Nigkala Tales Pt. 18: So Many Interruptions

"Good luck."

"Thanks."

I read the mage's journal to learn more of this talisman, but there was little there. I did, however, learn the name of the one he took it from. I went back to the internet for some research. It took a while, as this guy was seriously trying to stay off the grid. However, I learned he had a long-time girlfriend, and I could track her from city to city. With hints of the previous guy leading me, I saw strange things happened in these various cities when he was around. In all of them, there was a small but definite rise in vicious animal attacks. His death seemed a simple stabbing, but with a cunning blade up inside his jaw and into his brain. Someone had to have been a 'friend' to get that close. When they found his secret lair, they found trophies hung on the walls. Except instead of being the heads of various animals, they were the heads of a number of powerful people that went missing. In all, a very grisly find. They did not try too hard to find his killer.

All that research took three months. I could have done it in two, but there was a big problem between the union and several studios that took up a lot of my time. It wasn't a strike, but it wasn't efficient work either. Eventually money changed hands, and contract language got changed, and then everything settled down to business as usual.

Finally, I was ready to deal with the third talisman. I prepared myself as before, and it was a good thing I did. It attacked me right away. I tried to whammy it, and it settled down for a bit, but I could tell, it was fighting that. I waited to see how long it lasted. Then I whammied it again. As I feared, it didn't hold as long. I broke off.

I went back to the books to see if there was a way to work through an enchantment without disturbing it. I got some hints and partial ideas, but it wasn't until I remembered I had an electronic copy of that magic book I translated that I found the information I sought. I would need to have the enchantment I put in place be entirely outside the other, without touching. I would then have to work very delicately on the inner enchantment I wanted to remove while not touching the outer enchantment. I would also have to do this with a very annoyed being. I then researched how to make that outer enchantment, and to make it keep the life within peaceful. I soon realized a sleep enchantment would do quite well. I took nearly a month designing and refining the sleep enchantment before I was ready to spring it on the being. I had bought special supplies, and made a magic circle that acted to strengthen my enchantments.

All was prepared. The circle complete, myself well rested, and in a remote area of the mountains inside a cave I made. When I began, I did my best to be slow and very subtle. The patience required was great, but I finally came to its attention. I was about halfway done, and I could feel some effect on the creature, but until it was complete, I could not count on it. I had to use my will against it to keep it at bay even as I finished constructing my sleep enchantment. Fortunately, now that I had its attention, I no longer needed to be slow or subtle. Suddenly, it began to quiet and go to sleep. I didn't trust it, so I went over every bit of my enchantment, and I found a flaw. I fixed it, and felt it sudden anger as it knew I had outsmarted it. Then I felt it truly fall asleep.

I then broke off only to find it was dark out. I walked over to my campsite and ate some food. Then I went to the privy I set up. I had placed it so that the wind would come through and suck any smells out. I then went to bed, as the next day would be just as stressful.

In the morning, I did some exercises to wake up, and then had a light breakfast. I was ready to face the task head on. I meditated and focused on the talisman. I sensed my own enchantment, and I carefully focused my will between the strands of it and into the enchantment within. A little study showed it was just an outer layer of a series of enchantments that hid the nature of the talisman inside. As before, I undid it strand by strand. It was significantly harder as I had to be careful to not touch my enchantment. I was just over halfway done when I felt I had to quit. Pulling back, I realized I had spent most of the day at it. I left it for now, and ate again. Then some more light exercise to quiet my mind, and another meal, and I went to bed.

The next day was a repeat, except that I finished removing the outer layer of enchantments. I studied what remained and saw another control layer like the last. I would tackle it tomorrow. Three weeks later, I had cleared a dozen such layers when I came upon an enchantment that was something else. I spent a day studying it, and then I went home, sealing this cave behind me. I spent three days at home reading the books to figure out what I had encountered. I also spent three nights of intense sex with Filipe. Eventually, I learned this enchantment was to enrage its target and make it very aggressive. I didn't want that, so I studied it to see how it was made, so I could unmake it.

Back at the cave, it took three days to undo the aggression enchantment. As I did, I noticed the pressure against the sleep spell lessened considerably. Beneath was another control enchantment, and I removed it. When I finished, I found there were no more enchantments, only the talisman's own makeup.

I spent a day studying it, to learn what lay within. I was confused as there was only one spirit trapped, yet it seemed to have the nature of several. It wasn't until I noticed the talisman was made of carved wood and the carvings, though blurred, seemed to depict a shark, a tiger, and a bird of prey. Creatures, when I considered their natures, seemed to be reflected in the spirit of the talisman. I also noticed the spirit had calmed considerably.

In the morning, I decided to see what happened when I released the sleep enchantment, so I undid it, taking almost no time since I had made it. I was prepared for it to attack when I contacted it, but instead I just felt a wary and watchful presence. I fed it a little chi, and it responded as if hungry. It was less wary, but still watchful. I decided I could study the talisman and see what flaws it had.

I was surprised at how many flaws it had. Soon, I recognized many of those flaws came from the control enchantments. The stress caused by controlling the spirit was translated into tiny flaws. I realized this was why the talismans lost power when taken over. The control structures themselves inhibited it. I decided to remove these flaws. There was too much to do in a day, so I just worked on the worst of them. Even so, just fixing the few I went after took most of the day. Completing the job took four days, and a fifth to restructure the talisman to the spirit rather than merely fix flaws. That last was so hard, that when I finished and pulled out, I barely had the energy to go to bed.

My dreams that night were odd. I felt as though I was being watched and judged by things unseen. When I woke, I was in a sweat, and still kind of tired. That is when I noticed I was still holding the talisman. To my amazement, when I looked at I saw the carved figures were now very lifelike, as though it had just been made rather than be the centuries old talisman I believed to be. When I focused on it, I felt the spirit watched me, but as an equal to be respected and not as one to be feared. Suddenly, I felt the spirit reach out to me as though I was a mate with acceptance. I was rather surprised by this. I was also surprised at my body's reaction. Suddenly, I could sense life better, noting that some snakes had been using this cave as their home. I also saw that the walls showed subtle patterns in their grain that I was not previously aware of. Lastly, though I knew the privy should be aired out, I could tell it was there by a faint smell.

In wonder, I contemplated all this, and then I understood what this talisman was. It was a predator, with some of the greatest hunters of the animal world. While that first mage had forced it to kill, it was far more suited to the hunt. I could see how I could summon forth a monster as was sent after me, but I felt drawing its power within might be better. I spent the day tracking the small life about me, and seeing how I could summon forth its power, both as a creature, and as its senses.

It was time to go home and examine the last talisman. I arrived to find my agent had left numerous messages. It turns out someone wanted me to train some actors for an action-packed martial arts movie. I contacted my agent, who was very relieved. He asked if I wanted the job, and when I said yes, he said he would call back then hung up.

When he did call back ten minutes later, he told me he made an emergency call to let them know I wanted the position. It was an emergency, since yesterday was supposed to be the last day they would hold it for me. I got lucky because the next person on their list had not yet responded to their call. But I also had to move fast, as they needed a lot of training. Sigh, I would have to put off the last talisman for a while.

Training the other actors took nearly three months, and I was on set while shooting occurred, so I could assist in the fight choreography. When filming ended, the Director and Producer both thanked me. I also spent many evenings in the nearby town getting laid, as I felt a bit drained by my efforts with the talismans.

Finally, I had time to examine the last talisman. The mage's journal indicated he purchased it from another mage, who warned him it had resisted all efforts to tame it. The mage supposed it to be therefore powerful. He detailed a little of what he did, and I saw his controlling nature in his attempts. Now that it was in my possession, it was up to me to learn about it.

As before, I was girded for battle, but I approached this talisman with caution. It did not take long for it to become aware of me. But since I did nothing to it, it merely waited. When I offered it a bit of chi, it examined it, and then returned it with a definite feeling of being something it did not need. That surprised me. Not expecting a reply, I said, "I wonder why it would not take it."

A female voice came back, "I have no such need."

"Who are you?"

"I am Aja, spirit of the forest and the animals within."

"I have never heard of you."

"I sense no forest nearby. Perhaps you do not know the forest."

"I know the forest, but there is none nearby. I am curious why others have found you to be impossible to control."

"Would you control me?"

"No. I will not force another to go against their nature."

"Curious. I have lost count of those before you who tried to control me. Yet your words ring with truth. How did this come to be?"

"I am a priestess. I was attacked by a mage. He had several talismans. I prevailed, and when I reported him to my god, I was given the task to bend his talismans to my will."

"You bend them to your will, but won't force them against their nature. Explain this contradiction."

"This mage had three talismans on him at that time. The first was newly created, capturing a newborn spirit of the land. As I was part of a ritual that apparently also created this spirit, I was already known and linked to it. That is how the mage found me. I freed it of control, and will soon seek for a new home to grow, as the last was far too small. The second talisman was created from the spirit of a man who agreed to be made into a talisman. He is an expert at what he does, and has agreed to work for me in return for my letting him continue his work. I ask things of him, and he is free to give them or deny them. The third talisman was one controlled by many over the years. It had the spirit of predators, but they were forced into being vicious and cruel, as well as being under control. I removed all those controls, especially the enchantment that made it vicious and cruel. It has chosen to respond with a sort of friendship, and accepted me. I have no control over it, yet it responds to my desire because it shares a love of the hunt. When I searched the mage's abode, I found you. I do not know how you will choose, but I will not force you either way."

"You are indeed strange. You choose harmony over control. Freedom over enslavement. Know this, I am no mere talisman made by some powerful mage. Rather, I am a power in my own right, created by my own desire."

"You are a greater talisman? How did you become a commodity bought and sold on the market when you could leave if you desired?"

"I did not desire, for my purpose is to share with man my knowledge of the forest, especially of plants and animals."

"I know not how well I might learn, but I will gladly be your student. Though no forest is near, I can easily travel to one in a few hours. Will you teach me?"

I sensed her pausing, considering my words. Eventually, she said, "Yes. Though in time, I will move on."

"Then I welcome your knowledge."

We spoke for another hour, but eventually, she told me I needed food and rest. She was right, it was nearing dinnertime. I said goodbye for now, and joined Filipe for dinner. That night, after a lively two hours of sex, he went to sleep, and I spoke to Inanna.

"My Queen, I have news."

"Tell me, daughter."

"When I searched the mage's barn and found a talisman, you warned me to be careful, but you did not understand it."

"I remember."

"Today, I learned its truth. It is a greater talisman."

"What!"

"Yes. I don't think is it a goddess's talisman, but some lesser divine being. She claimed to have made the talisman herself. I also found no trace of any mage upon it. Her name is Aja, though I have never heard of her. She claims to be forest and animal related, and her desire it so share knowledge."

"I wonder who she is?"

"I will seek that answer tomorrow. But I now understand why you could not tell its power. You once told me divine talismans were hidden from other divine beings. Therefore, this one was hidden from you."

"You are right. You also did it again. Another divine talisman."

"Do not worry, she said she would teach me then move on, so I will possess it for only a short time, as she chooses."

"What of the other talismans An had you study?"

I told her of them, and how I removed the chains of mages, and also remade them in a form more suited to each. I even showed her the predator talisman and how its look changed when I remade it. She asked me how I learned all I did, and I explained how I researched with the magic books, but also used my own intuition, and especially her healing intuition to come up with the remade talismans.

"You are indeed gifted. You understood that what was in the books was merely opinion and not exact knowledge. You also knew to trust the power I gave you. You once asked me to teach you. I said it would depend on your handling of the talismans. You have earned this teaching, and more. I shall instruct you, but slowly, so you can make it be a natural part of yourself rather than something separate. It has been some time since I found a student as worthy as you. Rest now, and my teaching will soon begin."

I woke in the morning. Again, she had said rest and I fell asleep. I had to smile at my own remark, so similar to hers about me. I chose to get back into the normal routine of things, and waited for a thunderstorm. When one came, I gathered the four talismans, and called upon An.

"Lord An, I have completed the first task, and I am ready to tell you of the talismans."

Yep. A lightning bolt came down immediately and hit me. This time, I arrived in his cloud home, but in a more office like setting. I placed the talismans upon his desk and said, "I have bent the three talismans to my will, and the fourth, found in his abode, has also chosen to be with me for a time."

"Chosen to be with you?"

"Yes. It is not a lesser talisman, but rather a greater one."

"Curious. First, I will examine these lesser talismans." He picked up the glass one holding the bunker. He looked at me and said, "This is stronger than before. How?"

"When the mage made the talisman, there were flaws. Not enough to keep it from working, but enough to restrict its power. Inanna has taught me the art of healing, an art that can even repair things. I used that art to remake the talisman's form into one without its flaws. In so doing, the restrictions on the power were removed."

"Have you found a new home for it yet?"

"I have not begun my search, as I wished to learn more about talismans before I tried to unmake this one and restore to it nature."

"I see. Now this one. Hmm. It, too, is a bit more powerful. Did you 'heal' the flaws here also?"

"Yes. The spirit within is an expert that chose to be placed in the talisman. We have spoken, and he has chosen to become my employee, and thus is bent to my will."

"I see. Control by voluntary choice. Interesting. Now for the third. Wow, this one is more than twice as powerful. How?"

"There were over a dozen layers of control inhibiting it. Each layer also induces flaws which also limit it. I have removed all those layers and healed the flaws. The carving makes it seem like it should have three spirits, yet it only has one that seems to embody all three animals. One of the enchantments forced it to be ever enraged. With that gone, it is watchful as any predator, but no longer vicious unless provoked. It sees me as a mate or companion of sorts, and has chosen to accept me. When I ask it to lend me its power, it does, of its own will. Perhaps because it is a hunter, and what I ask is of its nature."

"Again, you give it free choice, and it chooses you. Now to the last."

He was about to reach for it when we both heard, "I choose to teach this one. She has shown herself worthy to me."

An said, "Hello. My priestess tells me you are a greater talisman, one created and given by the divine."

"I am. But I choose to wander, waiting for one to find me and be my student. She wishes to learn, and I choose to teach."

"Well, priestess, think you can handle a fourth?"

"I intend to try."

"Somehow, I think you will succeed. Come, I would experience your queen's pleasure." He went to a wall and a doorway appeared. Beyond was a large bed. I followed.

After I went through the doorway, I felt it reform into a wall. While he was still facing away, I quickly whipped off my shirt and skirt, and then I concentrated on pulling in enough of his power to make my nipples start to spark. I could see he noticed that even before he turned to face me. His clothes evaporated, revealing his erection. I walked toward him, swaying my hips, and playing with my breasts. It had the intended effect. His dick got even harder, and started to leak pre-cum.

Just as I was about to touch him, I gave a big hop upward. I also reached for his dick, and on the way down, managed to impale myself. He felt his dick encased in flesh, even if that base was feeling my hand rather than my vagina. I barely let him realize what was happening when I tried to reproduce the vagina lightning I experienced in the trailer. It worked, better than I expected. The bolt made him come immediately.

He just stared at me, and I smiled innocently back. After a few seconds, he smiled, and then broke out in a full belly laugh. "Something new every time."

"Care to suck a nipple?" I saw him look at my still sparking nipples, and then he bent down and sucked. Then I felt sparks coming from his dick and tongue. I focused on causing sparks from my fingertips also. I then started touching him all over, letting him feel the little shocks. He came again, but this time, with all the electricity flowing between us, I came as well. Of course, he was still hard.

We soon found ourselves on the bed, and the whole time we were both causing sparks that went to the other. We were so involved in shocking each other that neither of us realized the power was steadily increasing. I know I didn't feel any pain as the passion was too intense. I lost track of how many times we came, or even how long it was between. It didn't end until one very powerful bolt came out his dick and into me as he came. I somehow knew that the power essentially blew be off of him and across the room. Yet I didn't land, but seemed to hover.