Zectas Volume V: The Sequestered Seminary of Sawtorn

by John Nest

  Undeterred, Smoke let out sixteen flame-swords which bypassed Ouragan's water-shield.

  However, a puddle of water discreetly appeared under Smoke's feet. Ouragan then launched several water-lances from below him.

  His Cunning of the Dire Fox detected the obstructed attack, Smoke leapt backwards with his Hyper Jump ability, only to be trapped inside a floating bubble of water.

  "Sorry, Smoke, but this is the end," said Ouragan.

  Smoke could not believe what he heard. How could have Ouragan known about his real name? Trapped inside the floating water, he struggled to swim out, but the Prime Wizard began turning it into a block of ice.

  He instantly felt his arms and feet turn numb, as the water solidified around him. Despite being captured, what worried Smoke was that he was running out of air. He drank a few gulps, as his lungs involuntarily made him try to breathe.

  Fortunately, Ouragan manipulated the water to push him upward, exposing only his head. "Now, I don't want you to go dying on me," said the old HighElf.

  Then, the Announcer's voice boomed from beyond the solid fire-tornado turned to ice. "You see that, Folks? What did I tell you? Prime Wizard Ouragan has this in the bag."

  The audience erupted into a loud cheer.

  "I'm sorry I can't commentate on what's going on inside the block of ice, but I can assure you that Prime Wizard Ouragan has the upper hand," added the Announcer. He paused and then turned to face the camera rune focused on him. "Oh, and if any of you are thinking that him using another element is illegal, then you better just shut up!"

  As the water bubble turned to solid ice, Smoke stared at Ouragan with crossed eyes. He was angry at the old man for hiding this ability, but he was more angry with himself for being over confident.

  Now, that he was completely frozen, Smoke tried to let out his dark flames to melt the ice. Yet, his Fire was not enough to thaw his icy prison, as Ouragan constantly replenished the ice. Smoke experienced the bitter taste of his own technique, as he remembered what he did to Xantana.

  "Confidence is good, but it could backfire on you if you have too much of it," blurted out Ouragan, as if reading his mind. "Do you concede? Or do I have to drop you out of the ring?"

  Smoke knew that he could do nothing to stop the Prime Wizard from dropping him to the ground. Against his will, he nodded in surrender.

  The Prime Wizard then turned around, which slightly lifted up his blue robe. It was only for a moment, but Smoke caught a glimpse of it. He wore a belt studded with special stones.

  Ouragan then shattered the block of tornado into innumerable pieces, turning them into snowflakes.

  As soon as the two finalists became visible, the Announcer's voice bellowed out from the jumbovision screen. "Prime Wizard Ouragan is our Champion! Prime Wizard Ouragan wins! He is the 999th Magi Gagnant Winner!"

  "Prime Wizard Ouragan will receive the 999th Magi Gagnant Trophy, fifty-million zecs, one treasure from King Kajou's vault, and a chance to talk with Magietrois Florissant herself!" added the Announcer.

  Ouragan waved to the crowd, and walked over to the incapacitated Smoke.

  "You've done well, Smo— Faux," said Ouragan as he turned to the trapped Smoke.

  "Really? No wonder I'm the one stuck in a block of ice," replied a sarcastic Smoke.

  "Indeed. Otherwise, I wouldn't have resorted to using my secret melded Ice ability," explained Ouragan.

  "Because of this, you have gained my respect," added the Prime Wizard.

  A notification window then popped up.

  + Intimacy with Ouragan has risen to 'Respected Colleague'

  "If there's ever anything I can do," said Ouragan. "Please don't hesitate to—"

  Smoke did not let the old HighElf finish, as he knew exactly what he wanted to ask. "Take me with you when you go to see Florissant!"

  Ouragan raised his eyebrows at Smoke.

  "I mean, please, may I accompany you to see Magietrois Florissant," he begged in a more pleasant tone.

  * * * * * *

  While Ouragan was up on stage to receive the prize money and trophy, Smoke remained on top of the ring. He was still partially stuck inside the block of ice, as he had not fully melted himself out of it.

  Now, that he was immobilized, he expected to see more clay-pots thrown at him. However, there were none, as the crowd had obediently followed Ouragan's words.

  Given their special passes, Avilo, Jack, and Mouche walked over to the busy Smoke thawing off the ice.

  "Good show, Faux. But just as I said, you can't beat Prime Wizard Ouragan," said Avilo, while patting him on the back.

  "If you had the ability to use Fire all this time, why did you just use it now?" asked Mouche.

  "I didn't," replied Smoke, as he continued on melting the ice. "I learned it, in order to beat Ouragan. Unfortunately, my training was still not enough."

  "Of course!" declared Avilo. "I hope, now, you have learned your lesson, Faux."

  Smoke grinned in response.

  "Well, I still think your fight was great!" interjected Jack. "I don't know if you heard from the inside, but the entire audience almost gasped when Ouragan used his Ice magic."

  "That's true," added Mouche. "By using the wonderful element of Fire, you've forced Prime Wizard Ouragan to reveal his true self."

  CRACK

  Smoke finally stepped out of the ice-block. "Well, thanks for everything, Guys," he said to Avilo, Jack, and Mouche. "But I have somewhere else to go."

  "Where?" asked Jack.

  "With him," replied Smoke, pointing to Ouragan who walked up next to them.

  "Ready to go?" Ouragan asked Smoke.

  "Yeah," answered Smoke. "But first there's a few people I'd like you to meet."

  He then pointed to his three Zectian friends. "These are Avilo, Jack, and Mouche. They're a big fan of yours."

  "Oh, I've already met Lord Avilo," said Ouragan, shaking the young nobleman's hand. "And Mouche as well."

  "I think it's just Jack that I haven't met," added the Prime Wizard, shaking Jack's hand. "A pleasure to meet you, young man."

  "The pleasure is all mine, Sir, Prime Wizard, Sir," replied Jack with trembling hands.

  Ouragan cordially bowed down to them and turned to Smoke. "Well, are you coming or not?"

  "Of course, I am!" exclaimed Smoke, and the two of them headed out of the stadium together.

  A bewildered Avilo stared at the backs of the Magi Gagnant Tournament finalists. "When did those two become friends?"

  "I wonder if Sir Faux knew Prime Wizard Ouragan's mother?" said Mouche out loud.

  "What does that have to do with anything?" asked Avilo.

  "I don't know, the thought just popped into my head," replied the old Steward. "Seeing as how they're so chummy now."

  * * * * * *

  When Smoke and Ouragan got out of earshot, Smoke thought to ask the Prime Wizard the thing that had been bugging him for a while. "I never expected to see a fellow 'Verum de Mendicantibus' here in Sawtorn," began Smoke. "How is our Brotherhood of Beggars doing?"

  Ouragan stopped walking and faced him. "I'm glad you finally figured that out," he said.

  "I am Beggar Evocati Ouragan," declared the old HighElf. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Brother Smoke."

  With an open palm on his left hand and a fist on his right, Ouragan made both his hands meet in front of his heart.

  Smoke hurriedly bowed down and greeted the higher ranked Beggar in the same manner. He was caught off guard, as it had been a long time since he used the salutation which Darius taught him.

  "So, you really aren't a High Wizard?" Smoke asked.

  Ouragan chuckled. "I'm much as a High Wizard as you are an Earth Elementalist."

  "You know, I was never going to tell you if you didn't realize it on your own," joked the old HighElf and resumed walking. "After all, I have been watching you ever since you got off the docks in Vona City."

  "You were?" asked Smoke in disbelief. "Are you serious? I never noticed." />
  Then, it dawned on him when he was forcibly deported to the island of the clawfuls. "So, it was you who was watching me in Pincer Island?"

  "No, that wasn't me," replied Ouragan, shaking his head. "I don't even know where that is."

  Smoke scratched the back of his head in confusion. He was sure that Ouragan was the mysterious stalker.

  "But I did see you go out of Vona City with a tied up nobleman once," said Ouragan, pointing out the time when he caught Daniel.

  "Wait! If you know that, then you know about Cynar!" said Smoke in anger. "I thought the Brotherhood of Beggars was suppose to protect the balance of justice? How could you—"

  Ouragan stopped him from going on any further. "Yes, we know about Cynar's operations, but the reason we allowed him to continue was because he was going after the Ork Hordes," explained the Prime Wizard.

  "But what about the captured children?" asked Smoke.

  "We had two OrkElves deep undercover in Cynar's crew. They were hired to do excavation work on Diebe Den, but they were actually there to rescue the captured nobles."

  Ouragan then chuckled. "Unfortunately, their mission changed, as someone else beat them to it." He then patted Smoke's shoulder. "Good job on that, by the way."

  "So, you're still keeping tabs on Cynar and Blaise until now?" clarified Smoke.

  "Absolutely!" replied Ouragan. "And I'm happy to tell you that Cynar has stopped his kidnapping operations. He's now more focused on increasing his army to fight against the Orks."

  As they marched farther in, Smoke thought to do a little chit-chat. It was an attempt to raise his Intimacy with Ouragan.

  "So, you've been watching me all this time, huh?" blurted out Smoke.

  "Correct. We've kept our eyes on you for a while," replied Ouragan. "But I have to say, we lost track of you, when you and that little flower girl went into that mountain."

  Smoke looked confused. 'They didn't find the teleportation circle inside the mountain?' he wondered.

  "Was that where you learned your Fire Manipulation?" asked Ouragan.

  "Yes, it was," replied Smoke.

  Deep within Pulper Arena, the old HighElf and DarkElf continued on towards an underground chamber, which led to several tunnels.

  "Smoke, there's something else I forgot to mention," said Ouragan. "I was the one who informed the Beggar Brotherhood about one of the Magietrois being in Sawtorn."

  "Guess I have a lot of things to thank you for," said Smoke, grinning behind his Paradox Mask.

  "So, is she old?" asked Smoke. "You've met Magietrois Florissant before, right?"

  "Of course, she is," replied Ouragan. "What do you expect from someone who is turning ninety-two?"

  Smoke pulled on Ouragan's shoulder, stopping both of them. "Wait, what? Isn't she suppose to be at least over a thousand years old?"

  "Who told you that?" asked Ouragan with a raised eyebrow. "You didn't believe the legends to be actually true, did you?"

  Ouragan let out a deep sigh. "I specifically wrote on my report that Magietrois Florissant was a title passed down from master to student," explained the Prime Wizard. "The current Magietrois Florissant is the 16th one to assume the title."

  Smoke unequipped his mask, as he tried to breathe. "If she's not the one from the legends, then she's not the Magietrois that I'm looking for."

  Ouragan stopped walking, and turned back to where Smoke stood in a daze.

  "Listen, she may not be the same one who fought against the Reptilian Race, but maybe she'll have the answer to what you're looking for?" said Ouragan.

  "I guess it couldn't hurt to ask," said Smoke out loud, as he tried to stay positive.

  So, the two of them continued treading the floors of the underground tunnel, towards where the current Magietrois Florissant was waiting for them.

  "Why do you need to find the Magietrois, anyway?" asked Ouragan, as they dawdled along.

  "I need to find the Magietrois who has the power over life and death," said Smoke with conviction. "I need the Magietrois who is a Thaumaturge."

  "I see, I've read about them," said Ouragan. "But in all my years here in Zectas, I haven't personally met one. They probably don't exist anymore, or if there is one, he or she might be hiding from the world."

  "I know. Darius has been asking about it in the Brotherhood, but even with his access, none of them could find a Thaumaturge as well," said Smoke.

  "You know Beggar Legati Darius?" asked Ouragan in disbelief.

  "Yeah," said Smoke, and began to tell the old HighElf everything he knew about Darius.

  They sustained their talk about the Brotherhood the whole time. From the glorious past until its recent developments. Engrossed by their topic, they failed to notice the simple wooden door in front of them.

  "Oh, we're here," said Ouragan and stopped in front of it.

  "Smoke, I'll call you Faux behind this door," said Ouragan in all seriousness. "I think that only those in the Brotherhood of Beggars should know about your real identity."

  Smoke had already messed that up, as he told Perdant who he really was. Trying to change the subject, Smoke grabbed the door's handle. He tried to open it for Ouragan, but instead of opening, a notification window popped up.

  - You cannot open this door. Only the 999th Magi Gagnant Champion has the right to do so.

  "I think you better get this one yourself," said Smoke.

  Ouragan chuckled. "Behind this door lies the answer you've been waiting for," he said and turned the knob.

  When Ouragan opened the door, they saw the back of a slender woman emanating ruby flames in the shape of a massive phoenix.

  'Forget about looking like a noble, she looks like a phoenix goddess,' thought Smoke, as he stared at the back of the 16th Magietrois Florissant. 'That must be the full effect of Xantico's Inheritance. I wonder if I'll ever reach that level?'

  He snapped out of his musings when he heard Magietrois Florissant speak. "You have done well to win the championship again," she said with a fiery authority.

  Smoke could not place it, but he felt that Magietrois Florissant seemed familiar. Yet, he quickly dismissed it, as she was about to face them.

  "How many times has it been since you've won your first time, Ouragan?" asked Eleve, dressed as Magietrois Florissant, shrouded by the phoenix goddess flames.

  "I just got lucky, Magietrois Florissant," replied Ouragan. "By the way this is, Faux. He begged me, so he could come and see you."

  Smoke stepped closer towards the Magietrois Florissant in phoenix fire.

  "Eleve! You were Magietrois Florissant all along?" asked Smoke. He felt betrayed, but somewhat relieved. Now, he could ask her his questions.

  "Why do you know her real name?" Ouragan asked Smoke in surprise.

  "She is my Flame Master," replied Smoke. "But I never expected her to be Magietrois Florissant."

  "Faux, now is not the time and place for that," said Eleve in full apathy.

  She then turned to Ouragan. "I'll be moving you to the Vitzytl Kingdom Royal Treasury. So, you could bring back one of the King's relics."

  "You ready?" Eleve asked Ouragan.

  To which the Prime Wizard nodded with all earnest.

  "Remember, you will be automatically teleported back after ten minutes," added Eleve. "So, be sure to hold onto your item by then."

  PLOP

  Ouragan disappeared, only the fiery afterimage of an old HighElf remained in his place.

  "Congratulations on making it this far, Faux," said Eleve. "I really thought you might beat him—"

  Yet, she was rudely cut off. As soon as the Magi Gagnant Champion vanished, Smoke berated his target.

  "Eleve! Why didn't you tell me that you were Magietrois Florissant!" yelled Smoke.

  "Well, because you came to me asking to be trained. No one has been to the Florissant Seminary in a while," she said in her most lonesome voice.

  "There, I am not Magietrois Florissant, but Eleve Dawkins," she replied with sincerity. "Quite frankly, I
don't like to be the Magietrois Florissant, anymore," she added.

  Smoke did not respond, but only looked at her with betrayed eyes.

  "So, I welcomed you as a fellow Florissant Apprentice," explained Eleve. "I also cherished the fact that you know me as me, and not as some legendary figure."