“It’s just… I just lost someone today, okay. I’m really not in the mood for company right now. Please.”
“My deepest condolences,” the man said, almost like he cared. As he took a seat next to me, I turned my head away from him.
I said I wanted to be alone.
“Mind telling me what happened? Might help the gloom.”
“Why? Why could you possibly care? Why would you want to know?”
“Eh… You’d be surprised.”
I was furious. I was vexed. I bit down on my teeth, my face flushing as I shot my head up from my knees, flashing the man a livid glance.
“What the hell is wrong with-”
My heart dropped. My anger died down almost at an instant. I felt my skin crawling with cold shivers.
“What…?”
Terrowin grinned.
Instinctively, I staggered back onto my feet, clasping my mouth shut, breathless.
“TERROWIN! You’re… here. Alive. And not dead!”
“Is that something to worry about?”
“No… No! No, it absolutely isn’t!” I almost felt like laughing as the mirth bubbled up from deep inside me.
“But how…? Is it even really you?”
Terrowin shrugged.
Terrowin… No. It just can’t be! It’s impossible. He’s dead. The wizard said so himself. This is probably just a figment of my imagination that’s come to taunt me.
“The guy I knew was serious-minded, disrespectful, short-tempered, mysterious, strong-willed, undaunted…”
I might have lost control of myself as my emotions of anger got ahead of me, all before draining into a single sense of melancholy.
“…that guy I once knew.”
“I don’t know. Sounds like you described me just perfectly.”
“Oh my goodness, it really is you!” I gasp, taking a step back.
IT REALLY IS HIM! Oops…
“Why don’t you fill me in on what I missed. Can’t leave me in the dark like this.”
I was still trying to get over the idea that he wasn’t dead. I recollected myself and started telling him. I told him what happened at the Lost Inn. He would ask me questions, such as what happened to my arm or my head, and I would answer. It was the first real conversation we ever had in the short time we knew each other. I told him everything. We laughed when I told him about the witch and what she did to me and about the wizard set on having me for a quick snack.
The conversation was just what we needed to lift both our spirits. I noticed something different about him, though.
I noticed just how calm he was, kind and more accepting of me in his company… I guessed it to be the real him, how he acted towards his… friends. I smiled.
“And all that happened? I was actually dead?”
I dropped my gaze and pursed my lips in thought.
“Yeah, pretty much.”
“And you did all that… for me?”
I nodded unsurely, biting down on my lower lip.
“You and, well, for the wizard’s talisman.”
“You know… I woke up with sore chest. You didn’t perhaps have anything to do with that, did you?”
Shit, Carlaylin! He’s suspecting!
Terrowin toyed with my guilt and feelings with that suspicious, mischievous smile on his lips. I could but only laugh nervously.
“Yeah, I wonder what that could be, perhaps the last effects of the poison? Yeah, let’s go with that before we jump to conclusions.”
He chuckled, shaking his head.
My smile suddenly turned into a frown as I met his eyes once again. I turned to face the water, hugged myself, staring off across the running stream.
“You shouldn’t have seen me like this.”
Terrowin merely kept that grin of his, sitting back and joining my stare in looking out across the beautiful waters.
“I know we’ve only met a few days ago,” I said, “but don’t you dare die on me like that again or I will strangle you myself.”
Terrowin chuckled.
“Don’t you worry. I don’t think I will be going again anytime soon…”
“And anytime later?”
“I wouldn’t ruin the surprise.”
I frowned, shooting him a flash glance.
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“I’ll let you figure that out on your own.”
Terrowin stood from the grass, dusting himself off. I hated the touch of dismalness he had in his tone of voice. His expression was nonchalant, but there was still a hint of liveliness and bliss left dancing in his eyes.
Back to your old self, eh?
“I hate you, you know,” I said, looking up at him with narrowed eyes.
Terrowin shared me a grin in return, a somewhat mischievous grin.
“And I despise you even more.”
Terrowin started making his way back. I let go of a breath I had been holding, my shoulder slumping as I merely sat casually on the grass, calmly staring out across the waters. I was intent on staying, but then I remembered. My eyes broadened.
“Wait!” I called as I hurriedly scampered to my feet.
“I don’t know the way back!”
CHAPTER 9
NEW HOPE, IT’S NOT ALWAYS THAT BAD
(SOME TIME EARLIER)
TERROWIN
I TOOK A DEEP BREATH for what felt like the first time in forever. My body felt stiff, my wounds aching, my chest sore...
I couldn’t help but cough, bringing my fits to my mouth as I tried easing myself up on to one elbow. It almost felt as though I was stuck with a coughing fit, but it soon died down as I managed to gather enough fresh air. My lungs inflated once again and I was there. I was completely conscious, though not without questions.
I turned back onto my back and lay still for a while, trying to ease the uncomfortable pain that pulsed through my veins.
I stared at the ceiling. I noticed the rays of sun to be dancing in through the windows, lighting up the room. I felt tis warmth upon me.
I tried adjusting my eyes to the sudden change of light and atmosphere.
I gave one finally cough. It felt as though I had been suffocating for nearly a few days now.
I finally tried to sit upright, groaning. I rubbed the back of my head. Dropping my arm to my side, I sighed. I couldn’t remember anything since I drank at that drink given to me back at the inn... And by the looks of things and the view outside my window, I was clearly not there anymore.
Something happened. Something bad I was eager to find out about.
I studied the area for a little while longer.
The tower? I thought. The master’s tower? But… how?
After a moment to myself, I tried to get up on my feet, but the world was spinning around me. My legs, numb as they were, threatened to give in beneath me. I was on the verge of falling, but managed to support my stance by grabbing at the wall, leaning against it.
I saw a dresser with my black robe on it, but it seemed to have been repaired, stitched up where needed be.
I pursed my lips into a thin line, making for the dresser. I allowed my robes to rest up for a little while longer as I only took and pulled my shirt over my head.
I exited the room, but I felt completely weak.
I clung to the walls and the railings, highly intent on not stumbling and falling as I steadily made my way down the stairs.
After a long while and a lot of struggling, I finally got to the lower level of the tower and entered the living room. I was exhausted from all those stairs, my new breath being only a recent fix.
I saw the master busy admiring his exotic plants on the windowpane.
It looked like he really took them for something interesting.
I couldn’t fight back the eager smile that spread across my lips. I had never been more relieved to see him.
“Master!” I gasped, ecstatic. It had been so long since
I last saw him.
Startled, he turned around and turned seven shades whiter. His mouth dropped open in an overly dramatic and exaggerated gape.
I had never seen his eyes wider. It looked as though he had seen a ghost.
“What– I– uh– who– no– wait– ghost– no– what- ah?”
I frowned inquiringly.
“Master?”
The master looked as though his heart had suddenly stopped beating and all the blood had run down into his boots. He swayed for just a moment, then with one step backwards, he crumpled like a puppet suddenly released of their strings.
I think he just fainted on me.
“Master? Wizard?”
I was rather disappointed, sighing for the thought of this doleful, and much unexpected, way of greeting. I was anticipating more, but I learned not to keep my hopes up before.
I decided to go outside and catch some fresh, honest to goodness air. I really needed it.
It was great being out in the open again and to walk after what seemed like ages. I felt like a new person.
I took a deep breath and wandered from the tower, entering the forest.
I still wondered what happened to me. All I remembered was walking into an inn and a crazy woman who offered me a drink. I just took a sip and next… nothing. I just couldn’t recap. No worries. I just wanted to forget about everything and stick to my own devices once again, like I always did, like I was used to…
I was in the forest for some time and felt calmed, listening to its wide variety of unique sounds.
Nothing even tried to attack me for a change.
So far so good.
I guess it’s true what they say. Nature really does help. I felt so alive – maybe because I was. Anyway, I heard the sound of running water and realised that I was actually very parched. I walked towards the sound of running water, guided by the voices of the birds.
As I peered through the greenery, my eyes caught sight of a figure too familiar to me. Carlaylin was sitting near the water with her head buried in her knees. She looked dejected.
It was about time. I was wondering where she had gone. I looked at her and wondered what had gotten to her… I decided to go closer.
CHAPTER 10
ALL SECRETS OUT…
MOST OF THEM ANYWAY
TERROWIN
“WIZARD… WIZZY? HELLO? Someone there? Do you think he might be dead?” Carlaylin asked as she tried snapping the master out of his unconscious state.
“Nope,” I simply answered, leaning against the doorframe, the door closed behind me, my arms folded.
“I have a plan!” she said, jutting upright with a finger pointing to the ceiling for good measure. She dashed straight into the kitchen. She returned with a glass full of ice-cold water.
“Smart thinking,” I smiled. “Dousing him with water,” I proudly stated, respecting the plan. Carlaylin took a refined sip from the water, but stopped as she noticed me staring at her.
“Oh, yeah. That could work too.”
I sighed.
She took the glass and poured all the water out on his face. The master immediately awoke and shot up straight, keeping this widened eyes of his.
“What was that?” he asked absentmindedly. “I had the strangest dream.”
He rubbed the back of his head, most probably trying to ease the pain from the fall he had earlier.
“I dreamt of Terrowin. He was alive for some reason and-” His eye caught sight of me. With a somewhat shy grin, I waved innocently at him.
“That wasn’t a dream,” Carlaylin pointed out, breaking the news almost instantly. Before we knew it, he passed out again.
“And there he goes again,” Carlaylin sighed, frowning.
It took a while, but we finally got him awake again. Only this time, the master didn’t freak out as much as he did the last time. He took the whole matter more calmly. We got him thus far to stay awake and sit on the couch. For perks, I put his hat away on the coatrack.
Carlaylin helped the master with some breathing exercises to help as I did.
We told him what happened, and yet again, the master was left speechless.
There was a pause before he shook the silence away and said, “But how can this be?”
Carlaylin shrugged.
“I don’t know. That’s why we’re asking you.”
The master appeared to be quite inquisitive as he studied her from head to toe.
“Hmm… perhaps…”
As the master finished pondering and probing his throughts, he hopped from the sofa, almost as though he had gained a flash of new life. He hurried his way to a table, one littered with lots of potion vials, some empty, some full, stacks of books, scrolls and loose pieces of parchment lying about.
“Perhaps what?” Carlaylin asked curiously. We followed the master to his desk. He leaned over a giant book he opened with a single grunt. It looked particularly heavy.
“But how?” he asked himself.
“How what?” Carlaylin asked once again, most probably hoping to wriggle at least a simple answer out of the master. Only goodness knew what went on in that busy little head of his.
The master scrolled through the pages in quite the unusual rush.
“Master, what is it?” I asked. He sighed and put his hand on my shoulder, smiling wearily as his eyes met mine. I was bewildered. “I am truly glad that you are back, my loyal apprentice.”
He widened his eyes with a nervous look on his face and made a quick speed walk towards the exit. I couldn’t let him go without any answers. I raised my hand to summon fire, the only power I was capable of, and caused a small flame at the foot of the door. The master stumbled back, trying to stomp out the fire with his foot before it could eat away at the wood of the door. It wasn’t of use, for my fire could be quite indestructible if I so willed.
“Stop! You can’t just leave the question hanging in mid-air.”
I was usually very respectful and overly obedient to the master, but we really needed the answers.
He sighed. I presumed he wouldn’t try to escape again and lowered my hand, letting the flames die down and extinguish.
His tone of voice was somewhat soft.
“Ever heard of a wizard that could heal people?” he asked.
Carlaylin and I exchanged glances. I nodded hesitantly, almost sceptically.
“Terrowin, you know that the power to heal others is very rare. Now, ever heard of a wizard that could bring someone back from the dead? I mean when it’s not too late and under the preferred circumstances?” The master almost sounded excited.
With every word, my frown only grew. I shook my head.
“No, that is impossible.”
“Not as impossible as you might think, my boy.” He looked at Carlaylin. She frowned.
“Wait. You don’t mean…?”
The master nodded.
“Yes, my dear. When you punched-”
“Don’t mention it!” Carlaylin cleared her throat, cutting the master short.
I was keen on chuckling, secretly knowing what she did.
Mhm, I thought, folding my eyes.
“Well, you know, when you did it some of your powers transferred to Terrowin. Healing powers. It flowed through your veins and seeped into his. I have never witnessed magic acting as strongly as that.”
Carlaylin raised an eyebrow and shot me a flash glance.
“So your saying I just saved this guy’s life?” Without breaking her gaze with the master’s, she hooked a thumb in my direction.
The master gave a nod.
“Yes, you could say that.”
A smile appeared on her lips and I could see that she couldn’t fight the urge to pump her fist. “Sweet!” She quickly shook out of her momentary excitement promptly stood a formal stance once more.
“Uh, sorry,” she said with a nervous grin.
I stepped forward. “You can’t bring a man ba
ck from the dead.”
“Apparently I just did,” Carlaylin muttered, trying to force back that victorious smile of hers.
“Don’t be too dismissive of the fact, Terrowin,” the master said, sharing in Carlaylin’s smile, “Under the right circumstances and at the right time, it is possible, but usually not without a cost or weeks of rituals and complicated theories. Carlaylin did this in one heartbeat. It’s extraordinary. I think your soul may still have clung to your body, like it was the only thing worth living for, the thing you wanted most: to live. You didn’t, and you couldn’t let go. The chord was strong and so enhanced the chances of you returning back to the material plain.”
He turned to Carlaylin.
“My dear Carlaylin, you are the next Wizard of Elements. You are destined to control earth and water, air and fire. But this ability of you to heal things, and at such an astonishing pace… I simply can’t believe it. There’s something different about you. Honestly. I will have to do some research.”
“Four elements… I get that, but why do I sometimes see some wizards using any form of magic they want?” Carlaylin said, speaking her mind.
“Then you have clearly misunderstood us. Each wizard only has one certain ability, considering the four elements. Terrowin, for instance, only has the aptitude to dabble in the arts of fire, it being his element. Being the Wizard of Elements gives you the advantage to control all four elements.”
Good recap.
“But I have seen a lot of wizards using a lot of other different magic types.”
“Yes, but that is because some alters their abilities. They alter their element. They use, as example, a spell-in-a-bottle.”
Carlaylin blinked, question clearly swarming about in her head.
“A spell-in-a-bottle? How does it work?”
“Nasty stuff that is. It is a spell in its liquid form, a potion of some sorts. The instructions at back will tell you what kind of spell it is and how to properly use it and where to store it, whether in cool dry places or in overly heated climactic regions. Under water, in your hearth, hanging from a rope, chilling in the freezer, you name it. You must only drink from the bottle and you will be granted that specific ability your element alters into. Though, this can only last for a certain amount of time. You are limited. It tastes horrible, trust me! You could use that or scrolls. I usually prefer the scrolls myself. You just read them and POOF! there is your spell! Now, onto more desperate and grievous matters… I’m a little busy at the moment. Perhaps Terrowin will be able teach you more about what he knows about fire magic. If you’re lucky, that is. He doesn’t usually take kindly to training others in what he knows.”
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