Irrational Summoning

My fingers trembled violently as I used the pen to write my first magic circle. The calculations needed for the simple levitating spell I was casting were supposed to be difficult, but I honestly didn't find them hard. Maybe I was the first human to find adrenaline can make the brain more functional, or I was just a bit of an oddball.

About halfway through laying out the magic circle, my mind shut off. So much for the adrenaline rush, I thought. I had to stand up and pace for a little bit. Living in this moment was clearly enough to short-circuit my brain, and here I thought I was doing so well writing out the magic circle. 

The trigger that broke my mind was the soft glow the incomplete circle gave off. The magic was going to work. My gut wasn't lying to me that this was the real deal. I stopped pacing and stared directly into the dimly powered circle. It almost had a hypnotic effect, pulling me into it and not letting me break my gaze.

Using all of my willpower I pulled myself together and sat back down to finish the circle. It was beautiful to observe all the interwoven colored threads lying on the ground forming complex patterns. It was like I was a spider weaving together a wonderful and detailed web of sheer power. Magic was a form of art that I understood wasn't for everyone, but to me, it felt like I was born to use it. Like some sort of long-standing destiny set in stone the moment I was born.

"And done," I ended up saying out loud stepping back from my work. It was a piece I couldn't help but be proud of. I mean why wouldn't I? Who was to tell me this was not a huge accomplishment? Some people in this world would never be able to look at a completed magic circle they made with their own hands. Not to mention the people from my dimension who would never have the opportunity to cast a magic circle in their entire lives.

Since my circle was finished, I now needed the test item that would levitate. I only wrote out that the circle could lift something as heavy as 20 pounds, so it needed to be something small.

Looking around in the area something caught the corner of my eye. A small gleam of sunlight hit my face and blinded me. Like an old man, I stumbled over to the source of the light while shading my eyes from the direct beam.

As I approached the gleam, I was able to see where it was coming from. The ground partially trapped underneath a large rock was shining like silver. Crouching down to get a good look at it I learned it was actually silver. A small silver coin that could hardly buy you a single drink but was going to be a perfect item for my spell. 

I was curious how such a silver coin got all the way out here and why it was stuck under a large rock. I mean, the coin was intentionally placed under there, no coin magically ends up underneath a 230-pound boulder. 

Oh well, it would be useless to worry about it I suppose, such an answer to an impossible question wasn't important to me anyway. After I had decided, I was going to use the coin, I just needed to get it. Since only an edge of the coin was peeking out from under the rock, I would need to lift the rock to grab the coin. 

I rubbed my hands together in anticipation of lifting the rock. I worked out fairly consistently in my college routine but did more bodyweight and mobility training than strength training. Squatting down and getting my hands tightly gripped underneath the rock, I lifted and exerted a lot of force on the rock. With the rock in the air in one swift motion I used my left foot to slide the coin out from underneath the large divot the rock had left in the ground. After the coin was successfully out of the way I dropped the rock giving out a gasp for air. 

"Dumph" 

The rock made an ear-splitting sound as it hit the ground. I covered my ears at the noise even though I had created it. Reflexes such as the one I instinctively did will never die. 

Moving past the rock, I picked up the silver coin and lifted it to my eyes to get a clear look at the money up close. The face on the silver coin was very handsome and fierce. Whoever the face was molded after couldn't be more than 28. He had long straight hair that went past his shoulders and his eyes seemed to shine with a fiery determination. I couldn't tell you if the shine was coming from the coin being new or just the air of the person this coin represented. 

 But because they don't make coins of just anyone, I knew instantly that whoever this was on the coin was somebody important to Melalova. My best guess is that it is a prince or duke of the kingdom that is influential to the king.

Do you know how some things transcend country and culture and are universal? Well, who would have thought faces on money was one of them? Even enough to transcend dimensions! 

After I finished comparing and contrasting Melalova's money with the money that came from Earth, I flipped the coin into the air and watched it land back in my palm. I trekked back to my magic circle slowly while flipping the coin in the air and watching it land on my palm a few more times. Heads, tails, tails, tails. Flipping the coin brought back fond memories from childhood. I used to have a collection of cheat coins that I could use to trick people with. Thinking back on times like that made me realize just how long ago they were.

I was truly in a different chapter of my life now. The thoughts of my current situation brought me out of my nostalgic daydream and just in the nick of time. I had walked past my magic circle and was standing at the ledge of the plateau. I nearly jumped out of my skin comprehending my whereabouts and what I almost did. I aggressively stepped backward and took a deep breath controlling the panic that had nearly set in. 

Because I had gotten so close to falling off the plateau, I was curious about the cliffside I was on. It is a funny thing. The way the scenario we are in influences our minds and the kinds of thoughts we have. I wondered for the first time; how far would the fall be to the bottom? 

I very cautiously tiptoed back over to the ledge and peered over. It was dizzying looking all the way down. Falling off would have been the end of me. It sent shivers down my spine thinking out of all the ways I could die in this fantasy world what actually gets me is falling off a plateau while not paying attention. 

Shaking my head in an attempt to ward off the intrusive and dark thoughts that popped into my head, I focused on trying to estimate the distance. My conclusion would be it is about 70 feet down. At the bottom sharp jagged rocks protruded up to impale anybody unfortunate enough to fall. "How perfectly lovely," I ended up saying out loud with a hint of sarcasm.

After I had estimated the height, I quickly pulled away from the ledge. I had enough of the ledge and quickly jogged over to my magic circle. If I remember correctly to activate the magic, I just have to lay the coin on top and then place my palm in the center of the circle. Since only the caster could activate the magic circle they created, and the magic circle would not disappear until either the caster dissipated it or used it, I had all the time in the world.

That being said I wasn't one to waste time. I quickly pulled the coin out of my pocket and fumbled with it in my hand for a few seconds before carefully placing it on the circle. After everything was all set and I was ready to activate, the moment of truth arrived. I slowly lowered my shaking hand right onto the center symbol in the magic circle. 

The second my hand hit the center a strange sensation gripped it. A surge of energy felt like it was running from the circle, through my hand, and into my body. I wanted to remove my hand, but I felt that if I did my hand would be ripped off my body and stay connected to the circle. 

It only took a few seconds for my body to get used to the energy running through me. When I felt I had adapted to the energy, I glanced up and saw the penny had begun to levitate. It actually worked! 

I had successfully cast a spell. The future was limitless. 

I knew from then on, I would survive in this world and adapt to all the challenges thrown my way.