Elsje got up from the bonfire and beckoned Zupher to follow her, and they proceeded to walk outside her hut.
“I can tell you are developing feelings for Muriel. I sense she also feels good about you. This brings me great joy.” Elsje and Zupher continued to walk towards the Aurea Elderwood tree.
“She will want to join the Arcane Society more than ever, now that you are interested. I ask of you to stop her from joining. Do anything you can to accomplish this, even if it may compromise your relationship. I promise that when the time is right, I will make it up to you.”
Zupher stopped in his tracks.
“What do you mean? I don't understand. Why is it so wrong for her to join now?”
“I need her here to protect the village. Without her, our village lacks a significant protector. In my meditation over the last few weeks I have picked up certain things. I sense dark times are ahead for this village. With regards to you, I feel no reason for you not to join. I sense, in fact, that it may play and important role in your destiny. When it comes to Muriel, however, she needs to stay.”
Elsje looked at Zupher with a dead serious look and proceeded to walk again. After a few minutes they arrived at Aurea Elderwood.
“Now you shall meditate in the presence of the mighty Aurea Elderwood. Concentrate all your awareness, focus and attention on your power to manipulate the mind. If your will and concentration are strong enough, through the magical catalyst of Aurea Elderwood, you will learn some basic illusion spells that will prove to be most valuable in your training.”
Elsje proceeded to leave after speaking and left Zupher alone in the presence of the mighty tree.
Zupher sat down right in front of the Aurea Elderwood and placed his left hand on its trunk. He breathed in, slowly, four seconds at a time until he felt relaxed and aware of his thoughts. He then focused his attention on his power to manipulate the mind. He visualised himself pacifying hostile enemies, creating fear and hallucinations in his victims’ mind and subjugating his victims’ will to his desire. He continued visualising these scenarios in multiple different ways until he saw what looked like a key, not too far from his grasp. As he tried to reach for the key, however, it seemed to stray away from him every time. Doubt struck Zupher and the key shrunk in size to the point at which it nearly disappeared. Zupher had almost given up until he heard an echo in his subconscious. “Focus and concentrate. Keep your will strong. Doubt is a killer of magic.”
Zupher breathed in deeply and channelled all his energy and focus on his power of illusion. He was so fixated in concentration after twenty minutes that the fallen leaves around the Aurea Elderwood began to spin around him. The key was now in his grasp and he reached for it, with all his willpower, not doubting for a second. He returned to a conscious state, after five deep breaths, and got up to head back to Elsje's hut, having awakened latent magic power from his subconscious.
Chapter 5
Elsje
Zupher knocked on the old wooden door of Elsje's hut; it was just past sundown now. No one answered for around five minutes and Zupher began to wonder if anyone was home. Just before he was about to walk around to check the back of the hut, Elsje opened the door. “Come in Zupher, I have made some tea for you.”
Zupher walked in, Muriel was nowhere in sight. “Where is Muriel?”
“She's back at home dear, wasn't feeling too well soon after you left. She'll get better though. Here, try this tea, it’s a special blend that is exclusive to this village.”
Elsje handed over the tea to Zupher.
“So tell me, how was your meditation, did you learn anything?”
“I unlocked a door to my inner psyche and learnt some abilities. It was quite challenging though, I must say.”
“Yes, many get nothing from the Aurea Elderwood tree due to their poor will and weak consciousness. It is also said to be rather selective with whom it chooses to work. I could sense however, after meeting you, that you might just be an exception. It turns out my senses were accurate. You have a burning spirit son, and I know from personal experience that such people have tremendous drive.”
For the next hour, Elsje told Zupher about her experiences at the Arcane Society. She was a healer and herbal alchemist by speciality. She would often go on long hikes and adventures in search of rare herbs and plants. She would create potions that would fortify abilities of herself or other members of the Arcane Society and poisons to deal with adversaries to the Society in whatever way necessary. Injured members of the Society or any member who might have been hexed or afflicted would be referred to Elsje for treatment. She was a Master Mage in the Society for the last ten years of her time there.
“Usually, to become a Master Mage one has to achieve a level of adeptness in three forms of magic. Herbal Alchemy and Healing are usually considered to be synonymous and are grouped together in the same class of magic. Over the years I reached such a high understanding and skill of Herbal Alchemy and Healing that the Archmage offered me the chance to become a Master Mage with my only other adept skill being Enchantment. I spent the last ten years at the Society as a Master Mage.” Elsje's eyes moistened. She then closed her eyes, smiling in nostalgia.
“As you can see, I have my old cauldron back from the Society here. I still perform Herbal Alchemy regularly to this day for myself and this community. The afflicted also come and see me for healing.”
Zupher and Elsje then sat in silence for the next half an hour with no light but from the bonfire.
“I am going to head off to bed soon. It was lovely meeting you and good luck on your journey. I am sure you will do well in the Society. I hope you listened to me and will do what is right to protect Muriel.”
Zupher got up and bowed out of respect to Elsje.
“Yes Milady, will do, thank you so much for all the information and help you have so kindly provided.”
Zupher left Elsje's hut and walked out into the moonlight. It was full moon tonight and the village had a mystical aura to it. The stars were in fabulous display, far more abundant than Zupher had ever seen in Adlok. Zupher took a moment of veneration and moved on back towards Muriel's home.
'I wonder how I am going to get in, if she's fast asleep and sick.'
He knocked on the door three times. The door was opened barely after he had lifted his knuckle from the third knock. “Come in,” Muriel said, looking anything but sick.
“Hey, what is going on? Elsje told me you said you were feeling ill?”
“Well it is for two reasons. Reason one is so I could leave her hut early to prepare. Reason two is so she could give me some of her herbal healing remedies that we can take along with us. She would offer you a healing remedy if you were to ask, but since she is highly fond of me, the healing remedy she gave me is much more efficient.”
Zupher raised an eyebrow at Muriel.
“You want to join the Arcane Society don't you? Do you know that Elsje is in complete disagreement with this?”
“I am fully aware, that is why I had to take such actions. Either way, for you to make it to the Society’s stronghold safely, you'll need me to guide and advise you. You hardly know this land and the two of us together will also be more effective at fending off potential threats.”
Zupher motioned towards a sofa and took a seat.
“I say we leave at the crack of dawn tomorrow. We have to cross a canyon on our way to the sanctuary. The earlier we leave the less the heat will bother us in the canyon.” Muriel spoke with such indomitable enthusiasm that Zupher was finding it hard to tell her otherwise.
“Look, let me at least accompany you to the Society. You'll need my help. We'll talk more about Elsje tomorrow.” Muriel walked towards Zupher and sat down beside him. She looked him dead in the eye for a few seconds. Zupher found it hard to maintain eye contact for the full duration, his heart rate started to increase.
Muriel then draped her arms around Zupher and hugged him. Muriel then slowly receded from the hug and gave Zupher a short kiss. �
�Go get some sleep now, we have an early one tomorrow. See you in the morning.” Muriel didn't break eye contact with Zupher until he tensely said yes, a little overwhelmed with emotion. Zupher watched Muriel in awe as she headed towards her room.
Chapter 6
Magnus
Zupher's father, Magnus, unlocked his house door and walked inside. This was his first time being home in over a week. It was early Saturday morning. He motioned toward the couch, sat down, lit a cigarette and started reading the morning newspaper. 'Potential escapee from Adlok! City on high alert' was the main article.
'Zupher,' Magnus thought.
Earlier the previous day, Magnus received a rare phone call from his wife. She would usually never call during working hours unless it was an extraordinary emergency.
“Arna. Is everything all right?” Magnus enquired, after answering his phone, having to walk out of a Council meeting.
“It's Zupher. I think he has genuinely disappeared.”
Magnus walked over towards the balcony of the building he was in. He leant on the railings.
“Give him some more time. He'll be back. He is probably just taking a break and slept over at a friend of his.”
“Zupher is not like that at all. Not like you could actually confirm that since you're hardly here and barely speak to the child.”
Magnus grew silent for the next few moments.
“Look, he was last known to be seen calling for a flash cab early yesterday morning. Which cab picked him up and exactly where it went, no one knows. You had better come home so that we can discuss this matter properly. He is your son.”
Before Magnus could reply, Arna had hung up.
Magnus heard footsteps coming down from upstairs. He immediately knew who it was, he could feel who the person was; his wife, Arna.
“Something needs to be done. You are a Council member, there must be something you can do to find him.” Arna proceeded to sit on the couch, opposite Magnus.
Magnus put his newspaper down and crushed his cigarette.
“I fear he has escaped Adlok. Look.”
Magnus walked over to Arna and showed her the opening article.
“Look at the face of that person. There is no way that is my Zupher!” Arna said, with an air of desperate emotion.
“Indeed, but if you look closer you can see that the height and weight of this individual seem to be identical to that of Zupher. He could be wearing a mask.”
Arna kept quiet and didn't seem to be buying it.
“Well then who else would it be?!”
There was a long period of silence between the two, and just before Magnus was about to get up and leave, Vesser came up to them from her room.
“It is him. He has been acting rather strange lately. More strange than he usually is. On the day that we picked up our report cards he seemed fixated on thoughts of the Great Forest and thoughts on grandfather’s tales. It appears that maybe the death of grandfather, triggered something dormant in him.”
Magnus said, “I see. Let us be patient. I have a feeling he will likely come back to us sooner or later...”
Chapter 7
Reflections
The following morning Zupher woke up at the sound of Muriel's voice. She had already gotten dressed and was fully prepared. “We ought to leave very soon. Get dressed and grab what you need. We'll stop and have breakfast later on. I'll meet you outside.” Muriel was dressed in camo pants with a white mountaineering vest. Zupher got dressed and met Muriel outside.
“So we'll be heading south-west. As I mentioned earlier, we have to pass a rocky canyon. There has been no bad word on this canyon so I reckon we'll be okay there.”
Zupher and Muriel started their journey towards the Arcane Society and left the village parameter. They climbed up a short hill, and from the top, could see the Rocky Canyon on the far horizon.
Before the horizon was a lovely meadow filled with flowers and lush river streams.
“At least we can travel in comfort and ease before we reach the canyon,” Muriel said, smiling at Zupher.
“So, tell me a little more about yourself and your experiences in Adlok,” Muriel asked.
Zupher took a deep breath, captivated by the fragrant smell of the flowers in the meadow. He looked at Muriel, his face in awe. He smiled and said, “The best moments have to be the ones I spent with my grandfather. A particularly interesting occasion was when we went to explore the northern district of Adlok, for the first time. It is the largest district in Adlok, yet the most scarcely populated. Most of it is a large nature reserve. The nature reserve is the only place where one could ever see animals. I remember my grandfather and I were on a hiking trail, heading north to the coastline and we encountered plenty of wildlife. We saw all sorts of colourful birds, a wide diversity of monkeys and even a pride of lions on top of a cliff. It was truly amazing! It is not nearly as dense and intense as the Great Forest though.” Zupher let off a light chuckle.
“The hiking trail is almost entirely closed off from the park itself so one's interaction with wildlife and flora is limited. The northern coastline of Adlok is home to a lot of gypsies, travelling caravans and alternative markets. There is some really cool stuff you can buy and do there. See this shirt? You'll only find such a shirt for sale on the northern coastline!” Muriel looked over the wolf design imprinted on Zupher's shirt.
“Wonderful, mysterious.” Muriel said with glistening eyes.
“The gypsies have to live in secrecy. They are extremely weary when dealing with clients, since they perform some esoteric services such as divination. If the Council were to be informed of such doings, exile would await them. At the time when we first went I was pretty young and didn't really understand what divination really involved. My grandfather had a divination done that day and his mood changed completely afterwards. I reckon that he might of indeed been told about the possibility of his death.”
“Was he still alive before you left Adlok?”
“He was murdered, the penultimate night.” Zupher's tone significantly lowered.
“How? Do you mind telling me? I’ll understand if you don't want to talk about it.”
“He was walking over to my parents’ house from his home. It is really a short distance. No one knows for sure what happened as no one was around him at the time except for the killer himself. His body was found the following morning with a poisonous dart in his neck.” Zupher shed a tear and his voice crackled with emotion.
“He was a kind man who wanted nothing but peace for his family and society. I never saw him discriminate against or disrespect another person. He was a true gentleman.”
Muriel put her arm around Zupher's shoulder.
“Why on earth was he killed though?! How unbelievable.”
“He was secretly funding a rebellion. The Royal Council found out and ordered his assassination, I am certain of that. And what's even worse is that my father is a member of the inner Royal Council.”
Zupher and Muriel were approaching a small pond.
“Why don't we stop here and have our breakfast. It is a good spot for a picnic, don't you think?”
Zupher and Muriel sat down, had their breakfast and then lay down on their backs, next to each other.
“Thank you so much for listening to me. Your attention his highly appreciated. Why don't you tell me a little about your experiences,” Zupher said, with an expression of joy on his face.
“There was this one time that I wanted to set out into the Great Forest to harvest a rare mushroom.
If I could obtain it, Elsje promised me she would teach me a how to make a special, powerful potion. I woke up real early that day and headed out to the northern field of my village. My brother joined me. We decided to have a sparring session to warm and psyche ourselves up prior to undergoing the journey. The section that we were going to search was in the far east of the Great Forest and said to be the home of forest elves. They are heavily nature orientated and are known to summon forest sprite
s to their aid. Generally forest elves are peaceful and non-hostile, however, if one were to spend too long in their domain there'd be a risk, especially if one were to harvest a rare plant. My brother was a skilled sorcerer. He was always reluctant to tell me where he learnt his magical abilities. I figured it was unlikely he learnt them from the Arcane Society as members live in the sanctuary and he lived with me in the village. I think he was waiting for the right time to tell me, yet that time never came.”
Muriel was silent with a dim expression for the next few moments.
“Anyway, like I was saying, my brother was a skilled sorcerer so he would be able to deal with any sprites if need be. I took my hunting knives, the same knives I have here, along with me.”
Muriel reached into her pocked and revealed a very well concealed knife to Zupher. It was a sharp as a diamond. “I have another one in my other pocket; I prefer to fight with knives. They are much lighter and faster. One can also throw them at an enemy very efficiently.”
Zupher nodded, impressed.
“We made it to the most eastern section of the Great Forest. Not too far north from Havenridge. We started searching. The forest was so quiet, unusually quiet. My brother then called me over. He had found some of the mushrooms growing by an old tree. There were four clusters of them, plenty. Once we started to pick from the third cluster my brother pushed my head down. Moments later an arrow busted into the tree, right where my head had been. A summoned sprite had shot the arrow.
“Let's split up,” my brother said to me.
We ran in opposite directions and then motioned towards the sprite in a flanking manoeuvre. I threw a stone right by the sprite to divert its attention while my brother ran up to it and banished it with a touch of his hand. We started to look around in the trees above us to spot the forest elf that had summoned the sprite. After about five minutes we assumed we had scared him away and proceeded to head back home. The two clusters we had already picked were more than enough.
The Stone of Elsira Page 3