Fred, be a dear and help him. He'll get jeans and tee shirts if left to his own devices."

"Yes, ma'am. C'mon, Jeremy. Lets go get you something that will show those asshats at the snooty school they messed up when they looked down on you. Well, for more than you were short." Jeremy shook his fist at him but Fred knew there was no menace behind it. "Go get dressed." Jeremy jogged away. "May I ask a question, Sorceress?"

"Yes. You may not like the answer though."

"Now many fell in love with you this quickly?"

"All of them. It's in our blood and while it hurts, it's something necessary. Without that heart break how can the young ever find the caution to find the person suited for them?" Fred looked back at her. "And, child, while I see the two of you as good friends for many years, I see nothing of romance in the way your heart thinks right now. That, I am afraid, is prophecy." Fred nodded. He knew it would not last, but he wanted it to. Especially since that last spell was so potent he could think of nothing else but taking Jeremy into his arms and kiss him for hours.

Archie popped up as Jeremy was pulling on a pair of shorts, admiring the way his legs looked now that he had actual legs and not sticks. "So, Arch, what do you think?"

Archie looked him over and stuck out his tongue.

"That good huh? You'll get use to it. We leave for school in the morning so say goodbye to all the kittens you're leaving behind." The cat said nothing of course but proceeded to shred up an old pair of boxers into ribbons, sign he was not happy. "Sour puss." Jeremy could find nothing that would fit as he was use to. His biggest tee shirt was now skin tight and he was about to change it when he chanced a look in the mirror. It clung to every muscle and if he raised his hands he could see his clearly defined abs and the soft downy hairs. "Huh. I could get use to this."

* * *

Jeremy looked at the gates of the school and the returning students. He had come here only months ago as an outcast with very little talent for spellcasting, had left an apprentice after his first year and was back as an entirely new person. Archie sat the looking around and then just vanished as blink cats tend to do. Hiking up his bag, as floating them in on the first day was tacky, Jeremy went to the registration building and waited in the slow moving lines. He saw old classmates he would not share classes with since he had jumped up a rank, but he didn't care. None were friends of his anyway.

"Jeremy Dream-Mender?" came a voice. He spun and saw the face of the lovely young lady who had told the sneering girls to lay off even as she wished him luck. "Wow, this is something."

"Hi... I don't even know you name and yet I wish I had asked. Not many ever had something nice to say in my defense." He went a bit wide eyed as she let a few students pass so she could stand next to him.

"It's Darcy, Darcy Bloodwraith." Jeremy nodded and then realized that the Bloodwraith family was notoriously into the darkest arts as their blood was mingled with all sorts of dark entities. "By the look you've heard of my family."

"I have. And I can't say there has been much nice said about them. Black sheep?"

"Totally. My mum hates me since my Father had an affair with a succubus and I popped out." Jeremy tried to cover his snicker. "Go ahead. Laugh, it's better than some of the other reactions. You got laughs from teasing, I got people moving conveniently out of may path."

"Fellow outcast?" She nodded and he gave her a full on winning smile that every young lady within ten paces just stared at.

"Do you know that your smile is mesmerising? I'm immune to the magical parts you haven't learned to control yet, but still it's a lovely smile. All those ninnies," she said gesturing to around, "don't know who you are but want to get to know you very much." Jeremy looked all around at each stunned girl and turned a bit red. "They don't even realize that they know you and treated you like slime."

"How did you know it was me?"

"I know a fellow tantric mage when I see one. I may not have the full power of my birth mu, but I can charm the pants off any man I want...and I won't eat them after." Jeremy snickered. "But you have an aura I have only seen with someone who dealt intimately with intimacy."

He had read there were sects of mages who could see an aura if the person was strongly affliated witha branch magic. It would give them an advantage when dealing with rogues to know where their strengths were. Jeremy had barely been able to scratch the surface of his powers in the tantric arts and already he could see the power it could bring him were he into gathering it. Seduce the right person and you could gain political power. Another could bring him wealth. And another could bring him magical power were he to head down the roads of the black arts and steal another's magics. 

One of the ninnies came over with a sway and a show of very generous cleavage. "Darcy, who's your friend?"

Jeremy rolled his eyes. Archie chose that moment to pop up on the girl's head and urinate. She screamed to the high heavens and fled as Archie jumped to the ground and began licking himself as if pleased. "Good timing, Arch."

"So this is the infamous Archibald. Terror of the girls dorms." She knelt and held out her hand for him to sniff. He did and then consented to be pet.

"Yup, you have unholy powers. He tolerates me." Darcy grinned up and Jeremy could swear her smile was the most lovely thing out there.

"Why did we never talk before?"

"You're a journeyman and I was a novice. No chance." She nodded like that was true. "But we may see each other. Professor Tinker asked me to be his apprentice," he said with a bit of a lift to his chin.

"Novice to apprentice in one day. Who did you sleep with?" she asked under her breath.

Jeremy looked around and whispered, "A hagson." Darcy smothered a giggle and shook her head. "Truth. He's such a disappointment to his mother. Nice, charming, handsome, talented..." he trailed off so as to not offend her but she asked for the entire play by play. By the end she was wondering if it was rape or just the most interesting virgin sacrifice she had heard of.

"So you like guys?"

"Well, Fred is Fred...but there were some normals over break. A couple...Ginnie and Billy." And she had to hear about that too. It seemed she fed off the sexual energies ambient to creatures, not like his from the actual act. She did not eat, she lived off of the sexual energy.

"Tantrics are so much fun to be around. Oops, we're next."

They got their room assignments which was odd for Jeremy to be put in a room with another guy but apprentice rooms were few at the moment with the huge influx of new novices and smaller graduating class than anticipated. The thing was his window was right across the courtyard from Darcy's so he could talk to her all hours of the night if they did it quietly. When he was unpacking his things and removing his robe his room mate came in with five suitcases in tow, dragging them since he had no help. Jeremy grabbed two and then the one around his neck. "Thank you so much. God those things are heavy. I wish Pop had enough to spring for a bag of holding." The guy was taller still then Jeremy but built like he should be on an American football or British rugby team. Muscular, thick bodied and close to seven feet tall. There was something odd about the way he would not meet Jeremy's gaze.

"They are handy. You must be my room mate. I'm Jeremy." He stuck out his hand.

"Graeboe." He did not accept the hand shake. "Umm, can you tell me where the dressers are?"

Jeremy was a bit unsure what to say since they were right in front of him. Then he leaned a bit forward and looked into Graeboe's eye. They were colorless orbs of black. "Umm...I would say two strides for you straight forward. Bed to your immediate left although they may want a bigger one for you. Mine is five paces to your right. Desk at the foot of each bed with chair. Shelves above each bed for whatever."

"Thanks. I'll try not to bump into things too much. With accurate directions I get around well enough but things that move sometimes get bumped."

"Sounds like my brother when he's drunk on holiday. Did the school appoint a guide for the first few days?"

"They...uh...no. Too busy they said. You don't seem to put off by my eyes."

"Took me a second to wonder why you would ask where the dresser was. Blind curse?" Jeremy helped him put his things away, telling him where each item was being put.

"From birth. Pop was a hedge wizard and mom...well she was a hill giant." There were not many half breeds here at the school but Jeremy could see where this would lead. Hill giants were cruel creature who hunted at night and slept during the day, having developednight vision so accute they could not stand the light of a single candle. Had he been born with that vision the curse would be necessary. "Somehow I came out with magics few here in Britain know about, so they sent me here." Jeremy looked curious until Graeboe rolled up a sleeve, showing runes carved into his flesh. "Each is a vision that is given to me by Aegis and I scar it into my flesh as is required of a mystic."

"Mystic? The Herbology teacher is a mystic. Shall I introduce you?" Graeboe swayed and sat heavily on the bed which grew to suit him just fine. "Are you okay?" Jeremy rushed to his side.

"I just never had anyone care enough or be this nice."

Jeremy placed his hand on the half giant's massive shoulder. Like the hills he was descended from it was solid. "I think I know why we were roomed together. Had you seen me two weeks ago and now you would see two different people. I have agood idea what it's like to be teased. I could barely light a candle then."

"Sorcerer?" Jeremy nodded. "But you seem so nice."

"That doesn't count for much in the magical world I'm afraid. But I found out how to break down my block and not too late either. I turn twenty in a few weeks. Young for my Change for any other family other than my own. So you're unpacked. Lets go meet with Professor Brumblebark."




The Magic of a Touch Ch. 02



"Right now?"

"Well, no. I should change out of my robes. I hate them and only have to wear them during my actual classes I help my Master. Potions. Then I can really give you a tour of the place." Jeremy changed into a skin tight shirt and a pair of butt tight shorts without a care of his room mate seeing him naked. "I realized I don't even have to ask you to turn away."

"Funny. The bad part is I can't even cheat off your papers in class." Jeremy laughed and they left the room.

"Shall I give verbal directions or the old hand on my shoulder routine?"

"Shoulder for now. Too many people around to get accurate steps." 

Jeremy led him to the cafeteria, the library, the study wing, the class wing, the sports grounds and then finally out to the greenhouse. "Duck a bit when you go in. The doorway is exactly your height." Graeboe did and slipped in.

Brumblebark was trimming a wild gnarlthorn rose when they entered and looked up with her normal vacant expression for anything not plant based. Her mind wandered at odd times unless she was talking plants. Then her gaze cleared and her attention was focused. "Yes, children?"

"Hey Professor. This is my room mate Graeboe. A fellow Mystic."

Her eyes cleared for a moment. "Ah yes, they said there would be a Mystic student here for the first time and I should advise him." She looked him over. "Hill giant from the western slopes I believe." He nodded. "Good good. And you are?" she asked turning to Jeremy.

"Jeremy."

Her eyes came completely into focus. "Oh child it happened! Like a dragongrass sprig bursting into bloom you have Changed!" She hopped off her stool to show she was only three feet tall, but her pixie wings fluttered to keep her aloft and she gave him a hug. "Don't think this will let you off the hook. I am told you will be given a double load to make up for your skipped year but I know you will rise to the occasion like the whirlybird blossoms in Spring. Ever my brightest student. You and I shall talk...Graeboe was it?" Her focus was wandering even as he nodded. "Good good. Toddle off now." She went back to her pruning.

Jeremy swung by the girl's dorm and asked for Darcy to come down. "Why do you want her when I'm right here?" asked the girl nearest him.

"Because unlike you, she never called me trash or slime or a waste of magical energies." The girl looked so confused until Darcy came out.

"Hey Jeremy. Who's this tall handsome guy?" She looked Graeboe up and down with a glimmer in her eye saying she liked what she was seeing.

"My room mate Graeboe. This is Darcy." They left the girl standing there stunned.

"Who was that silver haired hottie?" asked another girl within earshot.

"I can't believe I'm saying this...but that was Jeremy Dream-Mender." All the girls fainted. Jeremy just grinned, hearing one chanting stupid, stupid, stupid over and over again.

"Justice?" Darcy asked.

"Sweet...sweet justice." He put his arm around her shoulders and gave Graeboe a pat on the back. His life just got a bit better. 



The Magic of a Touch Ch. 03



Jeremy's first few weeks flew by since he had to fill every waking hour with study to catch up. Having skipped a grade was not easy although he had the necessary knowledge. Until now he could not have casted the spells since he had no energy. At first it was funny to see everyone gape at the change in him, hearing all the women chide themselves for making him feel like shit. Even a few guys seemed to think they had been stupid. Not all of them, most from the wizarding world thought too much about themselves to care about anyone else. 

Graeboe was having a lot of problems since he did not learn magic the same way but few would openly tease him since he could cast some very deadly spells with his few runes. He had already proved he was not some one to trifle with one late September day. Jeremy, Darcy and Graeboe were all outside the walls gathering things for their potions assignment, Jeremy doing more so he could replenish some supplies for the Potions class. They had permission to be out and about and between the three of them they had enough fire power to even back off a small dragon. While the half giant could not see, his other sense were very acute and he would learn by smell where everything was from Jeremy. 

"That putrid stench is lifebane blossom." Jeremy picked one of the black flowers and it immediately began to wilt. 

"I remember that one from the lecture. It has properties needed for necromancy, correct?" Graeboe had many potion recipes in his head since his hedge wizard dad specialized in them as all hedge wizards did. The lifebane blossom would help preserve a body to turn into a zombie or other fleshed undead or, mixed with the right ingredients, would keep a body in suspended animation to slow even death. 

"That's the one. It wilts as soon as you pick it so you have to cast a timeless charm or restorative charm on it. Can you cast those yet?" Darcy was ever aware of his limits. If he did not have the rune he could not cast the spell. Yet he might be able to do it with the right combination of runes. 

"I can cast a slowing but not a full timeless. I will have to invest in some jars." 

"I can make a few for you," Darcy offered with a smile and Graeboe returned it. He seemed to know when she was smiling at him but then with a smile like hers even a blind man would know. 

"Well isn't this cozy." Jeremy stood slowly and turned to look at Erich Fire-Maker and two other wizardball jocks. "The freaks of our fine school out and about, off their leashes." Darcy stood and turned to look at them, the light from the sun filtering through her hair and casting alluring shadows about her eyes. It was pure artifice and even Jeremy found it attractive. The two cronies just about swooned. 

"Are you boys here for the scenery or fun?" Her voice was all seduction. 

Jeremy caught her ploy and flipped his own hair to bring his own supernatural charisma into play. "We both would love if it were fun. Wouldn't we, Darcy?" Him speaking made them look his way and the way he held his body, the look in his eyes, and the lilt in his voice made one of the cronies take a step towards him as if in a trance. Jeremy wasn't even trying to entice him, but his own powers were still blossoming and he did not have full control over them yet. 

"Oh yes we would." She moved to Jeremy's side and placed her hand on his chest. The lackey took a few more steps and was close enough for them to reach out and touch. "You find this nice, don't you Angel?" He nodded. Angel Dragonfist was a powerful Cleric with almost equally strong gifts for necromancy but apparently had no defense against charms. He stepped into their out stretched arms and they began to caress his arms and body. Jeremy was acting his butt off since Angel did nothing to arouse him in anyway, but it was a nice little revenge since Erich was looking livid. Livid enough to cast a spell. A lightning bolt slammed into the ground at their feet, making them all fall over. 

"Enough of your sick games!" Darcy looked up with rage, her eyes black pits of death. Jeremy just looked at Angel and Darcy to make sure they were okay. But the forgotten Graeboe was not happy. Not at all. A ghostly hand grabbed Erich around the arms, pinning them to his side and lifting him off the ground. 

"You would dare attack her?" His bellow should have been easily heard at the school it was so loud. The hand stopped all attempts to cast spells as Erich was turned to face the enraged half giant. "You would dare hurt her?" Jeremy stood and rushed to Graeboe's side and placed a hand on his shoulder. 

"Relax. We're fine. No one was hurt." Never had the sorcerer seen him angry. A bit put out yes, but never this angry. His giant side was strong and just below the surface it seemed. The other lackey went to cast a spell but he stopped when he was confronted by four teachers. 

"Let him down, Graeboe," said Professor Pixiedawn, the Journeyman Charms teacher. It seemed like he snapped out of some sort of trance and he let Erich drop to the turf with a thud. Erich scrambled behind the faculty along with the other lackey. Angel and Darcy got up and glared at Erich. "Now, shall I guess what happened or shall I get a straight answer?" All of them started talking at once and didn't stop until a deafening boom clapped above their heads. "One at a time if you will. Jeremy, since you seem to be level headed, you start." 

"Darcy, Graeboe and I were collecting components for potions when Erich came up with his usual witty remarks. Darcy and I had our own little fun and I inadvertently charmed Angel and then Erich landed a bolt at our feet to break the spell and get us away from Angel. We landed on our bottoms unharmed but Graeboe, unable to see this, nullified Erich as you saw." Jeremy wondered what spell that was too. It would be a great defense against other wizards who still relied on gestures to cast spells. 

"Darcy? Are you injured?" 

"I'm fine. I started it and Jeremy just went along to make fun of the others since they were making fun of us. Calling us freaks. We went a bit overboard." She was not trying to deny the fact they had a hand in the problem. 

"Erich?" He went to lie right to the teachers but the look in Graeboe's eyes stopped the lie cold. 

"It's how they say. I made fun of them and then did something I should not have." All the anger left the half giant. "I apologize if you were hurt." "We're all fine so no need. I need some more study on how to control my powers so there isn't a repeat event." Jeremy knew it was his own charisma that started it, although Darcy was pretty sexy. 

"Since no one was injured we shall simply use this as a warning. Angel, do you wish to see Jeremy punished for his misuse of magic?" The professor hoped not. It would make it so much easier if the lad simply let it be. 

"No. We were being jerks and ... no. I don't want him punished." Jeremy smiled and a mouthed a thanks. 

"Very well. All of you will return to the school. Except you Jeremy. Finish your duties for your master and then report to him for anything else he made need. He will be notified of this event." One teacher stayed to usher the others away while Jeremy did his duty. When the others were gone there came a clapping and Jeremy looked to see Fred standing there with a huge grin. Jeremy's own smile was no less large as he stood and walked over to give him a hug. 

"Did you see it all?" 

"Yup. Nice seduction charm. The Angel guy never had a chance." Jeremy shrugged and kissed Fred.

"You seem to have missed me." 

"To quote your American counterparts, duh." Fred rolled his eyes but smooched him back. "So what brings you by?" 

"Mom wanted me to extend an invite for you for dinner and a lesson. In exchange for a bit of blood. Seems your Tantric blood has some peculiar qualities she wants." Jeremy nodded and looked at the sun and nodded again. It no longer bothered him really since Fred had been gentle about the blood taking last time. 

"Let me finish my duties and then report to my master." Fred nodded and ended up helping him find a few things here and there. "You don't seem to know the woods as well as the swamp." 

"Mom rarely leaves the swamps so she hasn't taught me much." 

"Stick around and you'll learn a few things." Jeremy slid his hand down to caress the bulge in Fred's jeans. "And find out a few things I learned from talks with my mum." 

"Later, as much as I would really, really like to find those things out." Jeremy nodded and began his own lessons. Fred snapped his fingers and a pencil and notebook appeared. 

"How did you do that?" 

"That? It's a pocket spell. Holds a few things depending on how much energy you expend when you cast it. One of the few non-Hag spells I can cast." He looked at the desire in Jeremy's eyes. "Want to know how to cast it, right?" He nodded and batted his eyelashes. "Fine, just stop fluttering or I may actually go back on the right thing to do and bone you right now." 

"I'll have to try harder." Jeremy slid his hand down his now taught tummy and to the bulge in his own jeans. Fred gulped and looked away. All it did was make Jeremy laugh and he stopped. They went about the forest quickly and efficiently, Fred taking many notes as fast as he could, sketching a few plant he could not describe with words. 

"Coming to Mom's now?" Fred asked. 

"Later. I need to turn in these components." Jeremy turned to leave and Fred let out a sigh. That was when Jeremy swept him into his arms and kissed him. There was no magic in this kiss past what anyone would feel with a very nice kiss. "I'll see you at dinner," said Jeremy and then went whistling back to the school. 

Jeremy reported the potions teacher who was not all that pleased to see him. "So, what's this I hear about a problem outside the campus?" 

"Oh jeez A bully teased us, I vamped one of them without really meaning to and my room mate held him with some sort of spell after he dropped a lightning bolt at our feet." Jeremy hoped he did not get in trouble from his master. 

"Really?" Jeremy nodded. "Well, put the components away and then have a seat for a talk about this." With a nod Jeremy did just that, paying very close attention to detail when putting it all away. One less thing to be yelled at for. When he was done he sat across the desk from the teacher who leaned closer. The look on his face said he was trying to be stern without being a total jerk. "Did you vamp the rat bastard git good?" 

Jeremy snickered and then laughed. "Oh yeah. I think a few more seconds and I would have been doing something I had not really wanted to do with a very horny cleric." 

Professor Tinker laughed and clapped his hands. "Well done, lad, well done. I had my share of bully trouble when I was in school. Know why I teach potions?" Jeremy shook his head. Come to think of it he had never once asked why he did. "I'm a hedge wizard." The sorcerer's jaw bounced off the floor. "Yet I beat out every candidate for the job with my skills and what few spells I can cast. The sorcerers of my day teased me to no end when I was enrolled here. Save one. A lovely sorceress who always had a kind word and a hug for a gangly hedge." 

"Just a guess...my mum?" Tinker nodded. 

"Don't think that's why you got the job, Jeremy. Neither you being teased nor your mum are the reasons you are my apprentice. You show a lot of promise for scholarly arts such as potions. Your mother did not." That went into a few stories about his mother's horrid potion fiascoes "I tutored her, she tutored me on what I could cast. I wonder if she even remembers me." 

"Probably. But Professor, why the talk?" 

"OH! I forgot. I'm arranging for some lessons with an associate of mine for you. To help you control your blossoming powers." Jeremy perked up. "While here at school you will attend these lessons whenever you have free time and twice a week at nights. You will find her a lot to handle." 

"Her?" Jeremy wondered if he already knew about these lessons. 

"Yes. A swamp hag." 

Jeremy grinned and clapped happily. "Is it Hagath? Please tell me it is." 

Tinker blinked. "You know her?" 

"Very well actually. Both through my studies in herbology, dark magics, and her son Hagfred." Tinker raised a brow. "He...uh...was the one who realized I was Tantric." Tinker grinned and shook his head. 

"Good looking lad a few years older than you?" Jeremy nodded. "Now it makes sense why she offered to help for a steep price. If you know her, lad, then all the better. Off with you. Your time is your own until you have your lessons. And please learn quickly. We don't want a cleric falling in love with you, now do we, hmm?" Jeremy shook his head and left with a spring in his step. 

As he was making his way back to his dorm to change into nicer clothes, he saw Angel sitting on a bench under a tree with his face in his hands. Something inside Jeremy knew he was upset. Walking over he sat down beside him. "You okay Angel?" The cleric jumped and looked at him and nodded. "Just thinking about today. Listen, I'm sorry about being a dick to you. Erich is right git for all the hell he put you through and I don't want any part of it anymore." 

"Yeah, well. I'm sorry too. I don't know my own powers yet and you got zapped." 

Angel shook his head. "I'm fine. It was interesting to say the least. I guess I need to work on my defense against charms." 

Jeremy thought for a moment. "I didn't cast a charm spell." Angel looked curious and then paled. "I just...stopped being not sexy. Then only thing I did was let it go." 

The cleric stood and motioned for Jeremy to follow. He led them past some students and into one of the lesser used sections of the library as it pertained to normals and their lives. "No charm?" Jeremy shook his head. "You won't tell anyone about this?"  

"About wh..." Jeremy couldn't finish and Angel planted one steamy kiss on Jeremy's lips. At first Jeremy was going to push him away, Angel didn't really arouse him even as a friend, but he found his arms wrapped around the muscular lad's torso. It was some kiss too, one that felt like it had been years in wait. 

The fire subsided into a soft, gentle kiss with an embrace. Angel laid his head on Jeremy's shoulder and just stood there with a somewhat flustered sorcerer wondering what really just happened. "I've been wanting to do that for a while now," Angel admitted. 

"So...huh. I'm confused." And he was. Why would someone who wanted to kiss him tease him so much? He asked as much. 

"It's not popular to like the school pariah, not manly to like a bloke." Angel pulled away and leaned against the shelf with his arms crossed. "Not only would Erich kick me off the team, my Da would kick me out of the family and the house. He expects all ten of his sons to be men. Manly men who chew boulders and fart thunder. I'm the ninth born and the only cleric. The rest are sorcerers and my little bro is a druid. Can't have a sissy for a son, not Mortichai Dragonfist." Jeremy's heart went out to the young man. "And I guess I can tell you. I mean you have every reason to hate me and yet you still feel sorry for what I have to go through." 

"I do. It's a right nasty situation you're in, Angel. And if it's any consolation that was some kiss." The wizardball player smiled and blushed. "But why me?" 

"I guess...I guess it started back in our first year here. You were top of the class in runes and me the bottom. What cleric needs arcane runes?" Even Jeremy had asked that question. To learn something was never a bad thing, even if you never used the knowledge. "The teasing had already started but when I asked for some help you just smiled and nodded." The sorcerer vaguely remembered that as he had helped a few people in each class. "But even then your smile was so inviting. Like your body knew I wanted to ask you to the Yule Ball. There you are, taking all that guff from everyone and still you have the heart to help me." 

Jeremy smiled and turned a little pink. He had never been to any Balls here at the Academy. No one had ever asked him. He knew he would get a lot of offers now. "I wish you had asked. I could have sent my mum over to your Da and had her vamp him into stop being such a git." Angel grinned. "Do you...uh...like blokes too?" 

"A bit. Like my mum I'm a Tantric. I get energy from sex and seduction." Angel looked a bit confused and a lot curious. Jeremy told him a little about Fred. He didn't know why, he just felt like he needed to tell him. 

"So...maybe...no, Da would kill me." Jeremy leaned in and gave him an small kiss on the cheek. "If you do ask me, I'll save you a dance at the Ball." Jeremy left there wondering what exactly just happened. He seemed to attract men more than women. That or he was just used to really hating the girls around here because they were such harpies. Angel stayed there with a pensive look on his face. 

Graeboe was on his bed when Jeremy walked in. He sat up. "Did you get in trouble because of me?" "Huh? No, Grae, I didn't. Not really. I have more lessons I have to take now, but I should have looked into those anyway." He plopped onto his bed and thought about the day. It had started out normal...normal since his change anyway. Girls fawning and apologizing for everything they ever said to him, guys still treating him like dirt except now it was jealousy rather than disdain, out of the Academy on errands for Professor Tinker. But now his teacher was the least of all magicker, one of his tormentors has had a crush on him for four years and turns out to be a good kisser and decent snuggler, he had lesson with a hag he'd known for years secretly... "Grae, what was that spell you used on Erich?" 

"A binding spell. I don't have a rune for invisibility so I had to give it form. Mage hand plus binding and levitation." Jeremy nodded and wondered if could replicate it. He knew the words for all of those, except the hand was a cantrip. "You seem...out of sorts." 

"Considering my day, a bit. I have to change into something more appropriate for my lesson. No peeking." Graeboe just snickered. It was a funny thing to them in private since Jeremy bumped into more things than the half-giant did. Of course Grae usually moved them into his path. Archie picked that moment to pop up looking rather worse for wear. He was mewling pathetically and fell onto the bed. "Arch!" Jeremy was still without pants or a shirt as he checked his familiar over for injury. He was scorched, scratched, bitten and showed signs of being restrained by magic to prevent his escape. "Hold on, I'll get you to the infirmary." Graeboe was already opening the door to the crowded dorm hall. 

"Everybody move!" he bellowed and began running forward. No one got in his way, especially once they saw Jeremy's eyes were a blood red as he cast the few healing spells a sorcerer could on his familiar. The run kept going in the main halls and more than one person yelled at the giant for knocking them over and more than one lady all but swooned at the sight of Jeremy nearly naked running through the halls. 

"What happened?" asked Darcy as she came jogging up. 

"Something attacked Arch." She nodded and ran with him. Her own spells went into effect, only these were divination spells designed to ferret out the culprit. 

The infirmary was pretty much empty save for a druid with a nasty bite from a drake that was slowly turning his arm into wood. "Do not barge in here like this," scolded Madame Tincture the cleric on duty. Jeremy held out Archibald and she looked closely at him. "You should have brought him to Professor Ravenfeather but since he's here." She gestured to a bed and Jeremy laid the blink cat down. The poor beast mewled in pain. "I see you've been doing what you can and it helped. Darcy, what have you found out?" 

"It was three different animals and one wizard I think. I've never encountered this spell to hold a blink cat in place." 




The Magic of a Touch Ch. 03



She nodded and began casting her spells. "Until he is well enough to take to Ravenfeather, he will stay here. Now out with you and put some clothes on." She shooed them all out and Jeremy waved his hand to conjure up a simple pair of shorts to put on. 

Angel came running up looking worried. "Tell me Archie's fine." Jeremy shook his head. "Okay, I was a dick, but I never would have gone after your familiar." 

"You mean...Erich?" 

"Not directly, he's not that dumb. The other ballers...yeah. I'll see what I can do in there to help as my master exams are next month and I'm not shabby at treating multiple injuries." Jeremy nodded and the cleric ducked in to offer his assistance. 

"That was odd," said Darcy. 

"Not with the day I've had. And I have lessons in a few minutes. Can you guys keep looking for clues?" They nodded and Jeremy went back to his room to finish getting ready, seething as he went. Someone had purposefully hurt Archie. They would pay. Only one person got in his way and they were glared at until they moved, those unearthly green eyes of Jeremy's now fully blood red. Changed and out of the Academy, Jeremy began his walk to the swamps but was met by Fred. One look and Fred knew someone had royally pissed off the sorcerer. "Who do you want me to kill? Mom will be so thrilled to know I killed someone in cold blood." 

"Someone hurt Arch." Fred nodded and took his hand, telelporting them to the cabin. 

"You're early, Jeremy. Trying to catch me by...who pissed in your bean curd?" Jeremy shot her a look and for once the hag was daunted. Here was a full sorcerer who was pissed and her hag-like ways would only be tolerated so far. 

"Teach me. Anything that will help me get the goat fucking gits back for hurting Archie." 

"Supper will wait then. Come with me out to the swamps." Fred look at his mother with something akin to awe. "Close your mouth Fred, I learned when to stop being a hag when I came across his mother when she came here. Bested me for my smart mouth and told me to learn some diplomacy or she would be back." Seemed like many people knew his mum. "Now, revenge I understand, but when you're dealing with black magic you must be calm or it will consume you. Fred you will join us." 

"But Mom..." 

"NOW! I won't hear another word about your squeamishness for black magic. It is time you learned your true magics and not the simple tricks you pick up from whoring around with others." Jeremy looked at Fred who was outright shocked and a bit angry. "Glare all you want. In fact here is a lesson in hag custom. Do it or I will curse you until you can no longer stand the sight of me." Fred joined them. He had never seen his mom so upset with him. "Fine, but one day you may find one of your own curses fired your way." 

"If you ever have the balls to do it I will be the proudest hag in the world." She smiled at her son who shook his head like he would never fully understand his mother. "Let's start with what you know." 

That turned out to be next to nothing for hexes and curses. Jinxes he knew as they required little energy past a desire for mischief. "Pathetic, but then those wizards at the school never had the stomach to cast black spells. Now, think of happier things, Jeremy. Something that will take you from this rage you feel." 

Nothing came to mind until Fred took his hand and smiled. Here was something good in his life. His first real friend. In fact, he had friends now. Grae and Darcy, Billy and Ginnie, Fred and perhaps Angel even. The thought of them brought his boiling blood down and the red of his eyes retreated to just the irises. He took a deep breath and released it slowly. Then he learned. He did not like knowing these spells but knowing is never a bad thing. Fred picked them up with ease as he was born to cast them and Jeremy was surprised to see how much Fred hated all of this. At the dinner table Jeremy was a lot calmer. 

"Still contemplating revenge?" asked Hagath. 

"Not as much. Now that I can think again." Jeremy felt a bit sheepish too. He had been hellbent on getting them back, but Archie would live. He might be a bit more surly but he would live. "Still doesn't mean I won't drop a stink bomb into their dorms if I find who did it." 

"In assorted scents I hope. If you need ideas I'll help you," said Fred with a grin. 

"I do hope something a bit more evil, son." Hagath hoped her son would be a terror. 

"I was thinking the smell of your dirty socks would be a nice permanent stench in their nose whenever they smelled something nice." Hagath cackled with glee and Jeremy nudged his foot under the table. "Or the taste of your mutton stew when they ate dessert." She only cackled harder. Her cooking was actually quite good but Fred was being diplomatic. "Or I could hex them into lusting after Jeremy." Jeremy was mildly affronted but Fred just took his hand and smiled. "The gods know I'm ensorcelled by him already." Jeremy leaned in and they kissed. 

"Not at the table you two," Hagath said sternly and then they went at it with abandon, their tongues fighting to get in each others mouth. "I said not at the table!" 

"Tough," said Fred and slipped his hand under Jeremy's shirt. The hag smiled fondly at her defiant son and his male lover...what hag could ever ask for anything more? 

Without breaking their kiss they moved into the small room that had been Fred's when he lived here. There was no bed, just a pallet on the ground, but that was enough for them. Jeremy pulled Fred atop him and much to Fred's surprise their clothes vanished from off their bodies. The hagson parted their kiss when he felt something vastly different about Jeremy's body. "What?" asked Jeremy, a bit out of breath. Fred's eyes just about leaped out of his skull when he saw Jeremy's erection. Thankfully the girth had not gotten much bigger, maybe a half centimeter in diameter, but what had been just under thirteen centimeters was now close to twenty-two centimeters. "Damn." Jeremy just grinned like he was proud of himself. "Yeah, yeah. So you got dick now. Still doesn't mean you're getting my ass." 

"Really?" Jeremy started to toy with the nape of Fred's neck, releasing a subtle spell for compelling.

"Are you sure I can't have some Fred?" 

The hagson felt the spell and knew Jeremy was teasing him because it had little power. Yet that spell he had cast at his mother's house coupled with this one had Fred's resolve on the brink of shattering. "You are not right." The hagson broke away from Jeremy's magic touch and kissed his way down the downy hair dusted chest and across the washboard abs to lick the exposed head of that Changed dick. Jeremy giggled a bit because it was more sensitive now and found that he still loved blowjobs. Whoda thunk it? "Gods you even taste better too. I swear you are a strain on my self-control" 

"Fred?" The hagson looked up at the gentle tone. "Don't control yourself." Jeremy smiled lovingly. 

"But I know I would hurt you. I took it easy on you last time...very easy." 

Jeremy rolled, Fred going with him, and they landed on the floor with Jeremy somehow straddling the man's hips. "Then I will just have to be rough with you myself." Fred didn't get much time to do or say anything because Jeremy flicked a hand and said a single word, pinning Fred to the floor with materialized ropes. The look of surprise was comical but the grin that spread across Fred's lips was sultry and sexy. "Where to start?" Jeremy shimmied down to Fred's feet and sat back to ponder what to do, his erection pointing up like a giant sign of his morale. "What did mum call it? Oh yes, sixty-nine." Fred chuckled but then found that pole in his face as Jeremy slurped down his entire dick in one gulp. New part of his Change: no gag reflex and the ability to deep throat. Fred could do nothing but moan and then he devoured Jeremy's magic wand because it was right there. Jeremy's mouth was amazing and most of his brain was shut off to just enjoy this. That last bit of intelligent thought could tell that Jeremy's energies were steadily climbing. Then even that was shut off as the Tantric began to slide his tongue down to Fred's heavy sac. "Must thank your mom for talking to you," he said as he pulled off. "Like that?" The hagson nodded. "Then you'll love this." Jeremy spun and took Fred's dick all the way in his waiting and willing ass. The bad thing was Fred could not move from the rope spell. The good thing was Jeremy was doing enough moving. When had he learned how to ride? It was so amazing...could it be something he knew how to do once his magic became active? It would make sense. His pelvis was rolling, gyrating and Fred was moaning softly. He could not control it at all. His body shook when Jeremy began to nibble and bite at his neck and ear, whispering dirty phrases so the hot breath would tickle. 

"Are you trying to get me to cum quickly? Cause it's working." 

"How soon?" 

"Like if you don't stop I'm going to right now." Jeremy stopped. Fred shivered and spasmed as his body fought to climax, but it did not. "Why did you stop?" 

"No orgasm for you until I get what I want." Fred's glare was pure evil. There was a small chuckle from the other room. "Stop eavesdropping, you old crone, or I'll give him what he wants and end your sick voyeurism." That only made Hagath laugh. 

Jeremy wiggled a bit and Fred gasped, instantly ready to cum again, but Jeremy pulled off and flicked a finger, the hagson lifting into the air by the ropes. "This is so hot," Fred mumbled. He had never been handled so well, so effortlessly, and it was by the guy whose cherry he popped not too long ago. Where had that boy gone? "Do you really want my ass Jeremy?" he asked breathlessly as the sorcerer slid around to grind his wizard's staff against Fred's perky cheeks. It was getting him hot because he had never bottomed...but he would for Jeremy and he knew that. Gods above Jeremy could do whatever he wanted. 

"Very much so. Now, will you give it up with or without a fight? Please say with." Fred caught a glimpse of Jeremy's eyes. They were solid red. He was seriously turned on and his energy level was higher than ever. 

"What's come over you?" Fred asked, a bit afraid now. This was not the young man he knew. Something was wrong. 

"Honestly?" Jeremy moved back around, his returning to their natural color. "Nothing, just wanted to make you squirm." His grin was insufferable. 

"You better be glad that I'm tied up or I would probably curse you right now." Jeremy laughed and kissed Fred, the ropes vanishing. But Fred could not speak and his hands were currently engaged in feeling all over Jeremy's Changed body; no curse could be used. "You mean", Fred was saying between kisses, "that all of this...was an act?" 

"No," Jeremy said, resting his forehead against his lover's, "just my little way of getting you back for your virgin sacrifice." 

"Am I ever going to ever live that down?" 

"Only one way," Jeremy said with a huge grin. The hagson's jaw dropped, and he went to speak, but Jeremy silenced him with a kiss. "And I want you to give that to me if and when you're ready, and not before." The kissing that followed was soft, gentle, and more like the Jeremy he knew. "And time for me to be very, very evil." 

"How?" asked Fred. 

"I have to get back to school." Neither of them had gotten off and Fred just groaned. That is until Jeremy cast a spell, one his mother had taught him; one straight from the Tantric Book of Turning Tricks. Fred groaned loudly and he was set into immediate orgasm, his seed spraying all over Jeremy's fuzzy stomach. It felt as if his heart was going to explode out of his chest, that his brain would hemorrhage, that his balls were pouring out of his dick. The sorcerer was ready for it and held the hagson up as his knees gave out. It was rather comical to actually see his eyes roll back. "Fuck a duck, what spell was that?" 

"One I can never use on you again. If I did it would stop your heart." Fred's eyes snapped wide. Jeremy nodded. "At least, if you were human. Mum calls it the Widow's Kiss. It's only reason is to kill someone with sex if cast more than once." 

"Then why cast it?" "Because I wanted to give you the best orgasm you could ever have. No one else will ever be able to give you one like it except for me. The other part of the spell is that any normal orgasm we have together will be that strong." Fred thought it almost sadistically romantic. He could learn a few things about being a hagson from Jeremy. 

"I doubt that will ever be a problem. Since I met you I have had no other partner." Jeremy kissed him deeply, longingly, and then vanished in a puff of smoke. "Evil!" Hagath, from the other room, cackled with glee, and on the wind was an echo from Jeremy. The bad thing is Fred would have it no other way. This mischievous side of Jeremy was a turn on. 

Jeremy popped up just outside the perimeter of the school. The gargoyles that guarded the front gate stayed motionless, knowing he belonged here. He made his way to infirmary and once inside he saw a sight that made him smile. Archie was asleep and looked well enough. He was being held by Angel who was also asleep in a chair. Madame Tincture came in and motioned him into her office. "How is he?" 

"He'll be fine. I was able to find out that a canine, a raptor bird and a large rodent caused the scratches. The spell...I have never seen its like. Ravenfeather came in and confirmed my findings saying Archibald would be better sleeping here one night with people than in the beast wing." 

Jeremy nodded. "And was Angel a help?" 

"That boy healed most everything himself. I have never seen a cleric so driven to heal another person's familiar." Jeremy sighed and hung his head to cover up his smile. "Your familiar would not sleep well until Angel held him, then he was slumbering and purring." 

"I must thank him in the morning. And thank you. I would be lost without Archie." 

"And whoever attacked him knew that. I've put in a complaint with the headmaster. While familiars will fight, it is rarely this coordinated. Then there is the spell being cast. He shall look into it." 

All Jeremy could do was nod. It was now in the headmaster's hands and he doubted whoever had done this would sleep well knowing this. "Thank you. I'm going to my room. If Archie seems restless, he likes milk with honey." She nodded and he left with one final gaze at the sleeping pair. Jeremy hit the showers on his way to his room. Graeboe was still awake as he walked in. "Waiting up for me?" 

"Almost. I was studying the spell used." Jeremy stripped and pulled on his sleeping shorts "It was not cast as a single spell, but rather like I would cast a spell. A chain of smaller spells, each one very weak but the result was...well, you know that." The half-giant held out his notes, Jeremy had taken pains to learn the language Grae read and wrote in. Normals had developed it and the few wizards who were blind had adopted it and wrote tomes in it. Now it was easier to produce with technology. 

"This is rune based. We covered these runes a few weeks ago. And I know you don't have half of these. It wasn't a mystic who cast this." 

"My thoughts too. Someone in our year, or a student from a higher grade cast this. The sad part is I don't know of a single caster who is this good with runes except for you and me." It was true that both Grae and Jeremy were the top students in the school in runes. Neither would hurt the blink cat. 

"Could three do this? There were three different familiars that attacked Arch." He sat and pulled out his brush for his long hair. Being with Fred had a tendency to make it messy. 

"Hmm. They would have to be very close to each other. Remember runes require a synergy when written by multiple casters." Jeremy did remember, now that he mentioned it. The casters need to have shared and pooled energy before and on more than one occasion. The more often they did, the more alike their minds and energies meshed and runes required this. Much like handwriting among the normals, parents and off spring often had similar ways of writing, showing a closeness in action and thoughts. 

"Then we need to find a set of people with a canine, bird of prey and rodent who have shared energy." 

"That will narrow it down quite a bit." Grae stood and stretched. "Um, Jeremy, may I ask your opinion on something?" 

The awkwardness in his voice was new. Even when they first me it was never this unsure. "Yeah, Grae, you can ask for it anytime." 

"Am I...attractive?" 

Jeremy was a bit shocked by the question. "Yeah. I mean, if I wasn't your best friend I might try and seduce you." He wondered what brought this on. 

Graeboe just rolled his huge blackened eyes. "Seriously. I mean I know I'm muscular and I bathe every day, but am I pleasing to look at? Being so tall and obviously not human." 

Jeremy was even more confused. "Grae, you know I'm on the fence as far as sex goes but romantically I like guys more. I find you attractive enough for a second look and good looking enough to want to get to know what lies beneath the burly behemoth. That is where your true appeal lies. You've a good heart, which for many is better than looks. Would I date you? No, I'm not romantically interested in you. Sleep with you...if you weren't my best friend, yes." Grae nodded as if he understood all that. "Why ask?" 

"I...wanted to know if you think it's a good idea for me to ask Darcy to the formal." 

The grin that split Jeremy's face was huge. Grae and Darcy? Not a bad match up, all things considered. "I think you should ask. I know she would dance with you without question." Mentioning dance made him think of Angel. 

"Really? I mean...she might say yes...but what if she says no?" 

The big guy was just so cute. Who would have thought a giant would be so insecure? "Grae, ask her. I won't promise she'll say yes, but she probably will give it serious thought." 

"Really? Thanks. I know she would think about it...but I needed to hear it from someone else. My brain is swarming with the sleepies. Good night, Jeremy." 

"Good night, Grae. Thanks for all the help today." The giant nodded and extinguished his light before crawling into bed. He did not need the light, but it made him feel more normal to use it. With a small smile, Jeremy tucked himself into bed and gestured for his light to go out. As soon as he did there was a small pop in the room. Archie came up to his face and sat on it. "Glad to see you're better."

Archie, for once did not ignore him but rather made his way to sleep beside Jeremy for one of his rare cuddling moods. Jeremy put an arm around his familiar, feeling a soft purr. For all the bad done to him, Archie would be fine. Jeremy and Grae were studying after potions when Angel and Darcy came jogging up. Funny thing is Graeboe looked right up at her before even Jeremy heard them.

"Hey, Jeremy, we might have one of the culprits," said Angel. 

"Good. I'm not very good at divination spells and have come up with nothing." Jeremy never studied that school of magic very much. It required far too much energy for even the smallest of spells and his schedule was too swamped this year for it to fit. The best he could do was find his lost socks when Archie hid them. 

"No magic involved." 

Darcy smiled at Grae and gave him a hug. "Hey handsome." He beamed a smile back at her. "Archie was making himself Angel's personal shoulder jockey when we were walking from cross-arts class." 

"Sorry, Angel, I can ask him to stop." Jeremy could in no way control the blink cat. 

"No, it's fine. I like him. I would prefer him on my shoulder than getting attacked again." 

Jeremy nodded. He was glad that Archie had made a friend or two rather than terrorizing everyone. "As I was saying. He started to hiss at Valkoor Onyxbeak." Jeremy's brow furrowed. "Don't know him? He's a druid who should be more into necromancy than his natural spells. He's a down right git." 




The Magic of a Touch Ch. 03



"Tall, black hair, looks like he's constantly smelling something nasty?" They all nodded. "He hissed? Was his tail fluffed?" Angel nodded. "Were his eyes glowing?" Darcy nodded. "Did he blink rapidly?" They both nodded. "Then it sounds like he might be. Those are signs Archie is pissed. Any one of them alone means nothing other than him being a pill." 

Said pill popped up in Jeremy's lap and butted his head against his chest. "Speak of the monster." Darcy giggled at Grae's joke as the giant unerringly found the blink cat's head and gave it a gentle pat. 

Archie bit him. Not hard, but it was their way of getting along. "Hey, Darcy, could you and Grae follow him? I know that's physically impossible, but the two of you have done some great work together so far." 

"Sure. C'mon, handsome, lets go track an asshat druid, see what his bond animal is." He quickly gathered his stuff and shot Jeremy a grin. The half-giant knew he would have some time alone with her. 

As they were leaving Angel sat. "So...what's with the divide and conquer?" 

"Grae wants to ask her to the formal, so I gave him the chance." Angel grinned as Archie jumped into his lap. 

"Nice. Speaking of...Would you go with me to the formal?" 

Jeremy looked at him. "What about your Dad...or your team mates?" 

"Well...seems someone told him what happened between us that day and he has made it very clear that I can forget about coming home for awhile." There was a small catch in his voice. "At least until I pass my masters and take another year for defense against charms." 

Jeremy's eyes flashed red and Archie hissed. "Seriously?" Angel nodded, masking the hurt well. "Hmm, I think I don't like your father very much. Nope." Jeremy made a gesture and a pencil and paper appeared from his pocket spell Fred taught him. Scribbling a note, he looked at Archie. The blink cat stood and took the note in his mouth and vanished. 

"Has he ever been so...manageable?" All the tales of the cat said he was hell. 

"Not often and only when it was very important. I think he sensed this was important to me and he decided to be nice. That or the attack changed him a lot." Angel nodded. It was more likely the attack."And yes, I'll go to the formal with you." 

Angel's smile was so bright. "Thanks. I know you said you would save me a dance..." 

"I think a few more than one are in the cards." Jeremy smiled at the cleric who was fast becoming one of Jeremy's closest friends. "Of course, I'll have to dance with Darcy and Grae, and Fred if he shows up." 

"You've mentioned him...a bit in the library." 

"Ah. Well, Fred is...Fred." Jeremy told Angel all about him and by the end, the cleric was a bit jealous. 

"If he has been all that, why haven't you asked him to the formal?" 

"Because a certain cleric has turned out to be a sweetheart." That made him blush. 

He was about to say something when Tarlac Gruffheart came running up. "Sorry to pull you away from your talk, Ang, but an emergency team meeting has been called." 

"Okay. We'll continue this later, Jeremy." He nodded and the duo sped off to the gymnasium. It had been an honest answer, but Jeremy didn't want to say he hadn't asked Fred because he knew Fred would say no. He genuinely liked Angel and was fast seeing him more romantically than before. Better to omit something that might make him feel shitty. 

As the sorcerer was finishing up his studies, Archie reappeared with a note: 

Dear Jeremy, I know the man and he will be dealt with...my way. 

He grinned and gave Archie a hug, transferring the cat to his shoulder. "You know, you're being far better to us now. I like it. So does Angel." Mentioning the cleric made Archie mewl. "You like him too, huh? He asked me to the formal." 

Archie nuzzled under his chin. 

"I know! I mean last semester we couldn't really stand each other. But he turns out to be this amazing person." 

"Who does?" came a voice that made Jeremy stop and glare. 

"The fuck do you want, Ivan?" 

The eldest brother, Ivan was a strongly built and powerful geomancer. "Watch your tone, Germ," Ivan threatened. 

"Sot off." Archie was hissing, and Jeremy looked at him. The cat was livid to see the eldest. "What do you want?" 

"Nothing with you. I'm here to help redesign the arena for the upcoming Wizard Ball season. Being paid handsomely for it too." 

Jeremy twirled his finger in the air. "Whoop-de-do. Go play in the dirt, Ivan." He walked past his brother without a backward glance. 

"You never did answer my question." 

"That's because it's none of your business." The ground rumbled beneath his feet, causing him to stumble and drop his books. Archie blinked away. Jeremy stood up and slowly turned to glare at his brother, his eyes red. "You want to have a go, Ivan? I'm not some push over any more." 

But Ivan was smiling. "I'm happy to see that." The ground stopped trembling. "Mum said you grew a spine and I'm glad to see she was right." Jeremy was wondering what his game was. "Yeah, we picked on you, but I stopped if you recall. Even during the holidays." Jeremy relaxed a bit. It was true, Ivan had stopped tormenting him...mostly. Maybe a small joke here and there, but no magical tortures. 

"Why is that?" 

"I grew up, got out of the house, learned about life and how I was not going to get anywhere being a git. You are my youngest brother, I have to make your life difficult, but I don't have to be a dick about it." That put Jeremy more at ease. Ivan was nothing if not bluntly honest. If he said it, he meant it. "What were you planning on doing to me?" 

Jeremy's grin was slightly evil as his eyes flashed black but settled back to green. "A hundred years of jock itch to start with." Ivan cringed and laughed. "There is no spell for that." 

"Who said I only have teachers from the school? Be sure to plant some nasty traps on the field that don't hurt clerics." 

"Ah, so he's a cleric?" Jeremy flipped him off with a smile and picked up his books to head to his last class for the day. So, one culprit being followed, I have a date for the formal and Ivan isn't all that much of a dick any more. Good day. 

Jeremy was napping in the quad with Archie on his stomach when the cat woke him with a paw to the nose. "What?" He looked around to see people gathering at the message board. Curious, Jeremy stood and walked over. He stood taller than most there so he could see what everyone was looking at. A post said that due to personal reasons, the flanker from the varsity team was leaving school and tryouts for his spot were being held during the weekend. "That must be what the meeting was about," he said to himself. 

"You're right," said Angel as he walked up. "You going to try out?" 

Jeremy almost said no without thinking, but now...now he could actually be on the team. Angel would be there which was a bonus, and he could show everyone just how good he really was. Then he shrugged. "I might. I do have a lot of extra studies this semester." 

"Yeah. About that." Angel was looking everywhere but at Jeremy. "I kinda already said something to your Master and he liked the idea, especially since I mentioned you were an excellent tutor." 

"You did...what?" 

"I know! It was kind of low, and I'm sorry," Angel dragged him away from the boards and out of ear shot, "but I want to spend more time with you. And if you're on the team, the guys can't mess with you else they will find that their defender isn't guarding them." Angel was the varsity defender. 

"You went to all that trouble just to make me try out?" Angel nodded. Jeremy smiled an gave him a hug. "Then I guess I'll have to try out." 

Angel grinned. "Making me squirm?" 

"Yeah...I seem to be getting good at that." Jeremy walked right over and signed up, more than one person gasping as he did so. It was so out of character to do something that was not studious. A few acolytes signed up just in case they drafted from the JV team. Jogging back, he smiled. "There, all signed up." For better or worse, Jeremy was going to try out for the Wizard Ball team.



The Magic of a Touch Ch. 04



Once Jeremy decided he was going to do his best at the tryouts, he knew he would have to do some serious studying. Not of the spells, he knew more than most as far as the mechanics, but of the rules. He didn't want to let Angel down by not getting in because he didn't know the rules. What spells were illegal? What tactics were used a lot? What did a flanker do, besides the obvious? He spent one evening with his nose in a Wizardball book when he was supposed to be studying for a test. It was in herbology and one he felt confident he would pass even without study since Grae was talking about only two things: herbology and Darcy agreeing to take him to the formal.

The two of them were so cute together. While Jeremy was sitting on the sidelines of their budding romance, he could see that Grae had been smitten from the moment they met. Darcy had made no secret of her attraction to him, but romance for a half succubus is generally not in the cards. When he had asked her, she immediately said yes.

Grae had come back to the room to find Jeremy doing some light reading of a simple plays. The biggest grin ever was on his face. "Rampaging and grinning again?" the sorcerer asked.

"Grinning yes. Darcy said yes." Watching the half giant do a little dance of joy was probably the most adorable thing in existence. One part Hustle and three parts lame. "I'm going to the formal, I'm going to the formal." They heard a giggle from outside their window and Jeremy's grin got bigger. Grae rushed to the window and unerringly looked across the way to Darcy's window where she stood. "Hello, beautiful."

Wow, Jeremy thought, putting the moves on. "You are such a liar. You're blind." There was nothing cruel in her tone, just a bit of teasing fondness.

"Not when I look at you." Jeremy chuckled and saw Grae blush a bit. "Even a blind man can see how stunning you are." The sorcerer got out of bed and went for a walk, Archie blinking to his shoulder.

"I'll leave you two lovebirds alone." They, of course, ignored him.

While he was technically supposed to be in his dorm after a certain hour, he also had some leeway with it because he could, at any time, have a lesson with Haggath. Which was sanctioned by his master. Jeremy decided to take his walk out to the grounds around the school, making the rule book float in front of him so he could read while he foraged for spell components. He was foraging from a particularly nice specimen of Gorget Vine, which was great for potions to heal throats, when he felt something behind him trying to be sneaky. He knew it was not hostile because Archie was still on his shoulder and had not made any moves. When the blink cat meowed softly Jeremy smiled. "Angel, why are you off the grounds?"

"Arch, you gave me away." Jeremy smiled over at the cleric, who was dressed in rugged clothing, a rope over his shoulder, and a large sack. "I'm going hunting for cliff drake eggs."

"Really? Making a salve against dragons smelling you?"

Angel grinned. "You really do surprise me how much you know about everything from books. It can also be used in a poultice that draws out wyvern poisons." Jeremy filed away that tidbit and looked at Archie, who took the vine from him and vanished to put it in his room. "He has really changed, hasn't he?"

"Very much. Part of it was the attack, and part of it is he likes you and doesn't want you to think badly of him." Jeremy held out his hand and Angel smiled, taking it. "I know a bit of how he feels. Want company? The moss that grows near their nests should be about ready for harvesting."

The cleric nodded. "Reading up on the rules?"

"Yeah. I have never once seen a game of wizardball and honestly...I'm a bit lost."

Angel squinted at the book. "How can you read in this low light?"

Jeremy tilted Angel's face to him and kissed each eye lid, casting a small spell for night sight. The cleric smiled and blushed a bit. "Better?"

"Yes," Angel murmured. "So, there are five people on the team. Two Strikers, two Flankers and a Defender. Also four balls that you do your best to hit your opponents with. Hitting them and them not catching it means they are out of the game."

"Like dodgeball," said Jeremy and Angel looked confused. "Normal game, never mind."

"These balls can be enchanted to do various things like slow down the next person who touches the ball, or freeze them in place. Nothing that causes damage or is dangerous." Good to know that he would not necessarily get hurt during a game. "There are four zones in the game. Center front, center back, left and right flank. The Strikers occupy Center front, or CF, for most of the time, but they can go to any flank spot if the flanker has been hit and is out. Likewise a Flanker can go into CF if there is only one Striker there. CB is where the defender is. That's me. My role is to counter their hostile effects and deflect the balls from you if you're not looking. I can go to any zone I want and back to my own. Stepping over into the other team's zone while it is occupied means a forfeit for the team, but if it is unoccupied you can take control of it.

"There are three rounds that are played. Eliminating the opponent team ends the round. First to win two rounds wins the game. Any questions so far?"

"So...what spells are legal? How are the rules enforced?"

"Spells that do not harm. Slow spells, stop spells, confusion, things like that. Directing where the balls is supposed to go is also legal, although most people don't bother with it as those spells are easily countered. The rules are enforced by two referees, one on each side of the field, and one head ref who sits above the field and has final say if the others disagree on a call." Jeremy nodded.

Angel was going over everything he could think of as they walked on. The terrain got more and more rough as they went higher towards the cliffs. "So I could put someone to sleep and then hit them with a ball?"

"That's pretty standard and the other Defender would be watching for something that rudimentary."

"So I can't hurt them...transmutation?"

"Shape changing takes too long to cast, but it's not illegal." Jeremy was slowly coming up with some strategies while they climbed.

"How about curses? Are they allowed?"

"Depends on the curse. I have a list of illegal spells back in my room. We can get it when we get back. It's pretty long." Angel pulled himself over the edge and then pulled Jeremy up. From this height they could see all the way to the school and even the swamps beyond. The moon was just coming over the rim of the valley and it was huge. Nearly full, it showed the entire valley in stark shadows. The stars were twinkling and a soft breeze played games with the upper branches of the trees below.

"When was the last time you were up this high?" Jeremy asked, still holding his hand.

"About a year ago. It is rather splendid to be away from all the stress of school." He looked up at Jeremy whose eyes still shown from the night vision spell. "Why is it that you like me?"

"I don't know. I mean I should really dislike you for the crap you helped with over the years. But honestly, you were never that much of a git. You studied hard and passed exams. You tried your best and got back up if you failed. It's nice to see someone who genuinely tries to be the best that he can be. Then the fight happened and all the stuff afterward I mean you healed Archie and he hates to be healed." Angel smiled. "I really don't know, except I do like you. A lot more than I should with our past and so short a time as friends."

"At least..."

"This is new," came a voice that had them both slightly peeved to annoyed.

"Go away, Ivan. You really know how to ruin things." Jeremy was only slightly annoyed to see his brother.

"It's a gift. So this is your cleric boyfriend, huh?" Ivan came over to look at Angel. The clerics face was a bit flushed. "Yeah, I can see it. He likes you a lot, Germ." The geomancer walked away. "Oh, and he likes you back, cleric. See you at the tryouts." Ivan walked into the mountainside, molding with the rocks and then was gone.

"That was the arena builder."

"That was my brother." Angel looked at him. "Not as much of an ass as he used to be, but still annoying."

"You told him I was your boyfriend?"

"Not in so many words. Just asked him to make traps for non-Clerics. The rest..." Angel squeezed his hand and grinned. "Come on, lets get those eggs. Sooner done, the sooner we can come back here and relax." The sorcerer pulled him into his arms and they began to levitate off the ground and up the mountainside.

"You really have grown in power, haven't you? Weeks ago you couldn't do much at all, but now your floating us up the cliffs."Angel looked at the glowing swirls of purple energy beneath their feet. It looked like small galaxies or fireflies in a purple wisp cloud. When he looked back he saw Jeremy smiling down at him. Their lips met softly as they rose into the sky and towards the nests of the peaceful drakes.

Peaceful until someone seemed to have pissed them off. The cry of the male drake came from all about and Angel incanted a shield that made the drake bounce off. The small dragonlings were not happy right now"I'm going to toss you up there, Angel. Can't keep them off while holding you." He nodded and then was flung. Jeremy was a lot stronger than he looked and Angel easily cleared the edge to land next to the nest.

Angel began casting more of his own shields to ward away the drakes, and if they bypassed those, he had shields to block incoming attacks. Each of them was just a wizardball to the cleric and he knew how to handle them. Auras of blue and white energy surrounded Jeremy and himself. Then he landed on the ledge and began to assess what he could use here for spells. When his eyes fell upon the bones of the dead he grinned and his arm were encased in black energy as the bones began to move to the necromantic whim of the cleric.

Jeremy didn't want to hurt the drakes. They were only protecting their nest and he could understand their point of view. That point of view intended to hurt him, so he had to get his point of view across. With a strong wave of both arms a massive wind whipped up and the drakes were flung aside for a moment and it was moment enough for Jeremy to join Angel on the cliff. Even with the winds howling he could hear Angel incanting necromantic spells and he saw the multitudes of bones around. Jeremy knew what he was doing, but Jeremy could not use cleric magic. Yet, he had studied cleric verbal spells and knew how to adjust for some basic spells. So he listened while he made the winds so wild the drakes could not compensate and could not come in for an attack.

Bone drakes leaped into being and began to chase the drakes around the sky. Jeremy was in awe of how many Angel could control at one time and how varied they were in their movements. The bones drakes didn't actually hurt the drakes but they were kept busy as Jeremy dropped the wind and concentrated on a completely different targets. He let out a very high pitched tweet beyond the range of human hearing and he saw the cave bats come flying towards him by the dozens. When they were in range Jeremy stunned them and then laid them out on the cliff side. "Angel, grab the eggs." Angel saw the bats and nodded. The bones drakes instantly broke up and fell like the lifeless things they were. "Drakes, whatever we did to rouse your ire please accept these bats as token of apology. There are many for you to consume if you hurry."

The drakes hissed and growled at them as they landed. Angel had grabbed two eggs, the most he could take from any colony, but he seemed to take ones that seemed discolored. They backed away from the nests, Jeremy snagging the moss from the rock wall, and then began to climb down. The drakes did not bother them again.

Once on more level ground Jeremy looked over at Angel. "You really are a powerful necromancer. One would think your family would not want to make you upset."

"Thanks. My father does not even acknowledge necromancy as a source of magic given to clerics as everyone knows necromancy is for wizards and being likes hags and troll shaman." He was of course being sarcastic. Hags couldn't use necromancy like Angel had used and trolls could never control more than two skeletons.

"I'd like to learn more about it. Sorcerers don't use necromancy much as we don't use verbal spells often enough."

"Can you cast adapted spells?" Jeremy nodded and cast a small ball of light.

"Not much but it's a start. I took the class in conversions thinking I might be able to get better that way. Still didn't have the energy. Is necromancy illegal in the game?" Angel shook his head and then looked right at him with a grin. "We have one week. Could you get special permission from your master to get out late every night?" Angel thought and then nodded. "Good. Since you want me on the team, lets make them want me on the team."

The duo spent every second they could together going over spells that could and could not be cast. Jeremy knew he could unleash his sex appeal and even the straightest guy would notice, but that would be countered very quickly. Still, Jeremy was not without resources for nasty spells. One evening he dragged Angel along to one of his lessons with Haggath. "A swamp hag?" he asked incredulously.

"She's not that bad. Just remember to insult her and pay no attention if she insults you back." He nodded, but to insult someone and they accept it? Angel smiled to himself. It was like being at home.

Fred was not at home as UCLA was in session. When Haggath saw Angel her eyes narrowed but they opened even wider after that. "Bringing a guest without telling me?" she shrieked.

"What of it?" Jeremy replied and Haggath laughed.

"You are such a nuisance," was her response and Jeremy nodded and gave her a hug. "Who is this, now?"

"This is Angel Dragonfist. Cleric and powerful necromancer. I've come for my lesson, he's come to watch, and we've both come to learn a few more things about the undead that the college won't teach."

Haggath just cackled. "I love when you come to me for illicit spells. If I had a heart it would be so proud."

"You do have one, Haggath. It's in a jar on the mantle." Jeremy grinned at her even more loud cackle.

Angel sat and watched as Jeremy went through a series of exercises to keep his energy in check and with it his sex appeal. His power was more difficult to control because he had so little experience controlling the urge to go have sex. She would throw spell after spell at him and he had to keep his energy from flaring. A slow burn is what she called it. Angel realized as he watched just how strange it must be to be Jeremy. His only real friends are outcasts. Graeboe, Darcy, Haggath, Fred...himself. Yet, those bonds were strong. Even his friends were becoming Angel's friends...and his friends were becoming former friends.

Angel came to when Jeremy snapped his fingers in front of his face. "Lost in thought?" Angel could see Jeremy was lathered in sweat. He must have really been working hard. How tough was hag magic?

"Just thinking about friendships. That Haggath is a nasty bit of work and she loves you dearly." There was a snort from inside. 

"Yeah, she's a cranky old bat, but she's one of my best friends. So, lets go see what bits of nasty we can pick up from her."

The guys went inside to find her setting out a set of old bones. Not human either. Goblin by the look of the head. Angel could feel the powerful magic in the bones and it was only getting stronger with each bone laid out. "Old Scratch here was a bokor for his tribe. Powerful juju in these bones."

Angel looked closer. Goblin bokor used a type of magic that humans called juju. Some sort of mystic power over the elements humans could only touch on, but their best known magic was over the undead. "Haggath, do you know something about juju?"

"More than humans, less than Scratch." 

When the last bone was set and eerie feeling whirled around the room. It came with a moan and a rattling that settled into the bones. They twitched and then shook and then stood up on their own. The eyes glowed an otherworldly purple as darker smoke plumed out from its mouth like putrid breath. "You call me again, old hag? Do you have payment?"

Jeremy spoke up. "I have the payment." What payment, Angel thought. He hadn't known anything about payment.

The skeleton looked at Jeremy. "I know your blood, sorcerer. It has mighty juju. Payment is met." Angel gasped as he saw blood pool on Jeremy's skin and the goblin bokor seemed to suck it in and it groaned in ecstasy "Good juju. You have question! I have answers." The boys grinned.

The tryouts were the next day and the following weekend was the Formal, after the first game of the season: JV versus Varsity in a warm up game for the upcoming year. It was more of a destruction to JV, really, but it also was a way to see the new talent that would replace the ones leaving. Much to the utter shock of the rest of the Varsity team Jeremy came in dressed in Flanker gear that was not new but was still in good shape. Handed down from Ivan who was a bit happy to see his youngest brother at least trying out.

"You'll do fine, Germ. Just no making the team run at you for sexy times in the middle of the match." Jeremy was, of course, not amused.

The room was packed with students as tryouts were a public event and why not see if they can handle the pressure of public ridicule from the start? "Just great. Why are you even here, freak?" asked Erich.

"To try out for the team. Now that I can cast spells, you may want to pay attention and learn a few things." Jeremy got right up next to him and his eyes went the blackest they ever had been. "If I find out you were connected to Archie being hurt, the school will not be able to protect you." His voice was cold and Erich felt a moment of actual dread. He felt compelled to tell the truth.

"I didn't attack you familiar, Jeremy. I don't care much for you but I would never stoop to that."

Jeremy's eyes returned to their normal color. He was shocked. Erich had never used his name. He took a step back, no one having seen the exchange. "Thank you for being honest. Do you happen to know who did?"

"No one I hang out with. We're not the best at runes and my familiar is a salamander." A fire breathing lizard that would maybe get two feet long. Not an animal that attacked Archie. "So you're serious about trying out? Then we'll try you on all positions. Except Defender." That was always a cleric and they had a defender.

"Good enough." They parted and Jeremy went to sit with the other hopefuls. The first people to go up were the JV players. Since they already knew the rules they would show the noobs what they should and should not do.

Jeremy watched as the first and second string of Varsity were divided up and the empty spot taken by a hopeful on each side. "The match begins as the balls drop," said the ref. The four balls were held aloft above the center of the arena which was sectioned off into two sides. "Remember, nothing lethal or harmful."The balls dropped. Jeremy watched avidly as the games progressed and realized that Angel had been coaching him on the team's maneuvers the entire time. He saw the plays he had been practicing in his head and saw how he would fit into them in all four other places. He saw that the teams were not going all out, this was tryouts, but they weren't going easy on them. This was probably their drilling speed.

When it was Jeremy's turn the crowd got silent. It was odd for him, the school pariah, to try out for this team when his rival was the captain. "Who wants Jeremy?" asked Erich. No one raised their hand. "Fine. You're with me, Left Flank." Erich didn't seem too happy, but this was Wizardball, not school politics.




The Magic of a Touch Ch. 04



Once divvied up Jeremy went up to Erich and his other team mates, Angel being their defender. "I know this is new to me, but I want to show you a few things."

"Yes it is new, but Angel says you're better than you look. Also says that you've been practicing with him for this. Why?"

"Because he asked me to. The only way to fight something off is to either learn what it is capable of so you can beat it. If you can beat it, befriend it." Let them think of that what they will.

"Fine. What's your plan?" Jeremy told them in the thirty second huddle they had and by the end Erich was nodding like it wasn't half bad. "If it makes it past the opener, we'll see how it goes."

They got into positions and Jeremy waited until the balls started to drop. Then he cast his first spell, pulling all four balls to his team. The other team just stood, shocked. One looked at the refs to see if they were going to call a foul but they didn't. Now the fun would begin. Angel waited until his team had the balls and then tossed out bone fragments. From the ground came walls of bone that sprouted in front of the players and they ran to their barriers. Crouching down they looked at each other and nodded. They each took a small bone fragment from their pockets and tossed them along with the balls. Two of the other team, their flankers, were caught by surprise and didn't catch the balls and were out. 

The other team had possession of all four balls and began their own attacks but those barriers stopped them from getting any hits. One of them enchanted the ball to take down barrier spells and hurled it at the bone. When it struck the bone wall shivered but held thanks to Angel actively being able to "heal" the undead wall. They tried to throw the other balls but found that the balls were fake. They were actually boulder goblin bones that had been changed into balls by Jeremy's team and when picked up had grabbed their hands and bound them. Their Defender was unable to counter the spell fast enough and the two Strikers threw the real balls to get them out. The Defender just gave up. Looking back at Angel, Jeremy winked. The crowd went wild. His tryouts went almost too well, like the other team didn't know what to do when dealing with the strange mind of Jeremy.

He had many plans in his head and Angel was there to back him up with his own insidious powers the team had never seen. They didn't realize their own Defender was as dangerous as they were even while being defensive. Between each new round even Erich had to admit that some of his moves, while strange, would be harder to counter because they were so unorthodox. 

"Was any of that legal?" asked the other team's acting captain.

The ref nodded. "The rules state 'as the balls drop', not when they hit the ground. Pulling the balls to their side is valid. The rest was some very clever necromancy from Angel and Jeremy."

"Not bad, freak," said Erich. This time the freak wasn't quite so painful. The rest of the tryouts went smoothly. No one was hurt, no one disqualified for illegal spells although one mage did try Jeremy's trick of pulling the ball to him and got smacked in the face because of it.

When the tryouts were done, Erich stood for announcements. "Okay, listen up." The teams had conferred and come up with a general consensus. "Jesse is being moved up to first string Varsity. Ethan is being moved up to second string Varsity from JV." Ethan Titanhammer was a strong Striker. "Jeremy Dream-Mender is being drafted to second string Varsity." Darcy, Grae and Angel cheered. Quietly off to the side Jeremy's master grinned. "Marian Hearthfire is being drafted to JV." This was almost a surprise because she would be the first girl in twenty years to play the game. Almost as big of a surprise as Jeremy making the team. "Jeremy, could we speak to you? The rest of you can go."

Jeremy stood with the rest of the Varsity team as everyone filed out. Darcy and Grae said they would be waiting outside. "Okay, Jeremy, the reason we are putting you in Varsity is you're just good enough for second string but still too new for first." He nodded. He was under no misconception that he was a great caster. "That being said...where the hell did you learn all that?"

Angel was trying to keep a straight face. "Honestly, if it wasn't for your attitude while we were off campus, I would never have to gotten the extra lessons." Erich colored a bit and Jeremy could tell he was both embarrassed to remember that day and a bit pissed. "I have been getting lessons on any type of magic that might be affected by emotions, necromancy being one of the more recent." He didn't tell them who from.

"And why so chummy with Angel? How did he know the spells?"

"As a gesture of good faith that I didn't mean to enthrall him..." Jeremy began, trying to keep this as formal as possible, but Angel chimed in.

"Because I have been attending the same lessons. Same reason since I got zapped when we were being gits to Jeremy, Darcy and Graeboe." That shut them up. It was common knowledge that Angel had been bespelled. "Plus, since I've pretty much been kicked out of the family, I feel like I don't have to live up to the family name. I've been pursuing my own lessons now and making friends where friends show themselves."

That seemed to surprise Erich. "What do you mean kicked out?"

"You know my father. Does it surprise you that he doesn't want such a weak son?" Angel was still sore about the whole thing, Jeremy could tell, but this was news to everyone there. 

"I see. Hmm. I'm going to be honest, Angel, it was your father that got you onto Varsity." The rest of the team didn't even look at Angel when he turned white and then red from anger. They all knew it. "We took a chance and now you don't have your father vouching for you." Erich was being classically him. A douche. "But, you have been the best defender we've had in years and that is what kept you on Varsity. You've saved our butts too many times for me to care what your father thinks of you, and I'll admit I never knew you were this good in necromancy. So, even without your family name, you belong on this team."

Jeremy and Angel were both surprised. They had never heard anything this nice come out of his mouth. "Thank you. Really, Erich, I never realized my father put in his two cents, but I'm glad I lived up to the team's expectations."

"More than. I've seen you flank a few times. Not too shabby. Weak son? Nope, don't see it. Fart thunder and shit lightning? Naw, you summon undead walls." That got a laugh. "Jeremy, why did you sign up anyway?"

"I didn't. Angel bullied me into it, and my Master agreed it was a good thing. I can also act as the team tutor." That thought never occurred to them at all. The ballers needed someone to help keep them up on the studies they missed from being away during the season. No one, not even Erich, can deny that Jeremy was the top of his class, especially now that his magic was active. "I may have to do a bit more work, but I like work. Keeps from pulling my hair out and trying to kill my many siblings."

Archie popped up with a note and handed it to Jeremy. He purred a bit and then rubbed his entire body along Angel's leg. He did give his customary flat look of displeasure at Erich and the rest, but he didn't hiss. "Thanks, Arch. Go nibble on Grae." The blink cat vanished. Jeremy read the note and then tried to suppress the laugh. He failed. It came out as the most gleeful insanity any of them had ever heard. "So, Angel. Your father is inviting the team over the evening before the Formal and mentions specifically that you be there." He handed the note to him and Angel just gaped.

"How did you pull this off? I remember Archie being sent off with a note."

"That, my friend, is the beauty of all of this. I told my mum to vamp him. She did, with Haggath right there beside her." Angel's mouth fell open and then he guffawed before outright laughing. The idea of the hag and the most notorious sorceress of the era both giving Mortichai Dragonfist a visit was just too much. "Mum says he was no match even for Haggath, but then she just walked in."

Jeremy was not ready for the huge glomping hug. It was completely unexpected, but even more was the kiss Angel planted on his lips. The team just stared. They never saw it coming. "You're amazing."

"You just kissed me in front of the team." And what a kiss. Jeremy was seeing that the cleric was not one to hold back. Good.

"They'll know eventually. The Formal is kicked off by the team dance." And they were going together. Everyone would know then. 

"Wait...Angel...how much of Jeremy's spell was...this?" He gestured to them still snuggling. It was quite a shock, but he wouldn't say anything.

"More than I had hoped at the time."

"Okay. Um...wow. Okay. No snogging during practice." They nodded. "One last question. How many plays did the two of you concoct?"

"A few more than what you saw," Jeremy stated, "and I know most of the standard plays you guys use from all four places. Yes, I'm willing to teach new spells."

Erich nodded. "Jeremy, I'm an ass. I picked on you for being unable to cast spells. I won't apologize, it never helps, but I will do better in treating you right. Yes, it's because you're on the team, but also...you were willing to help Angel. Calling in your mother...that's low." Jeremy nodded.

"Thank you for your honesty. Altruistic though it is, I appreciate it." He knew it wouldn't last, but it was one less worry he had, especially since he was swamped with work. "I have one question and please answer honestly. Do you have any information about Archie being attacked?"

"No. I didn't do it and no one I know did it." Bluntly said Jeremy nodded.

The right flanker, Austin Winter-Bringer, cleared his throat. "I have some." All attention was now on him. He took a step back when Jeremy's eyes turned black. Realizing his flair of anger, Jeremy took a deep breath and pushed it down and his eyes returned to their lovely green...if darker. "I do know it wasn't familiars that attacked him. Someone did a conjuring. I felt the energies left behind. Sorcerer spell."

"Conjuring," Jeremy said and thumped his forehead. "I hadn't checked for that. Thank you, Austin. Anything else? Every bit can help." He shook his head. 

"You're scary when you're angry."

"Sorry. It's like, well, someone hurt my best friend and having just gone through puberty." They guys knew what the last felt like. Very little control over emotions because the body was dealing with new levels of hormones. "I'm working on it. If you ever see my eyes black, stay away. If they're red then my energy is running high."

"Which means you just got laid," said Erich bluntly.

"Which is probably why I could only cast that one spell." He grinned at the guy whose eyes narrowed.

"She was a horrid lay too. That, more than anything, was the reason I was pissed afterward." Jeremy rolled his eyes as the rest of the guys laughed.

Every evening they were out at Haggath's house for lessons and Angel was starting to see why Jeremy liked the hag. She was crude, crass, rude, insulting, and sometimes vile. But she was honest, loved Jeremy honestly in her own way, and understood intimately what it was like being a huge outcast. The two gravitated toward each other and met each other on their own terms. Those terms were Haggath was not quite as haglike as she could be and Jeremy was insulting and crude back. 

Angel was coming to realize that the things Jeremy insulted her about were the things he liked the most. Her cooking, her care, her personality...anything that meant a lot to him was what he insulted her about. It showed her what was foremost in his mind. Her cooking was superb, she often had something ready when they came for lessons. He faulted her skills as a hostess, but her home was always open to him at any time for any reason and she had gone over to help Angel, whom she had just met, because Jeremy had asked. He saw that she did her best to not be a pain and even went out of her way to show him he was loved here. And through that, Angel was seeing a side of Jeremy he was coming to actually love.

He was selfless. His world revolved around making people happy and making them want to smile. There was no holding back with Graeboe even when the giant was angry and could break the castle walls down in that anger. Jeremy would calm him down, get him smiling and then give him a huge hug. Darcy was a half demon. Who wouldn't shy away from that? Jeremy didn't. He saw she wanted a friend and was there with a smile on. And Angel...the cleric realized that Jeremy had never really faulted him or thought too badly for him to so easily change around his view. That or his powers of forgiveness were greater than his powers for magic. It was something he knew would change his life in such a good way.

It was on one such evening, under a full moon, that Angel met Fred. They had been hard at work learning and countering black magic and other assorted nasty spells that required calm or were dangerous to cast while agitated. Jeremy had just dodged a reflected bone break curse when he felt something coming from his flank. Too late to dodge, he instinctively threw up a shield that sent the spell back at the caster. Then he looked to see Fred laughing on the ground. It was his typical surprise spell. "Dammit Fred. Of all the times to come home, you pick the time I have a lesson involving curses." Jeremy was soiled and grimy from rolling around and keeping ahead of Angel who was adept at defensive measures.

When the hagson stood, Angel felt immediately inferior. Fred was taller, more handsome, built like a gymnast and highly polished in a sophisticated way. "Yeah, well. Your instincts are still good. I know you didn't see me coming."

"No, I didn't. Fred, this is Angel, my friend and date for the Formal in three days." Fred's face went neutral for a split second then he put on the most charismatic false smile any politician would be proud of. "Angel, this is Fred. You pretty much know all about him."

The two men measured the other. Fred was wondering who this great looking guy really was. Beefy, rugged but still handsome and even wholesome, he was something new in Jeremy's life. Something new he didn't quite like, especially since Jeremy admitted they were going on a date. To a dance...to what was probably Jeremy's first formal. "Nice to meet you. I would say I have heard everything about you, but I don't live at home and Jeremy is too busy to write." Fred's little jibe made Jeremy blush a bit.

"I have heard enough of you to thank you for helping Jeremy discover his potential." Angel was feeling so inferior compared to Fred. He exuded appeal. Something the quiet cleric didn't do, couldn't do.

"Yeah...I still don't know how he was a virgin before me. Anyone with mage sight could see all that power within, and anyone with a modicum of taste would think he was adorable even then." The grin he sent at Jeremy had the sorcerer blushing a bit but smiling.

"From adorable to Adonis," Angel whispered, his eyes glowing with the feelings that were steadily growing. Aloud he said, "He has been overlooked. I won't question my luck for his good nature." 

"He is a genuinely nice guy. I hope no one takes advantage of that." Fred's tone was cordial, but he left nothing to be misconstrued. The hagson was telling him bluntly to not hurt Jeremy.

"If someone does they will find a few bone wraiths chasing them from here until they die. Anyone." Fred's answering grin was enough to say their little rivalry was going to continue and they stopped shaking hands rather forcefully. "It is getting a bit late, Jeremy. Should we call it here while we can or see if we can sludge through early morning practice?"

Jeremy groaned. "I forgot about practice. A few more minutes." The cleric nodded and sent a rather nasty spider bind curse at him.

Fred joined his mother who was seated and watching. "Tell me everything."

"He's the only rival you will ever have for his affections, and he will not give up. Scratch himself says they've already started a synergy...whatever that is." Fred did not like this one bit. Not at all. They were working a lot of magic together, but whoever heard of a sorcerer and a cleric having a synergy? They were the opposite. Yet, the cleric claimed he could summon bone wraiths.

"They've trained with Old Scratch?"

"Yes. Don't look so surprised. It's not my fault you've neglected your studies and have wasted your potential by wanting to be a politician." She smiled at that evil little twist. She liked that her son was getting into the human world's most evil profession. "That cleric has Scratch's respect." That tidbit set the hagson back. Scratch was a powerful bokor and if he found favor with this cleric, then Fred was going to have to really step up his game.

"I'll be home for a few weeks starting next Friday. I just wanted to let you know so you have to throw me a welcome home party and make me a dragon souffle."

Haggath just cackled. "You know those take four days to make."

"Yup. You have two. Get cooking." He grinned as she grumbled and went to give Jeremy a hug. "I have to get back to UCLA, gorgeous." He halted their spells in the air, something even Haggath found a nice trick. He pulled Jeremy into his arms and kissed him soundly. "I'll be home for a few weeks soon," he almost purred and then vanished. Both the sorcerer and the cleric were shocked, too shocked to effectively counter the spells coming at them both. Both were bound by spider webs that bound tighter and tighter until the victim was suffocated. Haggath grumbled and cast the counter-curse.

On the way back to the college, Angel spoke. "How do you feel about Fred?"

"I like him a lot. He's a good friend and someone I know will always be there for me. I could see myself with him." Jeremy saw the crestfallen look. "Then there is you. I know we've never had sex...I don't even know if you've taken the vow of chastity and I didn't want to push you...but I do like you Angel. I have these two guys, both I could be with, and both offer me equal love and friendship. You and Fred are just very different. I could never be a sadistic git with you like I can with Fred and I could never be as loving with him as I want to be with you."

"Sadistic? You?" Jeremy told him a bit about the last time he and Fred played around. There wasn't enough detail to make Angel too upset, but there was enough to show that Fred brought out a side of Jeremy Angel didn't know was there.

"I see." Angel shook his head. "It's just...I feel very inferior to him. I look at him and see someone handsome and talented and charismatic. I...I was jealous."

"Really? I know he's all that, but you don't know Fred like I do. He's a politician." Angel looked at him oddly. "He studies law at the normal school UCLA in America."

"Really?"

"Yeah. So that polish is just an act. The looks and talent, well, that's all him, but don't sell yourself short. You're a good looking guy. More rugged, yes, but there is something to be said about a manly bloke with arms bigger than my head." Jeremy poked his bicep for emphasis.

Angel smiled sheepishly. "I guess I don't see myself that way. When you see my brothers tomorrow evening you will understand why I don't seem all that amazing. And no, I never took that vow. Da wouldn't let me. He wanted to make sure I could have many children."

"No vow?" Jeremy asked in clarification. As Angel shook his head Jeremy pulled him into the brush along the path and took him in his arms. Angel's reaction was exactly what Jeremy wanted. He almost melted and went willingly. "This is your one chance to back out now."

Angel grinned. "Not a chance." Jeremy grinned and went in to kiss him. "Um...just what did you have in mind?" Jeremy whispered in his ear and Angel giggled but was so red his face hurt. "Wow...people do that?"




The Magic of a Touch Ch. 04



"Yes...wait. I know I'm not very experienced and most of the things I know are from talking to my mum, but...are you still a virgin?" Angel nodded, his eyes downcast. "Then we wait. The woods is no place to do this and have it be romantic."

"How do you know that?"

Jeremy grinned. "I lost mine in a swamp."



The Magic Of A Touch: The Magic



This section is not part of the actual story but I glossed over a huge subject I have about magic and the difference between natural and studious spell casters. If you don't care about the difference then ignore this little rundown. I have chosen to write a new chapter since quite a few people want it to continue. Again it's something light and fluffy, something a bit more silly than serious.

"Greetings to you, those of the normal world. My name is Jeremy Dream-Mender and I am here today to tell you about magic id it's practitioners. Many in the normal world known nothing about the true nature of magic and so it is my duty to tell you more, since I think you all may be in for some big surprises sooner rather than later. First I will say there are two types of magic. Arcane and Divine. Arcane power comes from within the caster, Divine from some external source. Don't believe in Divine magics? Ever heard of faith healing? I've seen it work.

"While there is a bit of magic in everyone, there are some people and races that have more than just a touch. Those of the human race fall into two categories: Naturals and Studious. I should these are self explanatory, but since I know some of you have gone through public schooling, I shall explain. Naturals are, from birth, able to cast at least one aspect of magic be it offensive, defensive or passive. Studious are those who are descended from Naturals but hold latent abilities to cast spells, usually because of breeding with normals. Of course breeding with normals makes our longer life spans much shorter. How short? Well, some wizards only live as long as one hundred years while my mother, still considered a young middle age, is a fiddling 240 years old. The length of the age depends on strength on power.

"Naturals come in several classifications: Sorcerer, which is what I am, Cleric, and Druid. Sorcerers practice Arcane magics and excel at offensive spells. I will go into the aspects, or schools, of magic later on in this piece so don't worry your normal little heads. Fireballs, hexes, curses, summonings...Sorcerers are best at these. Sorcerers can learn newer spells from other casters to expand their natural repertoire. I have learned Hag spells because hags were once human Sorceresses who excelled at hexing and cursing. Clerics are best at defensive spells and cast Divinely, meaning they call upon an outer source to aide them. Mostly it's the old Gods your normals forgot about when some wacko said there is only one god. Healings, barriers, removal of hexes, these are the primer and best of the Clerical magics although they can use some offense. Clerics learn new spells through hours of prayers. Druids are also Divine casters but their power comes from nature, or rather the few deities that protect the natural world. (By the way, you guys are really screwing up the world with your destruction. The gods are pissed. Just thought you might like to know.) Druids are great at both offense and defense using the elements. I've seen a fireball from a druid that rivaled the strongest from a Sorcerer and a wall of roots that kept a marauding band of trolls from attacking a town. Druid gain new spells from experience and a good imagination.

"Naturals are affected by the time they are conceived as to what they excel at on a personal level. The effects vary since the times vary. While I was born in what you normals know as June, so was my older brother. Yet I am best at compulsions and the more subtle arts and he is best at conjuring items from nothing. We were born two weeks apart, if separated by thirty-one years. A mage born on the first of any month is firmly in the element associated with that Zodiac sign. Yes, astrology is not just for newspapers. My sister is a fire mage of epic status and she was born on April 1st. Yet as you get closer of farther from this seemingly coincidental date matching, you get into the shades of gray. Fire mages who also excel at air magics, or water mages who excel at summoning Earth elementals, it is possible but very hard to know before hand what the Natural will be best at so few make the study their passion. Easier to compare to others of that blood line conceived around that time.

"Yet with all this diversity there is a certain continuity. My mother was known for being a Tantric Sorceress. Meaning she restored her personal energy through the release of sexual energies. I am the only one of her twenty-two children to also be a tantric. Why? I was conceived on the same day two hundred twenty-two years later under a strange convergence of Mars and that sorry little planet who got demoted Pluto. If a woman pays attention to her cycle and the signs she could give birth to a very diverse or concentrated mage. Mom made sure I was tantric.

"Then there are the Studious mages. These are fewer but not be shunned because learning magic is like pulling a car with just your toenail. It can be done but it is a long and painful process. The Studious come in the varieties of Wizards and Mystics. Wizards are arcane casters but are not born being able to cast. They must study for years to tap into their latent powers to even light a candle with a gesture. Wizards though are known to be more dangerous than a Sorcerer. We Sorcerers are hampered by our births into strong schools of magic...Wizards are hampered only by their discipline. No one knows what a Wizard can do. They could heal or harm or both. They study from whatever tomes they can get their hands on. They are often called book mages because of this.

"Mystics are also called rune wizards, but that is a misnomer as they are Divine casters and some of the most dangerous if not the most. They are often slightly insane since they go through intense pain to practice their arts. They receive visions of symbols from whatever deity has chosen them and the Mystic must mark their body permanently with it or they will lose that rune forever. It may the rune for fire or water, or it may a rune for barriers. The only way they can mark is scarification or this newer invention tattooing. Branding, cutting, gouging...I would hate to be a Mystic with a very giving god. Yet for all this pain they can use each rune like a sentence. Stringing together runes to create a chain or single spell. Fire alone will burn flammable things and light a candle. Fire+line=a flame thrower. Fire+hand= burning touch. Get it? They can string together a hundred runes if the made sense. Fire+Air+line+long+bounce+paralyze+touch. Got any idea what that one does? A bolt of lighting that bounces from target to target at a range of about two hundred feet that will paralyze anything it touches. Mystics are the newest kind and I believe it is the Gods' way of getting the blood lines thicker again.

"So that is the casting humans. There are many more races out there that can cast spells. Dragons, Hags, demons, ogres, giants...I could go on an on. Yet they are not as diverse as we humans are so they tend to not try to take over. Human spellcasters are fewer than you may think, only numbering a few hundred thousand, but we breed faster than most other races except the Harians, those humanoids descended from rabbits, and they are our allies since we know the secrets of growing carrots. (I don't know, they seem to think it's a big secret) 

"The Schools of magic are even more diverse. If you want to know more about those, read Harry Potter. The author spilled the beans on that one. I can name a few. 

1. Divination: information finding. 

2. Conjuration: summoning things

3. Evocation: manipulating energies. A fireball is found here

4. Abjuration: defenses and counterspells.

5. Necromancy: spells dealing with the physical bodies. Healing is also a necro spell.

These are a few broad categories. There are many more out there so I won't waste my time trying to list them all when you will die before I am done.

"Thanks for reading. And be careful of who you tease or shun. You may just be in for more karma then you can handle. Butt pimples? Jinx. Accident prone? Hex. Fatal disease with no obvious catalyst? Curse. Random hard on throughout the day? Lucky.

This was done for fun and so I don't have to explain it every chapter. Thanks always for the feedback and you can reach me through the link in my profile.



The Magic of a Touch



"Lucky. That would show those members that I had some magic in me."

"You do, Jeremy, you do." He said something in their fluting language and then grinned at Jeremy. "Bring out your containers." Curious he did so and the fae swarmed him, but not to hurt. They shook their wings over the jar and into it settled the fine dust that not many could ever hope to collect, and it was in such quantities that he would never have to collect anymore for years. "And if you come back to this grove they will give you more."

"Thanks. Really, this will go quite a long way with the committee." One sprite female came and sat on his shoulder and stroked his ear a few times before flying off. "Was that a good thing?"

"Very, actually. Any dark fae who sees that mark, and no one can except them, will aide you." Jeremy was shocked. "Maybe you have a touch of what I have yourself."

"Me? Nope. All I got is one good spell. Good to make others happy." Fred shrugged and they got back in the boat. The rest of the trip was full of odd sights and smells. But like all good things in Jeremy's life it came to an end. Red pulled up to the northern docks of the fens and Jeremy got out. "Thanks Fred."

"No problem. What was that spell that was good for others, by the way?" Fred laughed when he heard what it was. "I could use that spell. It would make mom so happy to know I had mad her so upset to bed a normal girl."

"You try though."

"I do. Is it really that potent? I mean hags are immune to a lot of curses and enchantments, especially ones dealing with matters of love and lust."

Jeremy nodded. "I wouldn't cast it on a friend. It's that strong." Fred held out his hand. "Nope, not gonna do it. I use it to defend myself only. No one can attack you when they're thinking about sex."

"Really? Normals do it all the time. They call it rape." Jeremy looked shocked an appalled. "But I can respect your warning." Without warning Fred began to cast a spell. Jeremy's eyes flew open wide in shock. He scrambled to get out of range since it was such a short ranged spell and he felt it go off behind him, just behind him.

"What are you doing?"

"Being a good hagson. Mom needs some virgin blood for a potion and yours will do nicely." Jeremy chanced a look back and saw Fred had a knife out and was running after him. "Stand still and I will make it quick and painless."

"Are you insane!?" Jeremy flicked a gesture backwards and heard Fred slip because if the grease spell.

"Cantrips?" Fred laughed and its sound made Jeremy shudder. Then Jeremy could not move a muscle. He looked down but could see nothing. A binding spell! He was not strong enough to break one of those. "That's better. Now where was I? Oh yes, the blood." Fred came around the front of him and grabbed his hand. Bad move on his part, Jeremy thought and cast his spell without thinking. Fred's eyes came up to his. "That is potent." The binding spell fell apart and Jeremy fell to the grass. That was as far as he got as Fred got on top of him.

"What..." Jeremy knew though. There was no suitable person to relieve Fred's urge...so he would take Jeremy. "No, please,"

"This will only hurt for a moment. Relax." Fred reached down and began to fondle Jeremy's groin. It was not rough but gentle, yet Jeremy was shocked and began to fight back with whatever he could. No magic seemed to work against the hagson and he was a lot bigger than Jeremy physically. He gave up. Once Fred was done he would leave him alone. "That's better. Lets get these pants off you. I hate button flies by the way." Fred's knife hovered there when released and he used both hands to remove Jeremy's pants. When they were down and off Fred looked at his dick. "Now that is something. How come a short guy like you has a dick like that?"

"Huh?" Jeremy was so confused. Why would Fred want to have sex with him and then not get to it?"

"Unless I'm completely wrong that thing is very thick huh. Like bigger than your wrist?" Jeremy couldn't really make sense of what was going on until Fred wrapped his hand around his dick. He began to slowly stroke it, his hands feeling very foreign to the young man who had never once felt the urge to do this. The Sorcerer looked down in shock as his dick began to get hard...and it started to feel really good. "Mmm, nice. You are a thick one. Might not be long but that would stretch out a hole nicely." Fred's hand slid up and down the length, pulling back the foreskin and playing with the tip. Jeremy gasped and trembled at the unaccustomed touch of a hand. "Is this the first time you've ever felt anything sexual?" Jeremy nodded, too awed to speak. Was this a spell? Was Fred using magic to make him feel this good? The way the skin would glide over the tip, held there by Fred's hand, Gods above this was magic! "A true virgin, Mom will be pleased...and so pissed at me for doing this to you."

"Do...doing what?" Jeremy asked.

"This," Fred said holding up a vial filled with blood, Jeremy's blood painlessly taken, "and this." He said it as he lowered his mouth to Jeremy's full erection, which was thicker around than its average six inch length. Jeremy groaned when Fred began to give him a blowjob. The feel of Fred's mouth made Jeremy's back arch in surprise and then his entire body go limp as the sensations echoed inside him. Never had anything felt so good, not even the best meal. "You taste so good."

"What are you doing to me?"

"It's called a blowjob. No magic involved, just sexual stimulation. Like it?" Jeremy nodded. "Just lay back and enjoy it then." Jeremy moaned when Fred went back to what he was doing. While Fred bobbed up and down, he used his tongue to slip around the foreskin and head and his hand was fondling Jeremy's full nuts. There was something so amazing about his mouth that had Jeremy feeling hot inside, like there was something he had been missing and was now getting it in full. Jeremy never knew something like this was possible. He knew what sex was but never experienced even the urge to do it. Now though! He hoped he could find someone willing to do this blowjob thing again.

There was the strangest urge to explode from his dick. It felt like his entire being was going to come out of him. "Fred, what's going on? What...oh Gods above!" Jeremy felt himself surge forward and into Fred's mouth, who was moaning and seemed to be swallowing him. It was a euphoric feeling and one he could not explain. Yet when it ended he felt more alive, felt energy coursing through his veins at such a volume that he felt he would explode. "What was that?"

"Your first orgasm." Fred looked up at him and then stood, taking off his pants to show his own erection. Longer than Jeremy's, it was a lot skinnier. "But now we need to handle this."

"I don't know how." And for some reason Jeremy wanted to know how. Something in him wanted to know.

"I know how. Just turn over on your stomach."Jeremy did without wasting a moment. There was a small splash of magic and then he felt Fred lay atop him and his dick in his butt crack. "This may hurt a bit, but it will feel very good too."

"Like eating too much and being very full."

Fred chuckled. "Yes, full is a great way to describe it." Then he slipped in that virgin hole. Jeremy screamed out in pain and tried to get away, but Fred had him pinned. He wasn't moving at all, just laying there. "Relax, Jeremy, relax. Go into a meditative trance and concentrate on what you feel other than pain."

It was almost instinctual. His mind shut down the pain receptors and then he could feel himself relaxing. First his back which had tensed, then his legs and neck, arms and feet and hands. Then that last part where the pain had been. He could feel Fred slowly easing in and out and while there was no pain there was no real pleasure either. But there was something growing, a feeling like that blowjob only smaller. Fred changed his rhythm and angle and then Jeremy moaned again, his dick jumping to full hard under him. "There you go. There's the spot. Now concentrate on that feeling." Jeremy did with all his might and kept himself from feeling anything else. Only that feeling of Fred now furiously pumping in and how it felt similar to the blowjob remained. "Oh baby you are so damn tight. Gods I love fucking virgins." Jeremy wondered if those virgins he had been fucking, whatever that was, had enjoyed it as much as he was.

Again Jeremy felt that pressure building inside, only this time it was much stronger. It came from deeper in his core and flowed through him like a speeding river down a dry gorge, cleansing all the debris away in its path to the sea. Only this sea was not full at all and that tide was having to fill dry and barren land within him. Jeremy hissed at the strange stirring within him but it was overpowered by his second orgasm rushing from him. Vaguely he could hear Fred crying out in ecstasy as he spilled his load deep in Jeremy's guts, but he didn't care. Gods above this felt wonderful.

All too soon Jeremy felt Fred pull out and then get off him. "You okay, champ?"

"I feel really funny." Jeremy felt another splash of magic and felt his bottom was now cleaner. "I guess there would be a mess huh." He stood shakily and pulled up his pants after cleaning his front with a cantrip. "I don't know what to say, Fred. I've never done that with anyone before." His clothes were dirty but he didn't care. "It was...was...was. I don't know the words."

"I liked it too." Fred kissed him softly on the lips. "And that spell you cast didn't affect me at all."

"Huh? Then why did you just fuck me?"

"I think you're cute and wanted to be your first."

"Cute? Me? I'm ugly. I'm short and skinny and can't cast spells and I'm not cute." Jeremy knew this cause his entire life he had been told what a waste he was. Everyone but his mom that is and she had not seen him since he had been enrolled at the Academy four years ago.

"You are, believe me. And when you reach your majority and your change all those people who said you aren't will hate themselves." Fred kissed him again.

His change. Every natural born spellcaster went through a drastic physical change to announce to the world they were close to really getting some serious power. All of his siblings had it near the age of puberty. One had rock hard skin made of diamond. Another sister was eight feet tall with a thirty foot wingspan of feathers. His mother had actually gotten shorter but had literal stars in her eyes. Miniature galaxies were what her eyes were made of. "Are you sure the spell didn't affect you? Maybe your brain? Cause I'll never reach my change just like I'm not cute."

Fred laughed. "Very sure. You never knew guys can like guys?" Jeremy shook his head. "You need to spend a year in the normal world. It would blow your mind." Jeremy looked alarmed. "It's a saying meaning it will surprise you a lot." One last time Fred kissed him. "Now go show those committee guys you are your mother's son." There was a burst of acrid smoke and when it cleared Fred was gone.

"Huh." Jeremy shook his head and gathered the rest of the ingredients. His meeting Fred had opened him up in many ways and made him more confused than ever before. Guys could like guys? But that went against breeding...didn't it? Throwing up his hands he shook his head. Then he walked back to the Academy knowing his test was scheduled for last since they knew he could not cast a teleport spell.

He got there sooner than even he expected and he had to wait until the last student was done. The Clerical student came out with her head hung low and did not even look up when she passed Jeremy. "Umm, can I get your help," he asked and she looked up with red rimmed eyes. "I got hurt during my trial and I was wondering if you could heal me?"

"Better ask an actual Cleric, not one who flunked her exam."

"Those Clerics are all too busy for me. Besides, it's only a little hurt and I shouldn't go bothering those needed for major healing." She looked at him sadly. "Please? I have to go in their when they call and I'll be expelled if I don't go in."

"Oh. Okay, if you trust a failure." Jeremy nodded and she came over to delve him for injuries, using magic to find anything wrong. "Do I want to know?" she asked quietly and he shook his head. With a shake of her she healed the pain he had in his bottom and a few other minor things.

"Thanks so much. There should be more healers adept at the minor ills and aches like you. Maybe you could get a job doing just that. Healer to the minorly injured." He could see her thinking it over. Rather than saying good bye she left deep in thought.

"Very savvy of you Jeremy," said the head of the committee. "A lot of talent in that girl but no drive, no calling. Yet now I saw something in her just then. She'll think about what you said." Jeremy stood when he was waved in and went to take his customary spot in the judging circle, a magical protection ring inlaid in the floor that no magic can travel out of...to prevent accidents. Yet they had not keyed it. They knew he could not cast and knew he was a whiz at potions so did not feel they needed to. "Jeremy Dream-Mender, this is your last chance to pass or you will be sent home. Is there anything you would like the council to know about before we start."

"Only that I am my mother's child." Even he did not know why he said it. It felt right to say it though. They nodded and noted his words cryptic though they were. "I have brought the ingredients I was sent for but would like to get the council's approval to try an experiment."

"Such as?"

"While on my trial I was able to procure some dark sprite dust as well as some sprite dust. I would like to see what happens if I use the dark instead of the light." He was curious as to what may happen since he was only making a minor healing salve and little could go wrong. They keyed the circle and gestured. Mixing the ingredients in order, but substituting the dust, he watched the salve take on a vile green mixture rather than the rosy pink it should have been. When nothing explosive happened they lowered the circle and he presented the mixture for the council to judge.

"We know you can make the healing salve, Jeremy so you don't have to make that for us. This however will take a bit of study." They handed the vial down to the best potions brewer there.

He cast a few spells on it and then looked mildly amused. "Ladies and gentlemen I believe our young Sorcerer has found the simplest way you can make a lethal poison strong enough to kill a wyvern." They looked suitably impressed. "Deceptively simple too no one would ever think of it. If nothing else, I believe his name can be entered as having brewed a new potion for dragon hunting." The corner of Jeremy's mouth twitched in a smile. "This will not help you pass the practical portion of your exam, but it shows that magic may not be your strong suit, but the studious arts are. If nothing else I would like to take you on as my personal assistant for the coming term. Not even your siblings got that offer from any instructor."

Jeremy felt a flush of accomplishment. "I don't know what to say, sir. Thanks. If all thing go south here then I would love to help you in potions."

The head nodded. "Very well. Just for the sake of courtesy and tradition we will raise the circle again. Please let us know if you expect similar results sooner rather than later." Jeremy grinned, knowing they did not mean to insult him but did not want to waste any more time.

When circled flared to life Jeremy entered his trance to access his very small energy reserves. He cast all the cantrips as was necessary. Then he reached deeper for that well of power that was supposed to be there...and found a sea of raw power where a wall once was. Jeremy looked up at the committee and they gasped, seeing his blood red eyes shining as he cast a fireball the size of a house when it was only supposed to get no larger than a small horse. The circle held of course but they were stunned. They had not see a spell that large since...since his mother had done her exams. The next was a simple cone of frost that was more like a hail storm, a thin bolt of lightning was an entire fork. Spell after spell was cast until Jeremy fell to his hands and knees panting with exhaustion. Never had he cast those spells, not once, and now he had them flawless.

"Child...what did you do?" His eyes had returned to their normal green when he looked up. Jeremy shook his head. "There was nothing differently you did since the last exam?"

Jeremy looked confused. His entire life had been the same...except Fred. "I...uh...don't know if it matters really, but I...I lost my virginity today."

Their reactions were so comical he would have laughed. Talk flew quickly about this odd thing. "He is his mother's son."

"He said it as such."

"Does such a thing run in families?"

Jeremy watch in confusion and got fed up when they did not heed his trying to ask a question. His temper snapped, his eyes going blood red again, and a deafening thunder clap sounded in the room. All talk silenced and they looked around for the culprit until they realized that their student was glaring and tapping his foot. "I was asking a question," he said testily which was out of character. He was a sweet boy.

"Pardon our babbling, Jeremy. Your question?"

"Why?" was all he asked and they looked astonished. "Why does my loss of my virginity have anything to do with my casting spells?" Had he known he would have lost it years ago.

"You, like your mother, seem to be a tantric caster. You get your energy from...sex." Jeremy grinned and then laughed aloud.

"You mean the only reason I had never been able to cast spells was I was a virgin?" They nodded as one. "Huh. Well, Fred did say I was my mother's son. Guess that's what he meant."

"Since you have far exceeded our expectations of your casting, we hope you will accept our apology as to not finding the cause for previous exams' failing for it was on our part. They will of course be stricken from you record." He was only allowed three fails on exams and now they were gone!

Jeremy nodded. "How could you know? I mean I never heard of such a thing and I read a lot."

"There has only been one other and that was your mother." Jeremy had not thought about this in that light and it answered many thing about his mother's twenty-two children from fourteen men. She was a slut because that was the source of her power, sexual intercourse. "So, having passed this exam you are awarded a two week holiday and a passing grade into...apprentice?" They committee nodded unanimously.

Jeremy's jaw dropped. He had gone from novice, skipped acolyte, and right into apprentice! He knew he had all the spells in his head, he just never had been able to cast them. "Me? An apprentice?"

"Yes, and I hope you will still accept my offer to apprentice with me," asked the potions master. Jeremy nodded vehemently.

"Will I still take herbology and rune?"

"More now since you need to make up for the lost classes from advancement. You will have to find the time for a double work load." A double load? Jeremy was in heaven. No time for people to tease him, no time to get bored, no time to wish he was not a failure. "And Hermes I do hope you will not work the boy too hard considering the circumstances."

"No, he will not find me a harsh master. So, my apprentice, go to the registry for your apprenticeship robes which I only ask you wear when I want you to work beside me in class." Jeremy nodded like that was a fair compromise. "Scat, and have a good holiday." Jeremy bowed out and left at a run. Those few still in the campus quad wondered why he was so happy. "I passed!" he screamed at the top of his lungs and more than a few were surprised.

One was the Captain of the team. Erich did not seem too happy right then even though he got laid. "So you scraped by somehow. That won't stop me from turning you into a toad for that little hex you put on me." The jerk began casting a spell.




The Magic of a Touch



Jeremy just looked at him and his eyes went black. "I curse you," he said with a deeper voice and the air around him shimmered with black energy. "I curse you with your biggest fear." That energy flung from Jeremy and into the stunned Captain's face where it entered through his gaping mouth. "Never shall you have respite until your find the true remorse." The Captain whimpered and reach down to his groin...and the look on his face said he was missing something there. Jeremy's eyes returned to normal and he shook his head. There was no real loss of his manhood, only he thought there was. It was a hag spell, phantom fear. Had he been afraid of spiders he would see them everywhere. Erich ran away screaming into the library to look for a counter curse.

Jeremy just went to get his robes and then pack them for his trip home. Archie was asleep on the suitcase when he got there. "We're going home for two weeks Archie. I passed!" The cat woke up, stretched and then jumped down to purr while he rubbed his length against Jeremy's leg. "Proud of me?" 

The cat looked at him like he was an idiot. No change there. No, the only change was in Jeremy. He was going home. Home...where he could finally hold hid head up and say he was a Sorcerer. A tantric Sorcerer.

*****

I hope to make this one a bit more fun than anything else. If you're expecting much...don't. I wrote this in one day when the mood struck me and I may even continue it.

Kevin