# Chapter 2: Fungal Fortunes

Alex stood in front of the blue-domed building, gaping up at its imposing height. He'd been wandering around the central plaza for nearly half an hour, getting curious stares from passersby. The guard captain was right—he desperately needed a bath. His clothes stank of sweat and griffin dung, and his hair felt grimy against his forehead.

"She said I couldn't miss it," he muttered to himself. "And she was right."

The Mage's Guild headquarters towered over the surrounding buildings. Its blue dome glistened in the afternoon sun, and strange symbols etched into the stone walls seemed to shift and move when he wasn't looking directly at them. Elaborate stained glass windows depicted scenes of robed figures casting spells and battling fantastic creatures.

Alex hesitated at the bottom of the wide marble steps leading to the entrance. What if they laughed at him? Or worse, what if they decided he was dangerous and locked him up? He'd spent enough time locked up back at Pinewood.

"Are you going in or not?" asked an irritated voice from behind him.

Alex turned to see a young woman with short red hair and a scowl on her face. She wore deep blue robes with silver trim and carried several books under one arm.

"I... uh... I'm not sure if I should," he admitted.

The woman looked him up and down, her nose wrinkling in disgust. "You smell terrible. What are you doing here?"

"The guard captain sent me. She said I should report to the Mage's Guild because I... well, I accidentally got some magic abilities."

The woman stared at him for a moment, then burst out laughing. "Accidentally got magic abilities? That's not how magic works, beggar."

Alex frowned. "Look, I know it sounds crazy, but I fell into some griffin dung, and suddenly I could move faster, hear better, and shoot force blasts from my hands."

The woman's laughter died abruptly. "Griffin dung? Are you serious?"

"Completely serious."

She studied his face, seeming to search for signs that he was lying. Whatever she saw must have convinced her because she nodded slowly.

"All right. I'll take you to see Master Aldric. He deals with... unusual cases." She gestured for him to follow her up the steps. "I'm Lyra, by the way. Second-year apprentice."

"Alex." He followed her, relieved not to be facing this alone.

"Just Alex?" Lyra asked as they reached the top of the steps.

"Alex Seven," he replied, sticking with the improvised surname he'd given the captain.

Lyra raised an eyebrow but didn't comment further as she pushed open the massive wooden doors of the Guild Hall.

The interior took Alex's breath away. The dome that looked so impressive from outside was even more stunning from within. Its inner surface depicted a map of the night sky, with stars and constellations that actually twinkled and moved. Beneath it, a vast circular hall buzzed with activity. People in various colored robes hurried about, some carrying books or strange instruments, others engaged in heated discussions. In one corner, a group practiced what looked like martial arts moves, except occasional bursts of colored light erupted from their hands.

"This way," Lyra said, leading him past the main hall and down a corridor. "And try not to touch anything. Some of these artifacts are temperamental."

Alex kept his hands firmly at his sides as they walked past display cases containing objects that glowed, floated, or seemed to change shape when viewed from different angles.

"What exactly do you do here?" he asked.

"Study, practice, research," Lyra replied. "The Guild is the center for magical learning and regulation in the Western Kingdoms. Anyone with magical talent is required to register and receive proper training." She glanced back at him. "Untrained magic users are dangerous—to themselves and others."

They stopped in front of a door with a nameplate that read "Master Aldric, Department of Magical Anomalies." Lyra knocked twice.

"Enter," called a gruff voice from within.

Lyra opened the door, revealing a cluttered office. Books and scrolls were piled on every surface, and the walls were lined with shelves containing jars of strange substances. Behind a desk buried under more books sat a balding man with a salt-and-pepper beard and tiny spectacles perched on the end of his nose.

"Master Aldric," Lyra said, "I found this man outside. He claims to have gained magical abilities from griffin dung."

Aldric looked up from the tome he was reading, his bushy eyebrows rising toward his receding hairline. "Did you say griffin dung?"

"Yes, Master." Lyra nudged Alex forward. "This is Alex Seven."

Aldric set his book aside and stood up. He was shorter than Alex had expected, barely reaching Alex's shoulder, but there was an intensity in his gaze that made Alex want to step back.

"Interesting," Aldric said, circling Alex slowly. "Very interesting indeed. You've had no prior magical training?"

"No, sir," Alex replied. "Where I come from, magic doesn't... uh... it's not common."

"And where exactly do you come from, young man?"

Alex hesitated. How could he explain that he came from another world—or possibly from inside his own imagination?

"Far away," he said finally. "A place called Earth."

"Earth?" Aldric repeated. "Never heard of it. Is it beyond the Eastern Sea?"

"Much further than that."

Aldric waved his hand dismissively. "No matter. What interests me is your claim about the griffin dung. Lyra, you may return to your studies. I'll handle this from here."

Lyra looked disappointed but bowed slightly. "Yes, Master." She shot Alex a curious look before leaving the office, closing the door behind her.

Aldric gestured to a chair. "Sit, sit. And tell me exactly what happened."

Alex sat down and recounted the events of the morning—waking up in a strange world, the confrontation with Rendar's gang, and the accidental discovery of his new abilities after falling into griffin excrement.

Aldric listened intently, occasionally making notes on a piece of parchment. When Alex finished, the older man leaned back in his chair, tapping his quill against his chin.

"Extraordinary," he murmured. "There have been theories, of course, about the magical properties of creature byproducts, but direct absorption through the skin? And with such immediate and dramatic effects? Unprecedented!"

"So you believe me?" Alex asked, surprised.

"Oh, certainly. The question isn't whether it happened, but how and why." Aldric stood up and began rummaging through a cabinet. "We must conduct some tests."

Alex shifted uncomfortably. "Tests?"

"Nothing invasive, I assure you." Aldric pulled out a crystal sphere about the size of an apple and placed it on the desk. "This is an Orb of Resonance. It detects and measures magical energies. Place your hand on it, please."

Hesitantly, Alex reached out and touched the orb. Immediately, it began to glow with a bright golden light, and small sparks danced across its surface.

Aldric's eyes widened. "By the Three Moons! I've never seen a resonance that strong in an untrained individual!"

"Is that... good?" Alex asked.

"It's remarkable," Aldric replied. "But potentially dangerous if you can't control it. We must determine the exact nature of your abilities." He retrieved the orb and returned it to the cabinet. "First, however, I think we should get you cleaned up. No offense, young man, but you smell like a griffin's roost."

Alex couldn't argue with that assessment. "I could use a bath," he admitted.

"And fresh clothes," Aldric added. He rang a small bell on his desk, and moments later, a young boy in plain brown robes appeared at the door.

"Yes, Master Aldric?"

"Tib, take our guest to the apprentice bathing chambers and find him some clean clothes. Then bring him to Testing Chamber Three."

"Yes, Master." The boy bowed and gestured for Alex to follow him.

Alex rose, then hesitated. "Master Aldric, what exactly will these tests involve?"

Aldric smiled reassuringly. "Nothing harmful, I promise. We simply need to understand what you can do and how to help you control it. The Guild exists to nurture magical talent, not suppress it."

That wasn't entirely reassuring, but Alex nodded anyway and followed Tib out of the office.

The apprentice bath chambers turned out to be a series of private rooms with copper tubs and an ingenious system of pipes that delivered hot water at the turn of a valve—luxury beyond anything Alex had expected in this medieval-seeming world.

"How does the hot water work?" he asked Tib as the boy showed him how to operate the valves.

"Fire elementals in the basement," Tib replied, as if this were the most obvious thing in the world. "They heat the water reservoirs. Don't worry—they're well-paid and have holidays."

Alex decided not to ask any more questions about the building's plumbing. He thanked Tib, who promised to return with clean clothes and left him to his bath.

The hot water felt heavenly. Alex scrubbed away the grime of the streets, watching as dirt, sweat, and the last traces of griffin dung swirled down the drain. As he washed, he tried to make sense of his situation.

Either he was experiencing the most elaborate hallucination ever, or he really had been transported to another world. If it was a hallucination, it was remarkably consistent and detailed. And if it was real... well, that opened up a whole new set of questions.

How had he gotten here? Why him? And most importantly, how was he supposed to navigate this world of magic and monsters when his only experience with the supernatural came from fantasy novels borrowed from other patients at Pinewood?

He was startled from his thoughts by a knock at the door.

"I've brought your clothes," Tib called. "I'll leave them outside the door and wait in the hall to take you to Testing Chamber Three when you're ready."

"Thank you," Alex called back.

After drying himself with a surprisingly soft towel, he opened the door a crack and retrieved the bundle Tib had left. The clothes were simple but clean—a pair of brown trousers, a white linen shirt, and a vest of dark blue cloth. They fit well enough, though the trousers were a bit short, showing his ankles.

Feeling refreshed and more confident, Alex stepped out into the hall where Tib waited patiently.

"This way, sir," the boy said, leading him through a maze of corridors.

They passed rooms where apprentices practiced what looked like magical exercises—making objects float, changing the colors of flames, or attempting to grow plants at accelerated rates. In one room, a group sat in a circle around a table covered in glowing symbols, their eyes closed in deep concentration.

"What are they doing?" Alex asked Tib, pointing to the meditation group.

"Mind-sharing," Tib replied. "It's an advanced technique. Lets them experience each other's memories. Very useful for learning, but tricky to master."

Alex wondered what would happen if they tried to mind-share with him. Would they see Pinewood Hospital, the medications, Dr. Peterson telling him his delusions weren't real? Would they think he was crazy, too?

Testing Chamber Three turned out to be a large circular room with a high ceiling. The stone walls were bare except for a few symbols painted at regular intervals. The floor was marked with concentric circles, and in the center stood a pedestal bearing another crystal orb, larger than the one in Aldric's office.

Master Aldric waited for them, along with two other robed figures—a tall, thin man with a severe expression and a plump, middle-aged woman whose kind face reminded Alex of one of the nicer nurses at Pinewood.

"Ah, much better," Aldric said approvingly as Alex entered. "You look almost civilized now. Alex, this is Master Thalon, our weapons expert, and Mistress Elara, our healer. They'll be assisting with the tests."

Alex nodded nervously to both of them.

Mistress Elara smiled warmly. "Don't worry, young man. This is all quite routine."

Master Thalon's expression remained stern. "If what Aldric tells us is true, there's nothing routine about this case."

"Indeed," Aldric agreed. "Which is why we're being thorough." He gestured to the center of the room. "Alex, please stand in the innermost circle."

Alex did as instructed, careful to position himself exactly in the center of the smallest circle marked on the floor.

"Good," Aldric said. "Now, I want you to try to access the abilities you felt after your... encounter with the griffin dung. Focus on how you felt, the sensations in your body."

Alex closed his eyes, trying to recall the tingling warmth that had spread through him, the clarity of vision, the heightened hearing. At first, nothing happened. Then, gradually, he became aware of a reservoir of energy inside him, like a pool of warm light centered in his chest.

"I can feel something," he said softly.

"Excellent," Aldric replied. "Try to direct that energy into your limbs, just as you did when fighting Rendar's men."

Alex concentrated, imagining the energy flowing from his chest into his arms and legs. A gasp from Mistress Elara made him open his eyes. A soft golden glow surrounded his hands and feet.

"Remarkable," Master Thalon murmured, his stern expression giving way to fascination.

"Now," Aldric continued, "attempt something simple. Jump as high as you can."

Alex bent his knees slightly and pushed off from the floor. To his astonishment, he soared upward, nearly reaching the ceiling before falling back down. He landed gracefully, barely feeling the impact.

"Whoa!" he exclaimed. "That was at least fifteen feet!"

"Enhanced physical abilities, as reported," Aldric noted, scribbling on a parchment. "Now, try to focus the energy through your palm, as you did when you repelled Rendar."

Alex held out his hand, palm forward, aiming at a wooden target that Master Thalon had set up against one wall. He concentrated on the energy pool again, this time directing it down his arm and out through his hand.

Nothing happened.

"I can't seem to—" he began, but just then, a pulse of invisible force shot from his palm, hitting the target with enough power to knock it over.

"Well done!" Aldric exclaimed. "Now, let's test your sensory enhancements. Mistress Elara, if you please?"

The healer nodded and stepped behind Alex. She took a small vial from her pocket and removed the stopper.

"Tell me what you smell," she instructed.

Alex inhaled deeply. "Lavender... and something spicy, like cinnamon, but not quite. And... is that mint?"

"Impressive," Elara said. "It's lavender, star anise, and wintermint. Most people couldn't detect the wintermint at all without training." She restoppered the vial. "Now, listen carefully. What do you hear?"

Alex strained his ears. At first, he heard only the breathing of the people in the room and the faint rustle of their robes. Then, gradually, other sounds filtered in—voices from distant rooms, the fluttering of birds on the roof, even the soft scratching of Aldric's quill on parchment.

"I can hear... everything," he said in wonder. "People talking several rooms away. Birds outside. Your quill, Master Aldric."

The three mages exchanged significant looks.

"One final test," Aldric said. "Visual acuity. Master Thalon?"

The tall mage took a small book from his robe and opened it to a random page. He stood at the far end of the chamber, holding the book up.

"Can you read the title at the top of the page?" he asked.

Alex squinted, focusing on the distant book. To his surprise, the text seemed to leap forward, becoming as clear as if he were holding it himself.

"'Applications of Transmutative Energy in Non-Organic Substances,'" he read aloud. "'Chapter Seven: Metallurgical Implications.'"

Master Thalon closed the book with a snap. "That settles it," he said. "The boy has absorbed multiple enhancement magics simultaneously. I've never seen anything like it."

"Nor have I," agreed Aldric. "Alex, you may step out of the circle now."

Alex did so, feeling a mixture of pride and apprehension. "So what does all this mean?"

"It means," said Aldric, "that you possess extraordinary magical potential. The griffin dung appears to have unlocked latent abilities that most mages spend years developing. Your reflexes, strength, speed, and senses are all enhanced beyond normal human capability. And you've demonstrated basic force projection as well."

"But why me?" Alex asked. "And why griffin... you know."

Mistress Elara chuckled. "Magic often works in unexpected ways. Griffin dung does have known alchemical properties—it's used in certain rare potions—but direct absorption through the skin is unprecedented."

"I have a theory," Aldric said slowly. "Some individuals are born with what we call a 'receptive aura'—an innate ability to absorb and channel magical energies from their surroundings. It's exceedingly rare, and typically requires years of training to develop. But you, Alex Seven, seem to possess an exceptionally powerful receptive aura that activated upon contact with a magical catalyst."

"So I just got lucky?" Alex asked.

"Or unlucky, depending on your perspective," Master Thalon said dryly. "Such power without training is a dangerous combination."

Aldric nodded. "Which is why I'm offering you apprenticeship in the Guild, effective immediately. You need guidance to control these abilities properly."

Alex blinked in surprise. "Apprenticeship? Me?"

"Unless you'd prefer we bind your magical abilities until you learn control," Thalon said, his stern expression returning. "Untrained mages of your potential are typically considered a public hazard."

"No, no, apprenticeship sounds great," Alex said quickly. The last thing he wanted was to have his newfound abilities taken away. They were the only advantage he had in this strange world.

Aldric smiled. "Excellent! We'll hold your initiation ceremony this evening. It's traditionally a small feast to welcome new apprentices to the Guild. Nothing elaborate—just the Guild Masters and senior apprentices."

Mistress Elara stepped forward and placed a hand on Alex's shoulder. "Don't look so worried, young man. The Guild may seem overwhelming at first, but you'll find your place here."

Alex nodded, trying to appear confident. Inside, his thoughts were racing. A mage's apprentice? Him? Back at Pinewood, he could barely be trusted to take his medications without supervision. And now these people expected him to learn magic?

"I can show you to the apprentice quarters," Tib offered. "You'll need to rest before the ceremony."

"Good idea," Aldric agreed. "The initiation begins at sunset in the Great Hall. Tib will come for you when it's time."

As Tib led him from the testing chamber, Alex's mind swirled with questions and doubts. He followed the boy absently, hardly noticing their surroundings until they stopped in front of a simple wooden door.

"This will be your room," Tib said, pushing the door open to reveal a small but comfortable chamber with a bed, a desk, a wardrobe, and a narrow window overlooking the city. "The washroom is at the end of the hall, and meals are served in the common room on the ground floor."

"Thank you," Alex said distractedly.

Tib hesitated in the doorway. "If you don't mind me asking, is it true you got your powers from griffin dung?"

Alex smiled wryly. "Afraid so."

The boy's eyes widened with a mixture of disgust and admiration. "That's both gross and amazing. I've never heard of anything like that."

"Neither had I," Alex admitted.

"Well, good luck tonight. The Masters can be intimidating, but they're fair." With that, Tib left, closing the door behind him.

Alone in his new room, Alex sank onto the bed, his head spinning. Just yesterday—was it only yesterday?—he had been taking his meds in a sterile hospital room, convinced that his life would never change. Now he was in another world, with magical abilities, about to be inducted into a guild of mages.

"If this is a hallucination," he muttered, "it's the most elaborate one I've ever had."

He lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling. What if this was real? What if he really had been transported to another world? And if so, why? Was there a purpose to it, or was it just some cosmic accident?

More importantly, how was he supposed to survive here? He knew nothing about this world, its customs, its dangers. His only advantage was the strange ability to absorb magic from disgusting substances—hardly a reliable skill set.

His thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. He sat up quickly. "Yes?"

The door opened to reveal Lyra, the red-haired apprentice who had first brought him to Master Aldric. She leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed.

"So," she said, "you're really joining the Guild."

"Apparently," Alex replied, unsure of her tone. "Is that a problem?"

Lyra shrugged. "It's unusual. Most apprentices train for years before they're even considered for admission. You show up, covered in griffin shit, and get an immediate offer." She studied him with narrowed eyes. "Some people might be resentful."

"I didn't ask for this," Alex said defensively. "Any of it."

"Maybe not," Lyra conceded. "But you got it anyway." She stepped into the room, closing the door behind her. "Word spreads fast around here. Everyone's talking about the beggar who absorbed magic from dung. You're going to be the center of attention at the initiation tonight."

Alex groaned. "Great. That's exactly what I need."

To his surprise, Lyra smiled. "Relax. Most people are just curious. And besides, I can help you. Someone needs to show you the ropes around here, and who better than me?"

"Why would you want to help me?"

"Because you're interesting." She sat down on the edge of his desk. "And because I've been studying receptive auras for my thesis. If what Master Aldric says is true, you're a living research subject."

"So I'm an experiment to you?" Alex asked dryly.

"More like a fascinating specimen," Lyra replied with a grin. "But seriously, you'll need allies here. The Guild can be... politically complicated. Master Aldric is well-respected, but he has rivals who might try to use you against him."

"Use me how?"

"By undermining his research. By claiming he's reckless for taking on an untrained apprentice with dangerous abilities." She leaned forward. "Most people here have been working their entire lives to develop the kind of powers you stumbled into by accident. That creates jealousy."

Alex hadn't considered that aspect. "I just want to learn how to control what I can do. I don't want to get involved in Guild politics."

"Nobody does," Lyra said. "But they'll involve you whether you want them to or not." She stood up. "The initiation ceremony starts in two hours. I'll come back to escort you. Try to rest until then—you'll need your energy."

After Lyra left, Alex lay back down, his mind racing. He must have dozed off, because the next thing he knew, Lyra was shaking him awake.

"Time to go," she said. "You don't want to be late for your own initiation."

Alex followed her through the winding corridors of the Guild Hall, trying to memorize the route but quickly getting lost in the maze-like building. Finally, they arrived at a set of massive double doors carved with intricate magical symbols.

"The Great Hall," Lyra announced. "Ready?"

Before Alex could answer, the doors swung open of their own accord, revealing a vast chamber illuminated by hundreds of floating globes of light. Long tables arranged in a U-shape dominated the space, with a smaller table at the center. Dozens of people in variously colored robes sat at the tables, all turning to stare as Alex entered.

"Courage," Lyra whispered, giving him a gentle push forward.

Master Aldric approached, beaming. "Ah, our guest of honor! Come, Alex, your place is at the center table."

Alex followed Aldric to the small central table, where three other new apprentices already sat, all looking as nervous as he felt. They appeared younger than him, probably in their late teens.

"These are your fellow initiates," Aldric explained. "Normally we hold initiations only twice a year, but we had a few late admissions this cycle."

The other apprentices nodded politely to Alex, though one, a thin young man with pale blond hair, regarded him with unconcealed suspicion.

Once Alex was seated, Master Aldric returned to the head table and raised his hands for silence.

"Masters, Mistresses, and Apprentices of the Guild," he announced, his voice magically amplified to fill the hall. "We gather tonight to welcome four new seekers to our ranks. They have demonstrated the necessary talent, dedication, and character to begin the path of magical learning."

He proceeded to introduce each new apprentice. The first was a girl named Mira, who had shown exceptional talent in elemental magic. The second was a boy called Pell, whose specialty was divination. The third was the suspicious-looking blond youth, Davin, apparently a prodigy in combat magic despite his slight build.

Finally, Aldric turned to Alex. "And lastly, we welcome Alex Seven, a most unusual case. Alex possesses an extraordinarily powerful receptive aura, capable of absorbing and channeling magical energies typically inaccessible to untrained individuals. His potential is vast, though his path will likely be unconventional."

Murmurs rippled through the assembly at this announcement. Alex noticed several of the senior mages exchanging skeptical glances.

"Together," Aldric continued, "these four represent the future of our Guild and the continuation of our magical traditions. Let us welcome them with the traditional feast of initiation!"

He clapped his hands, and instantly, the tables filled with an array of dishes—roasted meats, strange fruits, elaborate pastries, and goblets of what looked like wine. The floating lights dimmed slightly, creating a more intimate atmosphere, and music began to play from an unseen source.

"Now we eat, drink, and celebrate," Aldric said, his voice returning to normal volume as he took his seat at the head table.

The other apprentices at Alex's table immediately began filling their plates. Alex hesitated, unfamiliar with most of the foods presented.

"Try the roast griffin," suggested Mira, the girl to his left. "It's delicious."

"Griffin?" Alex asked, alarmed. "As in, the creature whose, uh, droppings gave me powers?"

Mira giggled. "Yes, though I wouldn't mention that connection to anyone else while they're eating. Griffin meat is a delicacy, served only on special occasions."

Cautiously, Alex took a small portion of the roasted meat, along with some bread and what looked like familiar vegetables. Everything tasted better than he expected, richer and more flavorful than the bland hospital food he was used to.

As the meal progressed, the initial formality of the occasion relaxed. Conversations grew louder, laughter more frequent, and the wine flowed freely. Alex, mindful of his unfamiliarity with the potency of the local alcohol, sipped his sparingly.

Davin, the blond apprentice, leaned across the table towards Alex. "So, Seven," he said, his tone challenging, "Aldric claims you absorbed magic from griffin dung. How do we know you didn't just steal someone else's power through foul means?"

"Davin!" Mira scolded. "That's a terrible accusation!"

"It's a reasonable question," Davin countered. "No one just 'absorbs' high-level enhancement magic by accident. There are rules to how magic works."

"I didn't steal anything," Alex said firmly. "I don't even know how I could do that."

"Exactly what someone hiding dark knowledge would say." Davin narrowed his eyes. "My father says Master Aldric has been reckless in his research for years. Taking you on as an apprentice without proper vetting is just his latest mistake."

Before Alex could respond, a server approached their table carrying a platter of small, colorful mushrooms arranged in an intricate pattern.

"Dessert," announced the server, placing the platter in the center of the table. "Cloudcap mushrooms in honey glaze—a Guild speciality."

The sight of the mushrooms made Alex's stomach turn slightly—they reminded him of the medications at Pinewood, which were often disguised in sweet treats to make patients take them more willingly. But the other apprentices reached eagerly for the delicacy.

"These are incredibly rare," Pell explained, selecting one with reverence. "They grow only in the highest mountain caves, in soil infused with magical residue."

Davin took one as well, though he continued to glare suspiciously at Alex. "The cultivation and preparation of Cloudcaps is a closely guarded Guild secret. Only initiates and members are allowed to taste them."

Alex understood the implied message—this was a test of his acceptance of Guild traditions. Reluctantly, he reached for one of the mushrooms, a small blue specimen with silvery speckles. It looked harmless enough, and the honey glaze glistened appetizingly.

"To new beginnings," Mira said, raising her mushroom like a toast.

The four apprentices ate their selections simultaneously. Alex found the taste strange but not unpleasant—sweet from the honey, with an underlying earthiness and a peculiar tingling sensation on his tongue.

But almost immediately, he knew something was wrong. Heat spread from his stomach throughout his body, much more intense than the warm tingling he'd experienced with the griffin dung. His vision blurred, then sharpened dramatically, colors becoming so vivid they almost hurt to look at.

"Oh," he gasped, dropping his fork with a clatter. "I feel strange."

The other apprentices stared at him in alarm.

"Are you alright?" Mira asked, concern in her voice.

Alex couldn't answer. The tingling sensation had become a roaring river of energy coursing through his veins. His fingertips sparked with tiny blue lightning bolts, and objects on the table—plates, goblets, serving dishes—began to tremble.

"Something's happening," he managed to say, his voice sounding distant and echoing in his own ears.

By now, the disturbance had attracted attention from the other tables. Conversations stopped, all eyes turning to Alex's table where silverware and dishware now shook violently.

"What's happening to him?" someone asked loudly.

"The mushrooms," Pell whispered, eyes wide with fear. "They must be reacting with his receptive aura."

Master Aldric stood up, alarm on his face. "Alex," he called across the hall, "try to remain calm. Focus on containing the energy within you."

But it was too late. The power building inside Alex burst forth with explosive force. A wave of invisible energy radiated from his body, flipping over the small central table and sending dishes crashing to the floor.

"Oh, yes," Alex heard himself say, the words coming unbidden to his lips just as they had after touching the griffin dung, "I got a new ability."

The words hung in the sudden silence of the hall. Everyone stared at Alex in shock—everyone except Davin, whose face had twisted into an expression of furious contempt.

"Control yourself," Aldric commanded, hurrying toward Alex. "Focus inward, contain the energy!"

But instead of subsiding, the power continued to grow. Alex felt a strange connection forming between himself and the objects around him—as if invisible threads linked his consciousness to every physical item in the room.

With a thought, he lifted a goblet from the floor, making it float in midair before him. Another thought sent it spinning slowly.

"He's doing telekinesis," gasped Mistress Elara from the head table. "Without training!"

"Impossible," someone else murmured.

Alex experimented further, lifting more objects—plates, cutlery, even pieces of food—and making them orbit around him like planets around a sun. It felt effortless, as natural as breathing.

"This is a violation of Guild protocol," Davin declared, rising to his feet. His face had gone from pale to flushed with anger. "No apprentice should possess such power without proper training and supervision."

"Stand down, Apprentice Davin," Master Aldric said sharply. "This is an unexpected reaction, not a deliberate transgression."

But Davin wasn't listening. He pointed an accusatory finger at Alex. "I challenge you," he declared in a ringing voice. "A formal duel, as is my right when facing a suspected practitioner of forbidden arts."

A collective gasp went up from the assembly. Even Alex, unfamiliar with Guild customs, understood that a challenge had serious implications.

"Davin, this is absurd," Aldric protested. "Alex is untrained. He cannot possibly duel a second-year combat specialist."

"Then he should not have been admitted to the Guild," Davin replied coldly. "Those are the rules, Master Aldric. Anyone who demonstrates magic must be able to control it or face the consequences."

Aldric turned to Alex, worry etched on his face. "You don't have to accept. As an initiate, you can request Guild protection until you've received basic training."

But Alex wasn't listening. The rush of power flowing through him made him feel invincible. The floating objects around him moved faster, responding to his growing confidence. Why shouldn't he accept the challenge? He had the griffin dung abilities AND this new telekinetic power.

"I accept," he heard himself say, the words tumbling out before he could consider the implications. "When and where?"

The hall erupted in excited chatter. Davin's lips curved in a cold smile.

"Tomorrow at noon, in the Dueling Arena," he said. "Don't be late, dung mage."

As the implications of what he'd just agreed to began to sink in, Alex maintained his outward confidence, continuing to float objects around himself with apparent ease. But inside, doubt crept in. What had he done? He had no idea how to duel, no knowledge of magical combat, not even a clear understanding of the new abilities he'd just acquired.

Yet here he was, facing his first major confrontation in this new world, having accepted a challenge from someone who clearly knew what he was doing.

"What have I gotten myself into?" he thought, as the floating objects began to wobble with his wavering concentration. One by one, they dropped back to the floor with soft thuds, a physical manifestation of his rapidly deflating confidence.