Believe in the Mystics

by Tacori Bean

  I screamed in agony as my head hit the dark wood.

  “Calvin!” A woman’s astonished voice yelled.

  I sat up as Augustus came to my side.

  The woman was tall, covered in a light dress that hung loose on her deathly thin body. Her jet black hair was damaged and coarse as it hung to her waist. She was pale and shaking as she walked over to me.

  She knelt down beside me and sent Augustus away. She looked down at me, her lapis blue eyes sparkling as she smiled.

  Where have I seen those eyes before?

  “Here, let me help you,” She paused, helping me slowly to my feet, “I apologize for my son’s behavior. I doubt he understands who he has come in contact with.”

  I nodded hesitantly.

  “Ozara, there will be no charges held against these people.” The woman spoke softly.

  “Yes, my Queen.” Ozara responded.

  “What! Mother, she is a criminal!” Calvin screamed.

  “Calvin!” She rose her voice, “She is innocent and her guard witnessed it. Kings do not act like this!” She scolded.

  “No, my father didn't act like this!” He stormed out.

  She let out a sigh as she watched her son walk out the door. She started over towards us.

  “I suggest you thank Queen Ashton for your release.” Augustus whispered down at me before she arrived.

  I nodded and smiled as she came up to us.

  Bowing my head, I spoke softly “Thank you, for my release.”

  She lifted my face to meet her blue eyes, “Queens don't bow to Queens.”

  I froze for a moment, “I-I am no queen.”

  She shook her head, “No, you are much more than a queen. Please, forgive me for cutting your visit short, but I must attend to my kingdom.”

  Augustus spoke up from behind me, “Always, Queen Ashton, we thank you again for our release.”

  She smiled at Augustus, “You need to protect this girl with your life. She is very special.”

  “Yes, Ma’am.” Augustus smiled shyly.

  We were escorted back to the merchant guild, where Augustus traded for his hide.

  He grabbed my upper arm and pulled me away from the palace guards.

  I let him lead me to a small park in the middle of the town.

  “Where did you get that magic?” He inquired, sternly.

  “Does it matter?”

  “Where did you get the magic?” His eyes flashed red.

  “If I tell you, will you tell me why your eyes do that?” I asked.

  He nodded.

  “Damon gave it to me,” I paused seeing the anger in his eyes, “ He was afraid that you were going to hurt me!” I defended.

  He looked at me, “I told you that I wouldn’t bring any harm to you.”

  “Well, you aren’t exactly the most trustworthy person I’ve ever met.”

  He rolled his eyes.

  “Why do you hate me so much?” I asked.

  He shook his head, “I don’t hate you.”

  “I don’t believe that.”

  “How would you feel if some stranger came into your kingdom, not telling you who they were, where they’re from, or what they are doing in the area. Not to mention the person who is like a brother to you taking off to spend time with her.” He ranted.

  “I didn’t think about it like that, I’m sorry, but that doesn’t give you a reason to hate me.”

  “Look, a long time ago, I was very close with a girl in my previous kingdom and she fell for a guy that showed up out of nowhere. She was killed by him because of magic that he didn’t know he had and that he couldn’t control. I don’t want the same thing to happen to Damon.”

  “I-I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

  He sighed, “You wouldn’t have. It is just another piece of my past that I don’t share,” He hesitated, “Your… magic is so powerful and it scares me,” He swallowed hard, “It scares me that you can’t feel or control it. To think of what you could do with that much magic, that you don’t even know how to control, it makes me worried for Damon, my kingdom, even my own life.”

  “...I’m afraid too! I never knew about magic until I came here. And to know that I have it scares me even more!”

  He glared at me shockingly, “I understand not knowing about the Mystics but magic?”

  “My childhood wasn’t your average childhood. My father was a drunk and died when I was young. My mother worked so much, I’m pretty sure she forgot I was there half the time. I learned from a young age to not trust or open up to people. So I never believed in much, especially magic. I always thought you had to work for what you want, not that it can magically be taken care of.”

  “Well, even with magic you have to work hard. It is a part of you that helps you with your problems. It doesn’t take your problems away. It grows and weakens with you, but if it makes you feel better, I was always hated for what I am.”

  “What are you?” I questioned.

  “I’m a Dark Soldier hybrid. A creature that is supposed to be a mindless beast when they lose control. My eyes flash red when I use dark magic. If I were to lose control, and my eyes went completely red, I would forever be lost to my Dark Soldier and be consumed by my rage. Many Dark Soldiers have furious tempers, but I am a hybrid of a Dark Soldier and a human, so I am different from them, but to many I’m a beast disguised as a human.”

  “So it seems like we both have a past that we would rather keep to ourselves.”

  He nodded.

  “Why did you protect me from the other Dark Soldier?”

  “Because Damon would have killed me if I hadn’t.” He laughed.

  And for once in a long time I laughed and smiled along, genuinely. It had been so long since I openly talked to someone, and it felt nice. But I think sharing that triumph with someone was even better.

  “Why did you convince Ozara to free me?” He asked.

  “Because I’m sure Damon would appreciate it if you weren’t half dead when we returned.”

  “That’s true, but it was very brave of you to speak against her and Prince Calvin.”

  “It was the right thing to do, but more importantly, thank you for protecting me, Augustus.”

  He smiled a smile that could light up a room, one that melted away his cold exterior and made every trace of his past disappear, “Please, It’s August.”

  ~7~

  I LET OUT a sleepy yawn as I shuffled down the stairs.

  We arrived back from Evnock late last night, and even then I couldn't sleep from overthinking everything Queen Ashton and Calvin spoke of about me.

  The fire crackled in Piper’s cozy living room, just like every morning. I stepped, around the sofa and chairs that sat around the wood coffee table, into the archway leading to the kitchen.

  Counters lined the back wall, stopping at the arched back door. Her wood burning stove was ablaze with a cinnamon smell filling the air.

  Piper sat at the table studying a book with plant clippings cluttered over the table, her tea steaming beside her.

  “Smells good.” I leaned against the archway.

  She jumped slightly, her eyes shot up at me, “Oh! Good morning, Journey,” she smiled.

  I joined her at the table, “So, what are you reading?”

  Her eyes lit up as she spoke, “I am reading about different herbs I have to gather today. I need to remake the mixture I used on you and the young boy that were poisoned when the beast attacked.”

  “So you'll be out today?” I asked, hopeful that she would say yes.

  She nodded, “ and the boys are on patrol, so it seems like you have the day to yourself.”

  Even better.

  “I-I was actually wondering if you guys had a library nearby or an… archive, maybe? One that may have something on the Mystics,” I inquired.

  “Actually we do. There is an archive close by in the old market. Do… Do you know where that is?”

  I nodded, “Damon showed me.”

  She smiled small to
herself, “anything in particular you want to find out?”

  “Just want to read up on some stuff. I feel strange when someone mentions something on the Mystics and I have no idea what they are talking about.”

  I sighed in my head, More lies.

  She giggled under her breath, “Sounds like a good reason.”

  I looked down at my hands, spinning a sprig of lavender in between my fingers.

  I hate lying to you, but I have to figure this out on my own.

  ~~~

  I stepped into the musty room that was carved once again into the rugged cliffs. The door leading to the market slammed shut behind me.

  The dust was thick in the air as it glistened in the sunlight beaming through the windows. Books filled the back shelves while others were stacked on the ground in clusters.

  I need to learn more about the Mystics and their powers...

  I pushed open the windows, and ran my hand along the spines of the books, coating my fingers in the dust.

  Let’s see. I’m looking for the Mystics, maybe even their magic.

  I scanned over multiple books, none of them being anything of interest to me or my concern. I continued on through the archive, until I reached the middle of the back wall.

  Speculations of the Mystics. That sounds like a good start to me.

  I removed the book and sat by one of the windows, blowing the dust off of the tattered cover. I opened the front and flipped through the pages of the introduction of the Mystics.

  “Okay, let’s see. The Mystics wielded ancient magic that was specific to them. It is unsure whether or not using one of the relics would give the host the same magic.”

  Unhelpful.

  I flipped through more of the book, skimming the parts I already understood. The book turned out to be a list of things I already knew or things that were unsure. I stared at pages, scowling, the smell of heat filling my nose.

  Darn it! Not again!

  I flipped the book over to see the handprints that had been burned into the cover of the book. At first, I scolded myself until small words began to appear, glowing gold as they formed.

  This magic is an honor, until it leaves you broken.

  My eyes lit up at the writing as it burned into the other pages. Secret drawings appeared throughout the book. Gold lines outlined the drawings of channelings of different magics, animals with intricate glowing eyes, and on the last page was a portrait of the five Mystics.

  “What Piper said about them doesn't do them any justice. They weren’t just magically powerful, they looked powerful,” I mumbled aloud.

  I grabbed another book to see if I could discover the secrets I really came to find, but as hard as I tried I couldn't figure out how to work the magic. Instead, I searched for a book on magic.

  This one looks promising, I thought, plucking the book from the shelf.

  I opened it and read through the worn pages of the book, some being impossible to read from the smeared ink.

  It seems pretty self-explanatory at least. I have to channel the magic, in vision it running through my body, and... wait for it to work?

  I set the book beside me and stood in the middle of the room. I closed my eyes and imagined a gold stream of liquid flowing through my body, just like the liquid that fell from the Mystics’ Tree.

  Warmth spread throughout my body, beginning from the pit of my stomach, but as it reached my hands, the power overtook me. It was strong, too strong for me to handle. The warmth quickly turned to overbearing heat, burning my skin without even leaving it. My head throbbed as I tried to stop it. My breathing began to quicken, my heart racing, making it worse as the heat spread throughout the room. There was no escaping it. I was fading in and out, and begged that it would stop. I screamed and cried until I couldn’t, until it all went black.

  ~~~

  Light. It was warm and comforting. Unlike the heat I begged to leave, I didn’t want this to leave.

  Journey.

  “Who’s there?” I questioned to the voice.

  You will find out soon enough, the space said. Why would you try to use your magic? You knew it wasn’t safe.

  “I know, but it is putting people in danger. I thought if I figured out what kind of magic it is and how to control it, I could protect them.”

  This early stage of magic cannot be controlled. You must be patient if you wish to master your magic.

  “What do you mean, it can’t be controlled? How am I so supposed to use it, if I can’t control it?”

  The voice sighed, Your magic is uncontrollable because it is not fully developed. You are a magic user who was born without magic. A specific magic has not surfaced in you. Your magic is nothing more than pure magic energy.

  “Then why does it activate if it is still developing?” I grew furious.

  Your ‘magic’ is raw and powerful. When you lose control of your life force, which will throw off the emotional balance of your life force, it throws off the magic energy in your system, making you lose control.

  “I just have to be patient…”

  The light dimmed.

  All will be revealed, but for now you must go. Remember, you must be patient if you wish to obtain power over your magic. Do not be foolish and try to use your magic until it is done developing. It will overtake you too quickly.

  “Alright, I’ll be more careful.”

  Then as if nothing ever happened, the light left, leaving me in the dark, alone once again.

  “Journey,” a concerned voice called, the familiarity burning in my mind.

  “I need you to wake up,” her soft voice spoke again.

  Then another voice called. I couldn't hear the words but I could hear how they were said. They comforted my soul, and made my heart skip a beat, they eased my mind, and took away the loneliness. They beckoned me to their side and encouraged every step I took. Something in the back of my mind urged me to it, my body taking control of itself.

  So I let the light once again overtake me, but it was not the light I had known moments ago. It was in fact the light that comforted me in so many ways. It was the rays of the sunset peeking through the market entrance, warming my face.

  My eyes fluttered open at Piper and Damon leaning over me.

  Piper smiled as she placed a mixture in her bag.

  I clutched my aching head, “What happened?” I asked, leaning against the marketplace wall.

  “We should be asking you that question,” Piper commented.

  “What do you mean?”

  Damon smiled softly, “The townspeople, concerned that someone was hurt or in trouble, told me of screams coming from the market as I was walking through on my way to speak with Piper. We arrived and found you alone in the archive,” he explained.

  “You were unconscious.” Piper took over, “At first, I thought you were just simply affected by magic residue, from the strong magical presence, but as I tried to wake you, I felt your forehead. Your body temperature was boiling beyond humanly possible. It burned to touch you with a bare hand, let alone try to figure out what was wrong. Then as we were trying to cool you off, your temperature dropped and you began to freeze, but with your temperature down, we were able to bring you out here to stabilize your temperature.”

  “We were hoping you could tell us what happened,” Damon said.

  So it wasn’t just a dream. That really did happen because I tried to use magic.

  “Journey, do you know what happened to you?” Piper asked, confusion lingering in her voice.

  I swallowed hard and looked at their concerned faces.

  Clearing my throat, I steadied my voice, “I tried to use magic…”

  ~8~

  Damon’s POV:

  THE FULL MOON casted shadows on the cobbled streets as I made my way to the guard tower for patrol.

  My thoughts raced, looking back on today.

  Magic… why does it always have to be magic? Seemed to be the only question I could focus on.

  Closing the heavy woo
d door behind me I made my way to the top of the tower.

  August sat, staring out the window when I arrived.

  “Anything new?” I asked, pulling up a seat beside him.

  He looked calmly back at me, “Not yet,” he spoke softly looking back out the window.

  I followed his gaze and enjoyed the cold breeze hitting my face. But try as I might I couldn't keep my thoughts from wandering back to Journey.

  “What's gotten your thoughts in a jumble?” August asked quietly.

  I jumped in my seat, “What do you mean?”

  He rolled his eyes, giving a soft chuckle, “You were zoning out, and making that face you always make when you are thinking about something important.”

  The heat crept onto my cheeks and I diverted my eyes quickly away from him.

  I heard him chuckle again behind me, “I know you are thinking about her.”

  I shot my eyes up, meeting his teasing glare.

  “You aren't very good at hiding your emotions, though it could just be me. I was brought up in a castle around people who put faces on just for the benefits of others, after all. Though I guess when you are the hybrid son of a Dark Soldier and a human maiden you learn these things. And my magic can feel your emotions. One of my... many... talents and gifts, remember?” He gave a goofy smile.

  I smiled back at him, and stared down at my hands, “I remember,” I laughed, “It was one of the first times we met. You were trying to get paid to read people’s thoughts and when you approached me, I told you to join the academy and get a real job. Little did I know you would actually take my advice.”

  He smiled a hardy smile and leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest, “We were both much different back then. Who would have thought we would have ended up here?”

  I met his cognac eyes, “What do you mean?” I asked, confusion lingering in my voice.

  “Well, as the only two guards of this kingdom, that has been lost in the history books, we have ended up fighting over whether or not to let Journey stay. Even when we know she is somehow related to the myths of magic beings, and has the magic of them, that to be honest is far out of her control…” He trailed off.