The fifteen minute novel writing experiment is a attempt to write a complete (and very rough) draft of a novel by writing for fifteen minutes each day. I have taken a timed writing from one of the daily prompts done in 2021, cleaned it up a little and used it as my jumping off point into a story. Each day I will take the last line of the story written the day before and use it as my sentence starter and write for fifteen minutes, growing the story as the year progresses.
Day 174: “In her dreams?” Anya said.
“In her dreams?” Anya said. The thought was an odd one.
“You think gods show up for tea?” he asked.
Anya opened her mouth, realized she had no response and shut it again. Flashes of her own dream with the statue went through her head but she decided to think about it later. If it was more than a dream, she could think about it when the circles had been moved.
“So moving the circles,” she asked.
“Yes that is the most pressing concern is it not,” he replied. He chewed his lip for a moment. “You have a ready food source available to you now?”
“I have food stored and from the conversation I suspect Marta will be gathering more. I should probably check on that after the circles are moved.”
“Yes but there is something to hand more immediately?”
“Yes,” she replied.
“Good.” Deran nodded. “Moving the circles takes energy and it is best to replace that energy as soon as possible. So let us begin.”
The process it turned out, was fairly straightforward. Anya had to deactivate the spell, step out of the circles and chant the incantation Deran gave her. She needed to focus and pour her power into the words. Anya wasn’t entirely certain how to do that, but Deran said it would come naturally.
“You will just have to work not to fight it,” he told her. “It will feel like you are being drained and as it is taking your energy in a way it is. You will have the instinct to want to fight against that.”
Anya nodded. She was a little worried that she might not be able to do what Deran was asking, but most of her was excited by the possibility of doing real magic. Finding the hidden spaces was useful but didn’t seem like magic to her. Even the orb, while it seemed magical in and of itself, she wasn’t the one doing the magic. This would be different. While the circles were magic, she was having to use magic to get them to move.
“As the spell takes effect, the circles will rise and you will no longer feel drained. They will float and you will just have to guide them to the locations you want. The final incantation will settle them in place. The second incantation won’t drain you like the first as it is designed for release.”
Deran frowned. “You really should have lessons prior to this so you understand more of what to expect, but as I am here to teach those lessons it can’t really be helped can it.”
Anya nodded. “I suppose not.”
“Well then we might as well get started. Deactivate the circles, step out and let’s begin.”
“Okay,” she replied. Anya took a deep breath. “Lecaros,” she said before she could lose her nerve. The circles went dark and she decided treating this as swiftly and matter-of-factly as possible would keep her from worry. She stepped briskly out of the circle, incanted the spell as Deran instructed. It wasn’t a lengthy one, only five short words. But they felt heavy and each word pulled something from her. She could feel it just as Deran said. Since he warned her, Anya didn’t worry.
As she said the final word, the circles glowed a dull silver, like lead rings. They lifted from the floor and floated in the air. Anya felt that she was tied to them each by invisible strings. She moved closer and touched one of the rings.
Ten til Midnight 