by Andrew Wood
"He brought you in out of the cold," Zack told him, "And he has not left your side since."
They went on to tell him of the events and drama that had happened two nights before.
"I've been out of it for that long?" Mikel gasped.
Maxim nodded, "We had Melia check you for healing, but she said there was nothing wrong. I said it was because you're so lazy," he quipped, "But Zack reckoned even you would be hard pushed to sleep for two days."
Mikel chuckled, although still somewhat shocked at the length of time he had been unconscious. He returned his attention to the wolf, and rubbed his hand behind its ears, as one might a playful puppy. "I am going to call you Shadow," he said talking to the creature. The wolf looked at him, before licking him again, as if approving the name he had just been given.
As Mikel pushed himself up a little further, he realised he had no clothes on. "Who undressed me?" he said looking at the two younger lads sitting on the edge of the bed next to him. Zack grinned, "Well if I told you, a beautiful young lady came in and stripped your clothes off, would that make it any better."
Mikel grinned..."You mean it was you two wasn't it?"
Maxim nodded, "Afraid so."
"It was us or Stanton," Zack chuckled at the thought.
"Phew...Lucky escape then," Mikel added, joining in the light-hearted moment.
After a few minutes chatting, Zack and Maxim told Mikel they needed to go and tell Ramon he was awake. "I don't think he was too happy with your little foray out in the night," Zack told him.
Mikel grimaced, "Ah...yes...I suppose I am in trouble?" he asked.
Maxim nodded, "I'm not sure. I think he has had time to calm down at least. Besides...who is going to go near you now you have Shadow?"
Mikel grinned, "Oh yeh!" he said suddenly feeling much better. "So what does this link thing do then?" he asked.
The question was clearly aimed at Maxim, "I've no idea Mikel," he replied.
"We were kind of hoping you were going to tell us," Zack added.
Once the two younger lads had left the room, Mikel got out of bed. He stretched his arms up, before slowly walking to the small washstand in their room. He sniffed under his armpit, and pulled a bit of a face at the smell, "I think I need a wash," he said turning to the wolf. After doing just that, he dressed and decided to venture out in the corridor.
After stepping out of the door, and deciding to head to Ramon's office, he noticed the others looking a little strangely at him. He could hear the pattering of Shadow's paws on the stone floor behind him. He wondered if this was going to be a problem, as people took a wide berth to go round him.
Hoping by taking the initiative, and seeking out Ramon before he was summoned, he thought it might lessen his punishment somewhat. As he approached the office, he saw Zack and Maxim leaving it.
"Ah we have just been asked to come and fetch you," Zack said on noticing him.
"Oh well here goes," Mikel said taking a deep breath.
"You'll be fine," Maxim added, patting him on the shoulder.
He knocked on the door, and waited for the shout for him to enter. He was not certain he should allow Shadow inside as well, but thought what the heck. He was in trouble already; one more thing wasn't going to make a difference. After letting the wolf in behind him, he closed the door. He turned to see Ramon sat behind his desk looking directly at him.
"Come and take a seat Mikel," the man said in a much calmer voice then Mikel had expected to be hearing.
Mikel nodded, and tried to smile, as he did as was asked of him. Shadow followed his move, and sat down on his backside, alongside him. There was a moment's silence, as Ramon studied both his pupil and the creature.
"So....What are we going to do with you?" the man asked tapping his fingers on the top of his desk.
Mikel just shrugged, "I'm sorry Sir," he managed to mumble, hoping it would help.
"Well that's a start I suppose," Ramon said. "You know we have rules here, not because we are all miserable killjoys," he added raising his voice just a little. "We have them to keep every man, woman and child in this place safe. Our being here depends on us being discreet and oblivious to the outside world. That is why we leave the outer wall in ruins, so anybody passing by thinks nothing is here."
Mikel nodded, thinking that made quite good sense when he thought about it. "Sorry Sir," he said again, "I promise I won't be any more trouble."
Ramon paused a while, and then looked at the dire wolf sat beside Mikel, before he stood and walked around the table as Shadow's eyes followed his every movement. He stepped just one pace nearer, and the wolf showed just a little of its huge teeth, as if to say that was far enough. Ramon nodded and stepped away again. "Did you make the link?" he asked.
"I think so," Mikel replied, "Although I don't feel any different."
"It was a foolish thing to try. I told you I foresaw the wolf. That was not an invitation for you to go straight out and bring it back here," Ramon said returning to his seat.
Another moments silence proceeded, before Ramon slammed his hand down on the desk. "You were not ready to be doing such a thing. You could have ended up losing your mind, or worse that creature could have turned on you," the man shouted.
The raising of his voice caused Shadow to stand, thinking the behaviour was threatening, the wolf snarled at Ramon.
"Easy boy," Mikel said patting the creature on the back.
The wolf immediately sat back down and silenced, although did not take its eyes off Ramon.
"I'm glad to see at least you have control of it. However, I warn you now Mikel," Ramon said leaning back in his seat. "If the wolf so much as dribbles drool on anybody here in Pitford, you will leave me no option but to have you both removed," the man said in a tone that told Mikel he was serious.
"I understand Sir. I will keep him from trouble," Mikel said, not totally sure he could keep himself out of mischief.
Happy the boundaries had been set, Ramon moved on to how best Mikel could further his abilities. He told him there was a lady, whom despite her years, and the fact she often came over as totally insane, who should be able to help him. The lady apparently also had a link with an animal. She was often found outside in the small garden at the rear of the keep, talking to the birds. The woman's name was Katria, and Mikel was asked to seek her out, for furthering his knowledge.
Ramon stood, "However should you also wish to improve your other abilities, then go and see either Jerrod or Flynn, both hold regular lessons."
Mikel sat looking up at Ramon, his mind wandering just slightly, about what he could have to eat.
"Well...What are you waiting for...go on," Ramon said pointing to the door.
Mikel quickly jumped to his feet, "Yes Sir...Thank you," he said moving quickly before Ramon decided to have anything else to say.
Mikel did not need to ask Shadow to follow, somehow knowing the large dark haired wolf would do so anyway. He afforded a smile as he realised he had gotten away without receiving any punishment. First, he thought, something to eat for him and Shadow, and then he would seek out the crazy woman and see what she had to say for herself. On second thoughts, perhaps he would leave that until tomorrow, after all he was still tired, perhaps another days rest would be for the best.
Maxim and Zack had to go their separate ways, as they were due to see different teachers. Zack was to see a man named Flynn, whilst Maxim was sent out into the town, where he was supposed to meet a man called Darion. This man lived completely alone and isolated, in a small hut just inside the outer wall. Apparently, he did so, not because he was disliked, but because that was the way he liked it. Ramon had forewarned Maxim, that Darion was not a very sociable person. Often he shooed any visitors away, and only lived amongst the ruins of Pitford because he felt it safer than anywhere else.
After bidding Zack farewell, he watched his friend disappear from sight into one of the side rooms off the main corridor. He sighed heavily, before fastening his cloak and venturing o
utside to brave the cold winter morning. The guards at the main door looked half frozen to death as he passed them by on the stone steps. He bid them a good morning, and although neither replied with anything more than a grunt, it was still more than he was used to.
He stood at the bottom of the steps, inhaled the chilly air, and smiled. Life for him had changed so much for the better, and for the first time in his life, he felt like he belonged. He had clothes, food and most of all he had good friends. Whether he had the magical abilities everyone seemed to think he had, well he guessed he would find out.
With a spring in his step, he pulled his cloak tighter around himself and set off toward the keep gate and waving a hand at the guards on duty there as he passed through. He was actually surprised just how busy the small community within the outer walls appeared. Men, women and children busied themselves, and he stood to watch for a little while. These were the non-magic folk, who had come to live amongst those that were. He wondered what had made them do so; perhaps family he thought. He supposed if parents had a magical child, they would naturally want to be close by. Although that theory would not be the case with either him, Zack, Mikel or Melia.
Thinking it a quandary for another day, he set off following the directions Ramon had given him, and although people still looked at him as he walked by, they did not appear to be doing so in the way he was used to. In Woodhaven if he so much as glanced at some people, it was enough for them to start shouting abuse at him. Here they merely gave that 'what are you looking at' type of glance his way. Sure he thought, it was still some way from a friendly greeting, but it at least was a move in the right direction.
After walking along the main street, where it seemed a majority of the stalls and shops appeared to be, he noticed a butcher. After checking he had some coin in his pocket, he made a mental note to call in there on his way back. He stopped at a crossroads just to catch his bearings, before taking a right turn between two buildings. He emerged nearer the outer wall, and glancing left, he could probably hazard a guess he had found the right house. Albeit he used the word house in the loosest term of the word, as he thought shed would probably be nearer the correct description.
The rather dingy timber building had its own little fence around it, and Inside the fenced area sat a rather old looking dog. Maxim approached and opened the small gate, and as he approached the door, the dog wearily lifted its head a little, before putting it down again, as it appeared to much effort to do. Maxim crouched down, and patted the poor creature, wishing he had bought it a little treat.
Straightening himself up, he knocked the door and waited. He knocked again when it appeared nobody was going to answer. He waited, and looked down at the dog again, "Is he in?" Maxim asked the creature, but the dog gave no more response than it had earlier. Maxim shrugged and tried one more knock; he was just about to turn away, when he heard the sound of creaking hinges.
"I heard you the first bloody time," an elderly man said appearing at the doorway.
Maxim smiled, "Sorry Sir," he said not quite sure what to say.
"So what the bloody hell do you want?" the man snapped.
"You must be Darion Sir," Maxim said offering his hand out in friendship.
"I know who I am you numbskull...now what are you doing knocking at my door?" the man added.
Maxim puffed his cheeks out, this was certainly going to be difficult, he thought. "My name is Maxim Sir. I was sent here by Ramon," he said.
The old man leaned forward as if examining him. Almost completely bald, apart from a few wispy grey hairs on the side, and with a very wrinkled face, Maxim wondered just how old Darion was.
"Well what you doing standing there for? Letting all my heat out...Get in here," the man snapped gesturing for Maxim to enter.
Inside the house, there was a small fireplace with a rather grubby looking rug in front of the hearth. A dresser stood against one wall that had a few plates and cups upon it, and a couple of cushioned chairs were positioned near the fire. Neither chairs looked particularly very welcoming, but Maxim was pointed to one of them. Had he not been a boy from the gutter, he may have thought twice about sitting on one of them.
He sat down and watched Darion shuffle over and sit opposite him, before the old man stared at him once more. "So why is that fool Ramon sending kids to my house?" he asked.
Maxim shrugged, he didn't know why he was there, other than Darion was supposedly the man to help nurture and control his magical abilities.
"Well, are you going to tell me? Or are you going to sit there looking all vacant."
"Ramon thinks you can help me," Maxim finally replied.
The elderly man scratched at his head, mumbling to himself, "Why does he think I can help you?"
"People seem to think I have some sort of mighty magical ability...I'm not so sure."
The man chuckled at Maxim's reply, "You don't think you're very magical, yet here you are asking for my help."
Darion asked Maxim to explain why others thought he had so great a magic. The youngster could only tell the old man what had happened in Woodhaven and the incident in the small house in the forest.
Darion asked him to explain in more detail. What had caused the events? How had he felt at the time? How had he felt afterwards? And Maxim answered as truthfully as he could to each.
"Yet if I asked you to produce a flame in your hand, you would not know how?" The old man asked after a short silence.
"No Sir," Maxim replied.
Darion scratched at his head again, "Give me your hands," he said suddenly.
Maxim gingerly moved his hands forward.
"Well come on, I don't want to die of old age before they reach me," Darion snapped.
The man grabbed both of Maxim's wrists, wrapping his thin bony hands around them. He closed his eyes and gasped before quickly letting go again.
Darion sat back in his chair, once more staring at Maxim, before the old man made a tutting sound and shook his head. "Is everything okay Sir?" Maxim asked, thinking there might be something wrong.
"I will teach you control...nothing more. Ramon has sent you to me to create a weapon, I will not do it."
Maxim then told Darion about how the others kept fearing he would lose control, but never truly understood why.
"And well they might young man. I have seen the damage an Elementalist can do when he has lost control of his powers. If not for the courage of a few others, the man would have levelled an entire city." Maxim gulped, not certain he was even capable of such a thing, and this is exactly what he decided to tell Darion.
The old man laughed. "Not capable...Already, you have burned two men alive without knowing how. Already, you have demolished half a house with but a wave of your hand, and no clue how you did it..."
Maxim grimaced, he had not really thought about it like that.
"Your power is strong, probably more so than anybody else I have ever known. I doubt anybody here could stop you if you lost control., and that is why I will teach you that...no more."
Maxim just shrugged, and eventually nodded. If he had the power everybody reckoned he had, at least he would have the knowledge to control it. That way he supposed he could not do innocent people any harm. "Well are you just going to sit there gawping at me, or are you going to make me a cup of tea?" Darion snapped.
Maxim could not help but chuckle, he had never met a man like Darion before. One minute all wise and sagely, the next some cantankerous grumpy old man. "What you bloody smirking at?" Darion snapped as Maxim stood to place the kettle over the fire. He walked over to the dresser, and found two cups that looked clean. He found the tea in a tin, and placed some in the pot. He was not certain how much to use, as he had only ever seen a couple of people make it before; and never actually made it himself.
After almost burning his hand trying to tip the boiling water into the pot, he went to pour it in to the cups. "What the bloody hell is taking you so long?" the old man shouted as he leaned forward to place another log
on the fire. Maxim hoped he had done everything right, as he passed the old man one of the cups. "Oh, taking bloody liberties and made yourself one I see. I never said you could have one did I?" Darion grumbled.
Maxim sighed, but just sat down with his cup anyway. He watched as the old man sipped from his cup, and expected another complaint about him not making it correctly. The old man just sipped again and wrapped his thin bony fingers around the cup. "Right, now the first rule of controlling your magic, is never to lose your temper when casting," the man said calmly.
Maxim leant back in his chair, sipping his tea. It was a little stronger than he had tried before, and a little bitter for his taste, but it was nice and hot. He listened, as Darion seemed to talk endlessly, about the method of control. From what he was told, it was all in the mind. Focusing on happy and nice things would calm the mind into check, but let the power consume him, and it would likely destroy everything in his path.
"Young man," Darion said. "Do not ever underestimate what you are capable of. You have the power of the elements at your fingertips. You can summon walls of flame, part rivers, blow down buildings, and probably even flatten mountains if you wished," the old man added before taking another sip from his cup.
Maxim was a little shocked, "Is that why Ramon suggested he should kill me?"
Darion chuckled, "Oh yes young man. You are not only a danger to your enemies, but just as great a one to your friends. Lose control of your skills and it will be they who die first."