“Yeah, sort of.” Thoth wasn’t sure if anyone really knew Mallos. People knew of him and people knew some things about him, but nobody really knew him. “That was Mallos. He’s a deity, holds domain over the sun, children, romance…” He kicked a stone out of his path. Thoth still wasn’t sure how Mallos was able to preside over romance when he was clearly empathically challenged. “He must’ve decided he liked you. Or he was in a good mood. He’s not usually so helpful.”

His voice had taken on a moody undertone. Thoth tried not to dislike Mallos, since the guy had been his mother’s closest friend, but it was difficult. Mallos didn’t make it any easier by being the most untrustworthy git on the planet, either.

Fortunately, the conversation took a detour as they neared closer to the castle boundaries. Minnow’s reaction to his brief magical demonstration cleared the rumblings of an oncoming mood and lifted his face into a genuine grin. If he got any recognition for his achievements at all, it was usually negative. Arthur and the rest of the castle staff were never impressed by the fruits of his inventive nature, and most other young people described his hobbies in derogatory or bemused tones. Only Tristan and Alethea ever really seemed interested without the subtext of a telling-off.

Oh, and Khasekhemwy, he supposed. Ever since Thoth had met the god of knowledge during the rune stone fiasco, they’d been absent-minded pen-pals. Communications were irregular and never without purpose (usually discussions over academic theories or translations of texts), but he preferred it that way. It was easier to talk to people when they were upfront about what they wanted.

“Actually, I have…” He paused as he counted his magical abilities on his fingers, having never done so before. He had to stop mid-count, distracted, when Minnow asked to keep the miniature ice sculpture. “Uhh, you can, but it’ll melt eventually. And I think I have ten powers. Might be eleven?” He counted them up again, ticking off his fingers. “Uhh yeah, eleven. Seven relating to water, if you count weather manipulation. Not including level-related powers.”

Judging by her reaction, magic wasn’t quite as commonplace where Minnow came from. Thoth could have told her that magic was incredibly abundant in Shaman due to the nature of the planet’s conception, but something held him back. Instead, he held his hands up in front of him and focused. As he moved his hands slowly apart, the clouds above the castle parted at an unnatural speed. A glint of sunlight shone cheekily through, forcing him to blink twice in rapid succession. The new influx of light, although gentle, lightened his hair colour to a dark blonde.

“I don’t do much with the weather.” He pushed the clouds together again, extinguishing the sharp glow and returning his hair colour back to a light brown. “Mostly that magic just reacts to my moods.”


MASTER OF THE ORBIS . MASTER OF THE WATER ELEMENT . SON OF AURA