A Book Full of Magic Ch.5 (Patreon)

“You want to come with me?”

Fay nodded, “That is what I am requesting. I follow the Force in all things, and the Force is telling me that I am needed by your side.”

“I guess you do already know most of my secrets,” Han said. “And it wouldn’t hurt to have some backup. Our little adventure on Tatooine has shown me I’m far from invincible.”

“So where are we going?” Aayla butted into the conversation.

“Wait… You’re coming too?” Han said.

“Yeah… is that a problem, my Bonded?”

“Uh, no,” Han gulped, “I just kind of thought I’d be moving on alone. The idea that both of you want to come with me is a little new to me.”

“The idea that the woman who saved your life and the woman who is irreversibly bonded to you would want to accompany and keep you safe is odd to you?” Aayla asked rhetorically.

“Uh, no?” Han cringed at Aayla’s tone. “I guess when you put it like that I kind of sound like an idiot.”

Aayla nodded, “Good. So where are we going? And will we be informing the Jedi Order about our escape and our newest quest?”

“See, our destination is where things get… interesting.”

Aayla’s quirked eyebrow made Han elaborate, “I’m not exactly from around here. Like… I’m pretty sure this isn’t even my galaxy.”

“How is that possible?” Aayla asked, surprised but willing to believe her Bonded.

“It’s possible thanks to my grimoire, Grim. She’s… She’s connected to… Actually, she’ll probably be able to explain it better herself.”

The small book on Han’s wrist flashed into existence for Aayla. She gasped, examining the phenomenon for any trace of the Force. Not finding anything, she reached out to poke the grimoire.

:: Giggles: Hehe, that tickles. Greetings: Hello, Aayla Secura. I am Grim, Han’s grimoire and conduit for the Akashic Record.::

“The Akashic Record?” Aayla asked, marveling at the speaking book. It was like a Holocron, but somehow more real and lifelike.

:: Explanation: The Akashic Record is the connection of all things. It is a compilation of knowledge, power, and everything else from all realities. Analogy: Think of it like the Force, but a million times more complex.::

“And, what? It can be used to travel realities or something?”

:: Exclamation: Precisely! Snark: Master, how does it feel to know your bondmate is smarter than you?::

Han rolled his eyes, “Ha ha… Just give me the next list of jumps, Grim.”

:: Confirmation: Of course, Master. Compiling. Listing: Once again, I have three options for you. The low risk is the world of Avatar the Last Airbender. Benefits include a simple, yet deep power system and a lack of immediate danger. Medium risk is the world of RWBY. Danger is much more prevalent there, but there is also a lack of very high-tier threats other than Salem, Ozpin, and the Maidens. High risk is the collection of worlds in the Fate universe. I don’t think I need to say much there. I very much doubt you will be able to stand up to a servant, but the potential power you could gather there is immense.::

“Hmm,” Han hummed. “Why didn’t you mention the Brothers when you were talking about RWBY?”

:: Clarification: The Brother gods have long since abandoned the world of Remnant. I can guarantee that they will not be a threat.::

Han considered his options for a moment, “... I think Remnant is the way to go then. Avatar is kinda… meh on the power-scaling side of things and Fate is just straight-up scary. I think it’s best to tread the middle line once again.”

“Avatar?! Fate?! RWBY?! What are those?” Aayla asked, excited and curious at the prospect of entire new realities to explore.

Though she concealed it better, Fay wasn’t far behind, “I must admit to some curiosity as well.”

Han winced unconsciously, “Even for experts, the multiverse theory is a hard one to explain. Avatar, Fate, and RWBY are all works of fiction in my original world. The way Grim described it to me, the Akashic Record is what allows fiction to exist in my world -- or any world I guess -- at all. An author or creator gets connected to the Record somehow and they then use that connection to make those real universes ‘fiction’. So technically, all the universes existed before their fictional counterparts. And all of that still isn’t getting into the actual plot and worldbuilding of those universes. I think it’s best to leave that bit of nuance up to Grim.”

:: Sarcasm: Thank you, Master. Yes, I will do your dirty work for you.::

“Oh, come off it. I’m sure it’s child’s play for you to let them watch the original shows.”

:: Pouting: It is, but it’s the thought that counts. You should value me more, Master.::

Aayla cocked her head cutely, “Shows? Is it like a holodrama?”

“Grim, can you give them a taste of RWBY? Maybe just the Monty fight scenes though… I wouldn’t want to put them through the rest of the show.”

:: Affirmative: Certainly, Master. Initiating transfer now.::

Aayla and Fay waited with bated breath, expecting something dramatic to happen. Aayla didn’t really know what she should expect, but Fay was picturing the transfer like making a Holocron in reverse. She braced herself, fully prepared to have gigabytes of data implanted in her brain.

The actual transfer wasn’t anywhere near as bad as Fay had been anticipating. She and Aayla just felt a feeling of warmth in their head before a stream of images flashed before their mind’s eyes. They witnessed intense, blood-pumping violence as cute girls fought against what looked to be manifestations of the dark side.

They were both left gaping at the feats these girls were performing. They couldn’t have been much older than Padawan’s age, but they were flipping around like Master Yoda when he cut loose. It was almost beautiful. Action given life and made into art.

“And that’s not even the true reality of RWBY. Everything you just saw was just an artist’s interpretation of his connection to the Akashic Record. I’m willing to bet reality is even crazier than what Monty Oum created,” Han commented as Aayla and Fay blinked away their visions.

“That was… awesome! It was like they were bending physics into their coolest form! How’d they do that?!” Aayla excitedly asked.

:: Statement: A combination of local physics being different, years of training, skill, and a power source called Aura are all responsible for the things I showed you. Aura, being the light of one’s soul, is not actually limited to the RWBY universe. Both of you could awaken it, though Fay would need someone exceptionally powerful to awaken hers.::

Aayla was practically vibrating in place, “Ohhh! What are we waiting for? Let’s go already!”

‘Grim, are they being too accepting of all this?’ Han wondered in his mind.

:: Clarification: Not really, Master. Aayla is inherently connected to you through the Force. That connection comes with a certain amount of trust and belief because she can literally feel you being truthful. Fay has had multiple visions of her future by your side. She is willing to put her faith in you.::

Han clapped his hands, satisfied with Grim’s explanation, “Right! Grim, can you put down a marker so we can return to this exact time and place? That way we don’t have to worry about missing anything here no matter how long we stay in other universes.”

:: Confirmation: Certainly, Master. Query: Would you like to begin the reality transfer process?::

Aayla eagerly nodded her head and Fay gave Han a single, collected nod, “I guess so. Let’s aim for the beginning of canon. Maybe right before Beacon’s Initiation?”

The grimoire glowed as Grim quickly got to work establishing the connection to Han’s intended universe. Even though Han had seen it once before, the tear in reality that opened before the trio was still unsettling. Aayla and Fay watched the process with rapt attention. Even the Force appeared to perk up and begin to poke at the hole in the universe.

:: Playful Admonishment: Stop that, you silly cosmic entity/energy field. You’ll break something if you keep that up.::

The Force seemed to giggle and pout at Grim’s words. It was easily the most surreal experience with the Force that Fay had had in her long life. Seeing this side of the Force gave her a bit more understanding of its inner workings though. The Force just felt so alive around Han and Grim. Like it had found a new playmate, curiosity, or equal.

Fay shook off her pondering as Han prepared to step through the portal. He grabbed her and Aayla’s hands, taking a calming breath. “Just another Eldritch hole in reality,” Han mumbled to himself.

The trio stepped forward and through the portal. There was an instant of weightlessness before they were suddenly somewhere else. They stepped out of the portal into a gray, circular room. It looked to be an office or some other kind of private space that sat high up in the clouds. A window in the shape of a clock was positioned on the back wall of the office with a gray-haired man sitting in front of it.

The smart-looking man raised a surprised eyebrow, “How curious…”

‘Grim, you’re doing this on purpose. This is the second time the portal has spat me out in front of some ancient, powerful being,’ Han thought.

:: Obfuscation: Who, me?::

‘Fuck… No, wait, I can work with this. As long as he doesn’t instantly attack us, Ozpin would be a valuable person to have on our side. He’s a reasonable man in the show, right? Grim? Any suggestions on how I should handle this?’

:: Answer: A straightforward and honest approach is likely to see the best results. Ozma has been around for more than a thousand years. You will not be able to deceive or lie to him.::

Ozpin tapped a button on his desk, “Glynda? Would you please come up to my office at your earliest convenience?”

Han winced. Glynda Goodwitch would be much less likely to hear them out, “We can explain!”

“You can explain how you just stepped out of a portal that suddenly appeared in my office? Something that only one person I’m aware of is capable of? Into an office that is specifically guarded against that happening?” Ozpin asked, still quirking his eyebrow.

“Uh… Yes?”

Ozpin leaned back in his chair, “Well then. Please do. I’m all ears.”

“... Magic.”

“Magic…”

“Yes.”

“Well, I’m convinced.”

“Really?” Han asked, smiling.

Ozpin instantly shot Han’s hopes down, sipping from his mug “No, I would very much like a more thorough explanation.”

“Gah!”

:: Statement: Please ignore my idiot of a Master. Greetings: Hello, Ozma. I am the essence of the Akashic Grimoire. You may call me Grim. You’ve already met my Master, Han. My Master’s companions are Aayla Secura and Fay. As you may have guessed, we are not exactly from around here.::

Ozpin stopped drinking his cocoa when Grim spoke up, “How do you know that name?”

:: Explanation: The Akashic Record is a compilation of all knowledge from all worlds. This, of course, includes Remnant and its history. Your story, while tragic, is not that unusual in the multiverse and I believe we may be able to help you.::

“I see… And can I assume that you are the source of the portal and your master’s magic?”

:: Answer: The Akashic Record is a bit more complicated than that, but you are essentially correct.::

“Very well. I will ask my dear friend Glynda to not throw the three of you out the window when she arrives. I have a feeling that this relationship can benefit us both.”

“That’s it? You don’t need any more proof than Grim’s words? You’re not even going to question why Aayla is blue?” Han asked, confused and not expecting this to go so well.

“Young man,” Ozpin deadpanned. “Magic is quite literally pouring off of you and your grimoire. I’m almost positive that Salem can feel it at this very moment. If she can, we do not have much time before she sends someone to investigate. As for the lovely Miss Aayla, I just assumed she was a rare Faunus of some kind. A squid perhaps?”

“... Shit, that’s actually a pretty good cover for Aayla,” Han muttered.

Ozpin took another sip from his mug, “Indeed. Now, I believe you should work on hiding your magical signature before you bring every Grimm on the continent down on our heads, young Han.”

“Right. Good idea. Grim, got anything for that?”

:: Statement: I have a few suggestions. Activating your Aura will most likely dampen the magic you are unconsciously leaking. A Force Cloak will also have the same effect. I can manually suppress the excess magic for now, but this is an important skill for you to learn for the future.::

Han turned to ask Ozpin about awakening his Aura. Ozpin seemed to be waiting for exactly that, but before Han could speak, there was a ding as one of the elevators arrived at the office. The elevator doors slid open and a statuesque blonde woman confidently strode into the office.

Glynda Goodwitch was certainly a sight to behold. In her heels, she easily stood taller than Han by an inch or two. The way she carried herself was just as stern and sexy as Han had always imagined. This was a woman who took no nonsense and had the power and experience to hold her own in any situation.

Her golden-blonde hair was kept up in a tight bun, with a single curl that escaped to frame her face. Intelligent emerald-green eyes examined Aayla, Fay, and Han from behind thin glasses. The purple inside of her cape silhouetted Glynda’s mature curves against a velvet background.

Her white button-up top looked like it was stretched to the limits, hugging her slim waist and massive chest tightly. A keyhole neckline exposed a wide expanse of milky-white cleavage that Han wanted to drown in. The tightness of Glynda’s outfit was continued by her high-waisted pencil skirt. The black skirt looked like it had been painted onto her hips, ass, and thighs.

‘Mommy…’ Han thought.

:: Teasing giggle: Careful, Master. You wouldn’t want Fay and your bondmate to get jealous.::

‘About that… Is there a way the Akashic Record can turn me into a harem protagonist?’

:: Confirmation: I had a hunch you would eventually ask that, Master. I took the liberty to include that upgrade with the Ritual of Reinforce Self. Your girls will still get jealous, but it will be harmless jealousy instead of something insidious. They will be much more inclined to share you and you will naturally attract powerful beings that can be considered female. I also included a Hentai logic/trope/plot defense in the Ritual as well… Just in case.::

‘If you had a body, Grim, I would kiss you until you had literal hearts in your eyes.’

:: Suggestive Whisper: Don’t lose hope for that just yet, Master~::

Glynda spoke before Han could ask what Grim was hinting at, “Ozpin. Would you please introduce me to our unexpected guests? I hope they are not intruding…”

The way Glynda was fingering her riding crop made Han frantically shake his head. Internally though, his mind was occupied by inappropriate thoughts, ‘I wonder if she’s really a dom, or if her BDSM crop and persona are just projection and she’s secretly a subby bitch?’

Grim’s giggles at his thoughts took a back seat in Han’s mind as Ozpin introduced them to Glynda, “Good morning to you as well, Glynda. I don’t believe I would consider these three to be intruders… or at the very least, not hostile intruders. They seem to come from very far away and they believe they can help us with our… Salem problem.”

Glynda stiffened at the mention of Salem’s name, but Ozpin just continued talking, “The young man in the center is Han Silver. He’s the one who wants to help. His lovely companions are Fay and Aayla… I’ll admit, I haven’t gotten a chance to get their measures. Han has been doing most of the talking. I do hope that I can get to know both of them soon though.”

“And how did they get into your office?” Glynda asked, raising an imperious eyebrow.

Ozpin took a sip for dramatic effect, “... Magic.”

“Do you truly expect me to believe that?”

It was Ozpin’s turn to raise an imperious eyebrow, “How else would three people without Aura manage to sneak into my office while I was inside it?”

“... True magic?” Glynda asked, pushing her glasses down slightly so she could pinch the bridge of her nose. “Like what you can do?”

“So it would seem…”

“This is a big deal, is it not? They may even be able to help us with our… Seasonal problem.”

“There’s no need to be coy, Glynda. I’m almost positive they are already aware of what you’re referring to.”

“Well… Some of us do,” Han said. “Grim and I have quite a bit of out-of-context knowledge, but Aayla and Fay haven’t been fully brought up to speed.”

“Grim?” Glynda asked. “Is there another ‘unexpected guest’ I should know about?”

:: Greetings: Hello, Glynda. Allow me to introduce myself. Introduction: I am Grim, the essence of the Akashic Grimoire and ambassador to the Akashic Record. I am part of the reason my Master and his companions can be here in the first place. It is a pleasure to meet you. My Master and I are very big fans of you.::

Han fought back a blush at Grim’s teasing words. Glynda raised an eyebrow as Grim allowed her to see the grimoire around Han’s wrist. She cautiously approached Han, reaching out with her semblance to touch the grimoire.

Han disregarded his embarrassment with a sudden protective attitude, “Please do not touch the grimoire. Think of it as a Huntsman’s weapon. You wouldn’t want someone prodding at your crop so casually, would you?”

“My apologies. That was quite presumptuous of me,” Glynda nodded, backing away. “I simply could not contain my curiosity. Is it similar to the four Relics?”

:: Answer: The Relics wish they could be me. The Relic of Knowledge is perhaps the closest thing to what I am in this reality and even she pales in comparison to the Akashic Record’s scope.::

“Fascinating…” Ozpin mused. “I suspect you will have little trouble dealing with Amber’s situation then.”

:: Smug Retort: I have already calculated seven ways to heal the Fall Maiden and return her full power. Negotiation: But first, my Master and his companions will need something in return. We will agree to aid you if you awaken their Auras.::

“And what guarantee do we have that you will help us after we fulfill our end of the bargain?” Glynda asked.

Han raised his hands to placate Glynda’s skepticism, “If we were enrolled in Beacon, you could keep an eye on us. We’re planning on staying here for a while to train and get stronger anyway. I’d rather not say too much about the future because our arrival has already changed what was going to happen. But we might even be able to help you with other problems that come up because of our presence.”

Ozpin took another sip from his mug, “And what do your companions have to say about this?”

Aayla eagerly spoke up, “I’m just excited to be here!”

“I too find myself rather enthusiastic about staying here for a time. The Force in this reality is strange… So individualized and vibrant within everyone… But there’s also a background of dark-side corruption that seems to be constantly lying in wait,” Fay said, nodding her agreement.

“The Force?” Ozpin curiously inquired.

“Ah,” Han stopped Fay before she could get started, knowing that if she and Ozpin got into it, they wouldn’t stop talking until the sun exploded. “That might be a conversation for another time.”

“Very true, Han. Discussion of the Force is not something to get into lightly.”

“So… Aura!” Han said, clapping to get things back on track. “It would probably be best if Ozpin awakened Fay’s Aura and Glynda did it for me and Aayla.”

:: Agreement: That would be optimal. Due to how long Fay has lived, her soul is much deeper than Aayla’s. Master’s soul is even deeper than that because of his connection to the Akashic Record, but I will be assisting with his awakening.::

‘Couldn’t you do this whole thing yourself?’ Han thought to Grim.

:: Giggles: Of course, Master. But if I did, you wouldn’t be able to get your soul touched by the sexy blonde teacher.::

Han grinned internally, ‘You’re a good wingman, Grim.’

:: Smug smirk: Only the best for my Master!::

Glynda approached Aayla and placed her hand on the Twi’lek girl’s shoulder, “Very well… Let us begin.”

Han watched Aayla’s Aura awaken with keen interest. He reached out with his metaphysical senses, trying to get an idea of what was really going on. Through the Force, he felt something from Glynda reach into Aayla like a questing tendril. There was a flash of light from Aayla, both in the Force and physically, as Glynda spoke the famous phrase.

A light within Aayla began to shine brightly, radiating through her being and into the world. Through their Force bond, Han could feel Aayla’s soul begin to vibrate like an excited child. The Force rushed through every cell in her body, originating from something not quite physical. As Glynda’s verse finished, something else rushed out to join the Force.

The two energies circled around each other, coming to the surface of Aayla’s skin in a blue glow. Aayla almost stumbled as her soul found something it hadn’t known it was missing. She clumsily flexed her new energy while Fay probed the Padawan with her own senses.

“I do not believe I have seen anything like this,” Fay said.

Han shooed her over to Ozpin, “Well, prepare to feel something like it because you’re next.”

The Aura awakening was repeated on Fay. The light of her soul glowed in a comforting golden shimmer. The shimmer danced across her skin. Fay’s experience meant she was much more successful in trying to grasp the new power.

Soon enough, Glynda had recovered enough to perform Han’s awakening. Han tried his best to ignore the idea that a woman who was literally sex on legs was about to touch his soul. Glynda’s hand landed on his shoulder and he focused his senses inward, wanting to witness the awakening firsthand.

“For it is in passing that we achieve immortality. Through this, we become a paragon of virtue and glory to rise above all, infinite in distance and unbound by death. I release your soul and by my shoulder protect thee.”

Han felt Glynda’s soul reach out for his when she started speaking. It poured into every crack, every weakness and strength of his soul, molding itself to everything that made him unique. It felt like everything he was being cradled by warm, soft hands.

Deep within him, in a place not quite physical, Han felt a spark. Glynda’s soul latched onto that spark, nurturing it until it became a raging flame. He could feel Grim working in the background, but he couldn’t tell what she was doing. His soul ignited, shining out against the darkness like a beacon.

It was like the first time he had communed with the Force. Everything became clearer. He could feel the energy of his soul filling every last nook and corner of his form. His Aura mixed with the Force and the Force rejoiced, becoming a part of his very being.

Han gasped, opening his eyes to see a turquoise glow surrounding him, “Holy shit… What a rush!”

“I know, right?!” Aayla said, jumping in place with excitement. “It’s all like ‘whoosh’ and ‘fwoom’!”

Han paused, “… Somehow I know exactly what you mean.”

Ozpin chuckled, “Ah, youth. Do you remember your awakening, Glynda?”

“Surely I handled it with more class than that,” Glynda scoffed.

“How odd… I seem to remember an excited young girl who couldn’t stay still with all the Aura racing through her veins…”

Glynda blushed scarlet, adjusting her glasses as she spoke, “… You must be mistaken.”

“Yes, yes, of course. I must be misremembering my favorite student…” Ozpin nodded sagely.

Glynda cleared her throat, ignoring Aayla’s giggles, “Ahem, moving along! Han and Aayla will be enrolled as students for the upcoming year. Fay will be given the position of temporary instructor. With that, we have upheld our half of the deal. It’s time for the three of you to fulfill your end of the bargain…”