Wizard of Elements

by Calista Lambrechts

  “Just because I told her to… for her own safety.”

  I was especially referring to that traitor in front of me.

  “Ah, but if she cared, do you really think she would’ve left you in the grasp of that… bear?”

  I knew we were sharing the same thoughts, but covered it all up by that stupid excuse of a bear.

  “Bear? What really-” I paused as soon as I noticed the two guards at the doors touching the hilts of their swords. A fragment of blade was drawn from their scabbards. It was a warning. Luckily, I stopped myself. If I were to tell my father now, he might get killed.

  I sighed and knew better than to continue my sentence, therefor quickly changed my words against my will.

  “I wouldn’t know.” My voice was soft, almost a mumble. Thomason gave a slight bow.

  “If you’ll excuse me, Commander...?” Father gave a nod as a sign of approval.

  As Thomason made his way towards the door, I noticed him playing with his dagger in his one hand. Images of Cassius flashed in my head. He wanted me to see him toying with his dagger. He wanted me to know what his true intentions were.

  “You bastard! NO!” By the time I yelled it, he was already out the door, but still I dashed towards the door, pulling free from my father’s grip. Unfortunately, the guards caught me and kept me locked in their grip.

  “No!” I cried. “Father! He will disobey you!”

  “Terrowin, I know Thomason well enough not to defy my orders! Go to your room and I do not want to see you anywhere else! Understood?”

  Already scheming, I looked around the room, my eyes shooting from right to left as I tried to by some time or find a possibility of escape. I couldn’t just idly sit by and watch as that bastard ruins someone else’s life just because I was too daft to keep my mouth. He knew her name now. He would easily be able to track her. If not by the use of Ysellian’s citizens, then by the use of magic.

  “Not even to view your magnificent weapons?” I noticed a faint smile on my father’s face. He nervously scratched the back of his head as he thought, clearly feeling the urge to brag by approving my request.

  “Well I-”

  “Don’t listen to him, Commander! He’s messing with your head!” The guard on the left warned. I bit down on my teeth, practically breathing fire as I tried at my hardest to hide my anger.

  “I am sorry, but I refuse to your request. Not even that. I forbid you. I’ll think about it, trying to regain your trust, Terrowin.”

  I gave a sigh, raising my widened eyes.

  “Seriously?!”

  Father turned around to face the wide flight of stairs in the middle of the entrance hall. He put both his hands behind his back, not daring to meet my eyes.

  “You brought this upon yourself. Guards, take him to his room!”

  Aren’t I a bit too old for this?

  As I struggled to get loose from their grip I said, “That’s a sentence you don’t hear every day. Order them to let me go! You can’t do this!”

  Unfortunately he didn’t reply and kept looking away, letting but his back face me. I got dragged all the way up stairs, against my will, and literally got thrown into my room, the guards locking the door behind me. Naturally, my first move was to get to my feet and try to break down the door, calling out warnings of Thomason and what I’ll do to my Father when I eventually got out of there, but nothing appeared to help.

  Hopelessly, I sank down to the ground, my back chafing against the door as I sat. I puffed my cheeks and blew as I studied my old room.

  Who would’ve thought that I’d ever see this place again?

  The room was quite large and dark, letting out a slight dark blue tinge to the area. The window on the far end of the room let in but grey, dim rays of light, letting it fall gently upon the floor covered by a dark rug. Bits of dust flew about in mid-air, made visible by the spears of light. The room was almost completely empty and had a lot of space. There was but a single wooden scribing desk placed next to the sight of the window on the right. One large double bed was placed against the wall on my left. At the end of the room, on my right, plain wooden closets, spreading from the one end to the other. There were no decorations and was left at that. It was quite a dismal scene, actually.

  All I could do was sit and wonder about Carlaylin’s fate. Gradually, I stood, walked across the room and leaned on the windowsill, staring out at the city from above. The stone streets were crowded with people exploring the markets. Birds flew across the sky that was covered by a slight veil of white cloud. I could hear laughter and talking. The sounds of horses marching the streets, pulling carriages and the bells of some kettle ringing gave a friendly aura. If only they knew what was really happening… If only they knew.

  They seemed to be having an excellent day, whereas I was having the worst day so far.

  It was bad enough that I couldn’t do anything and trust me, if I tried escaping through the naked window, I wouldn’t have made it. There weren’t many footholds on the walls and or edges for me to hold on to. Besides, it was much too high. I heaved a miserable sigh and stared out into the distance.

  “What have I done?”

  CHAPTER 39

  A VISIT FROM MY ‘BEST’ FRIEND

  CARLAYLIN

  With mourning still clinging to my frail barely beating, heart, I sauntered back home, dragging my feet through the forest, my head hung.

  My eyes lazily stared at the grass and earth beneath my boots. How fragile they were, each fragment of grass, small and unknowing, gently waving in the nightly breeze until finally being crushed beneath my boot. How strange, isn’t it? How they always raise their heads again from the flattened patches, not completely, but they try.

  I was on my way home… Home? Was that it? Home?

  No, I don’t even have a home. I have nothing to return back to except to Murray and his tower. I should probably finish what I started.

  I heaved a heavy sigh and kept my hands buried in my pockets.

  I don’t know what had come over me. Ever since I lost… him… I felt like all hope was lost, all shred of ecstasy, joy, glee and happiness had been torn from me – taken. Died alongside Dad. I was mostly nonchalant now. The grief had turned into a numb sensation blanketing my brain and my line of thought. Thinking straight wasn’t an option anymore.

  I truly regretted not realizing it earlier, realising that he was my father. If I did, I could have spent so much more time with him and this probably wouldn’t have happened. I kept insulting myself, but then remembered something Millicent used to say whenever I made a mistake: Forget about it. The past is history and tomorrow is a mystery. Leave it at that. There is nothing you can do to change it.

  Millicent… someone else I’ve lost too. How much do I have to lose for fate to get its satisfaction?

  Sorry, Millicent, but this is a bit different. I can’t just forget. I could’ve helped him. I could’ve stopped Thomason… If only my feet weren’t so frozen, rooted, to the spot.

  I sniffed. There were no more tears. My eyes were dry as a bone and I almost couldn’t feel the beat of my heart. I couldn’t think of anything to comfort myself with. I was too far gone. Hell, I wasn’t in the mood. I wasn’t in the mood for anything. How could I be?

  What’s even more is that they took Terrowin away from me to only Tarauntis knows where.

  I felt alone as I made my way through this dark forest. Night had fallen and revealed… could my eyes deceive me? Even less stars than usual. I took the cross hanging around my neck and clasped it tightly in my hand. This was the only thing that gave me a good remembrance.

  To think; Adrian was the only person that was there for me in my time of need. And the way Deodonatus threatened that mercenary? Oh, what would I give to see that crazy old monk again. I grinned but faintly as I thought back.

  Slowly I started to cheer up, but I couldn’t manage to succeed. There was still something missing…

  Fatherl
y love and or companionship maybe? A Terrowin to insult and or to push around with? I don’t know, I really don’t, but thinking of them made my smile fall to a frown and but a single miserable sigh escaped my lips once again. I let go of the cross and it swung around my neck.

  The company of the cross was the only true comfort I had left. It made me feel… calmer. I would never let it go, never in a million years.

  The night gave a disheartening silence and left nothing but a single owl to hoot or a wolf to howl and the crickets to chirp and the wind to rustle through the leaves – the leaves that so wafted past by me alongside bits and pieces of plant litter.

  The breeze tugged at my hair and rustled it into a more tousled style. Yet, I still didn’t look up. I sighed and bound my hair together into a ponytail, leaving disorderly fringes to sweep at my dreary face. I felt tired. Both physically and emotionally. I was pretty drained, to be honest.

  I puffed my cheeks and blew. There was nothing but the three beautiful moons to light up the sky with their bolstering glow. My shoulders were slumped and I was lost in thought as I strolled onwards. The more I tried to move on, the more I felt alone.

  As I walked along the path, I momentarily caught sight of a single grey wolf standing in the distance, staring at me with those deep blue eyes of his. At first I was startled, but calmed down, knowing that it didn’t mean to harm me since it didn’t take immediate action. I marvelled at the creature for a while, but soon moved on. A while later, I met the same wolf in the distance. Automatically, I picked up the pace. How was it getting ahead of me without me seeing it? Sneaky. I took a deep breath, but kept on walking.

  Shortly after, I noticed there were now two of them, soon increasing to three. A sense of panic settled over me. What did they want? Not one of them seemed to be ready to attack or pounce, though they didn’t look like the friendliest bunch either. My speed soon picked up to a slight jog, but went to a full speed run when I saw five of them.

  How many of them are there?

  I froze in my tracks as one leaped in front of me, blocking my path. The wolf circled me, baring its fangs.

  “U-Uh, nice wolfy,” I stuttered, trying to keep my distance.

  I gave a few steps back, raising my hands as a sign of please-don’t-kill-me. Another came to join him from behind me, extending its claws, forming part of a blockade. I yelped and noticed their eyes turn red. I frowned as I tried to make sense of this, but I couldn’t take my gaze off the wolf’s red eyes as if it had me caught in a daze.

  Gradually, it grew into a darker crimson, the colour of blood, and I could swear its fur became a glossy black colour. I shortly realised that it was transforming into something, both of them. I bit my lip nervously and gave another step back. My eyes widened with shock as I saw a large scaly tail break loose and grow from behind, its head shifting and morphing and transforming in such as a lizard’s with bones breaking loose and rearranging. When its transformation was complete it bared its snake fangs and leaped towards me. I screamed as it pinned my back to the ground.

  It was Terrowin… the monster! Not again…

  I swear I heard a snap at my left dislocated shoulder as it attacked. It felt tons better, actually.

  “Hey, thanks!” But my quick moment of gratitude fell as soon as it dug its incredibly sharp claws into both my shoulders, helping me grow a sort of empathy towards Terrowin to when it happened to him.

  “Loosen the claws! Loosen the claws!” I pleaded miserably with knitted eyebrows, trying to fight back the sting of agony. Unfortunately, this beast wasn’t one for requests and, by my guess, on purpose, dug its claws in deeper. To think there was more than one of these… great! Just wonderful! I can’t wait to meet my other friends as well.

  I gave a nervous chuckle as I stared at the thing’s giant, threatening-looking fangs.

  What was this thing? A freaking… uh… werelizard or just a plain literal werewolf? I don’t know, but I was too frightened and too busy fighting the thing off to care about it at the moment.

  “Uh, sorry I didn’t dye that lizard you asked for.” I threw in a nervous smile and a little chuckle alongside with, but the creature had the nerve to growl at me. It tightened its grip, me losing my breath by the second.

  “I guess you’re not one for humour,” I managed to say, trying to swallow some air.

  Man, this beast is really heavy. I need to find a diversion for this thing to freaking get off of me!

  “Hey, look! A… um… pinecone!” The beast didn’t even flinch.

  “A fish! No, a deer!” Nothing seemed to help.

  “Oh, come on! I’m really not in the mood for this. What do you like?” I scanned the area for a clue, but found none so I improvised with but a random excuse.

  “Pff… err… look! Over there! Fresh wizard meat!” By my surprise, the beast actually leaped off and actually searched the area for it. Even the other one was excited enough to check. I shivered at just the thought of it as I came upright and quickly found my feet.

  When the monster couldn’t find anything, it swung around to face me, but I was long gone. There was not a trace of me left behind but for the dust. I was running at an unimaginable speed. It only infuriated it, probably not a good sign for me though.

  I hoped it wasn’t one for the thrill of the hunt.

  I ran through the dark forest and tried to see where I was going, but all was dark. I should’ve listened to Terrowin. I guess he was right when he said that it’s too dangerous to travel at night. The Forest of Lights was truly somewhat of a deceptive name if you knew what stalked the night.

  I raced through the forest, knowing that who knows how many of those things were on my track, sniffing me out and chasing me as I speak.

  I twisted through trees and dodged a branch or two. I jumped over a rock and gave way for an oncoming werelizard. I noticed one to be right behind me and waited for the right moment to suddenly turn left, letting that lizard thing crash straight into a tree.

  Another came from the side, jostling me off my feet as it lunged and sent me rolling to the ground, but the creature’s claws missed me by mere inches. As it skidded to the left, I rapidly got to my feet and kept on going.

  I dodged more and more violent attacks. A feeling of relief settled over me as soon as I saw Murray’s tower rising in the distance. Instantaneously, I picked up the pace and dashed towards the safety of the tower, trying to avoid the werelizards getting too close.

  My breath chased me and my lungs burned, but I still went on.

  I took a wide turn around the tower, hoping to lose them in the process, and went straight for the door after the extra mile.

  Immediately, I knocked on the door, ramming it with my fists with all the might I had in me, crying out in utter distress, “Open up! Open up! OPEN UP!”

  “Yes? Who is it?” I looked back over my shoulder only to see the creatures slowly closing in, ready to attack at any moment now, like a cat ready to pounce a ball of yarn.

  “Who do you think it is?!”

  “Hmm… state your business.”

  “MURRAY!”I pounded furiously on the door as a sign for Murray to move his lazy ass. “THEY’RE GETTING CLOSER!”

  He must’ve realized the urgency in my voice and instantly he moved away to try and unlock the door.

  Damn these wizard towers and their countless security locks and chains!

  The monsters leaped forward and dashed towards me, but I barged in through the door as soon as it opened. I closed the door behind me and pressed my back against it to ward off the beasts, Murray instantly following me lead afterwards. I could feel the heavy bump at the door as the werelizard barrelled into it. Directly after, Murray and I worked together to close all the locks and put them all into place.

  It took some time for my breathing to ease, but I gave a sigh of relief the soon as I knew that I was finally safe.

  As my eyes met Murray’s, it was almost as though some floodgate inside
me broke and tore open, releasing the tears as I started to sob involuntarily. The shock of all that had happened was only now catching up to me.

  Murray shot me a worried glance.

  “Carlaylin?”

  I don’t know what came over me. I shook my head and fell into his arms, tightening my grip as I burst into tears. I buried my face deep into his robe and, even though at first he was stunned, he folded his arms around me in a warming embrace.

  “Don’t worry. They’re gone.”

  “It’s not that.”

  Merlin cocked his head as he tried to figure out what I went on about. I had to force my words out and say it to him, and admit it to myself.

  “He killed Cassius!”

  I could hear a slight gasp from Murray’s lips. He didn’t seem all too happy about it either. With grim eyes, he tightened his embrace on me and tried to comfort.

  CHAPTER 40

  MEETING A GUY FROM SIBERIA

  CARLAYLIN

  Further on, the night was quite silent and I was left in the living room that was lit with nothing but a few small candles placed about. I was lying on the couch, reading one of Murray’s many books I found upstairs in his study. At least there were no signs of anymore of those beasts and thus left the rest of the night without much of a ruckus and with a gentle aura. Not only that, but I managed to hand Murray his artefacts he required – both the Star and the key.

  It left him with the greatest of joy, almost chuckling like some sort of a fan girl. I had never seen him so happy, and neither so proud. He had immediately rushed upstairs and flew into his study, doing whatever needed to be done.

  So now and then I’d watch as the flames on the candles flicker brightly in the air. I would then return back to my book and scroll through its pages. Wasn’t my fault his stuff looked interesting. Besides, I had to do some research on spells if I ought to use some of them one day. It would only help me greatly.