“Someday, Typhos, you’re going to run into something where you can’t just dance your way to victory,” Tara said. “And when that day comes, I hope you know how to concentrate.”
“I think I just proved that.”
“Showmanship is the opposite of concentration, boy,” she said, her anger palpable. “Our magic is a last resort, used only when we need it, not when we want it. It is something to be utilized economically, for too much magic drains energy and weakens the mind.”
“To most Kastori, maybe.”
A few of the students laughed, but Typhos had sensed he was crossing over into perceived arrogance. He deliberately chose to stop himself, dropping his smirk and adopting a serious expression.
“If you hope to become the chief of the Kastori, boy, as many people say you will be, and as you so obviously desire, then you should begin to learn these lessons now before our race is led by a clown. You pass. Take a seat.”
Typhos did so, his face shifting to raw anger when he got out of sight. How dare she. Call me out like that. Call me a boy, call me a clown. Screw her. I haven’t learned anything that I didn’t know beforehand. I don’t need her.
He took his place beside Ariana, who gently put her hand on his arm, beneath where Tara could see it. He looked at her, and her face said it all.
“I support you,” Ariana said telepathically. Typhos nodded, still fuming but able to smile at her. At least I still have the support of those who will matter in a decade.
The anger subsided as more of his classmates messaged him, telling him they would support him over some silly grumpy teacher. Love it. All of these guys on my side. This will work well. Be chief in record time.
Tara resumed her roll call, and most everyone else passed, save for one student whom Typhos knew would never do anything. Pagus tried to match Typhos’ incredible display and came close, casting three spells at once, but could not muster the fourth.
“Ariana, last chance,” Tara said, clearly frustrated with the behavior of the class.
“Reset the mind,” Typhos messaged her, and she turned and nodded with what Typhos swore was a flirtatious smile.
Ariana got to the front and immediately cast a fire spell. A pause of two seconds came, and an ice block appeared. Typhos knew she would succeed. Sure enough, she finished in twelve seconds, and the class cheered her on. She ran back as Tara told her she had passed and hugged Typhos tightly.
“Thanks,” she said.
“Just glad you passed,” he messaged her.
The weak student failed once more. Typhos’ mind raced and his heartbeat accelerated, as he knew he was probably a couple of minutes, at most, from breaking free for a month.
“You have all learned much in my class,” Tara said. Nothing I didn’t already know. I need a better challenge. “You have all learned the fundamentals of black magic. But some of you are becoming a bit too arrogant.”
“Who?” Typhos responded immediately, tired of Tara dancing around the issue as she had for weeks. All eyes shifted to him, some in shock, some concerned, but all curious to see where this outspoken boy would go.
“Who?” Tara said, shocked.
“Yes, who? Me? Because my name isn’t ‘some of you,’ it’s Typhos.”
Tara sighed, as eager as Typhos was to get away.
“Yes, Typhos, you. And I will tell you why, and all of you need to know why being arrogant with black magic is a dangerous path. It is an art that, in the right hands, can protect those who are not strong in it. In some cases, it can even protect our entire civilization. But in the wrong hands, it can bring about the devastation of our people and our world. It can produce horrible tragedies, as evidenced by wars from centuries ago. My job as your teacher is not just to demonstrate how to perform black magic, but also to teach you the philosophy of black magic. The main principle of black magic is to use offensive spells for defensive or survival purposes, such as defeating an enemy or hunting for food. Should you…”
Tara continued about the dangers of not understanding the danger, but Typhos had long tuned her out by then. He instead kept thinking about Hanna and how curious he was to see how she reacted to all of this. Does she see me as the confident guy willing to call out the teacher? Or some arrogant elitist prick who doesn’t know when to keep his mouth shut? Or maybe both?
In any case, long as things go as they should, there won’t be problems, philosophical or real.
“… and so with that all said, you all are dismissed. Congratulation.”
Everyone yelled and cheered as Tara teleported away immediately.
“Good riddance,” Typhos said laughing, and he gave Pagus a giant hug. “We’re done! No more Tara! No more Tara!”
“I know!” Pagus said as he squirmed. “Tell everyone what’s coming.”
“Oh, yes,” Typhos said as he cleared his throat. “Everyone!”
Much to Typhos’ annoyance, only a couple of people paid attention. No one else seemed interested in anyone but themselves and their closest friends at the moment. Typhos again asked for everyone’s attention, but most kept talking. Screw it. Command it.
A loud boom of thunder came, and all eyes shifted to him, some in fear. Hey, it worked.
“That’s more like it,” he said, smiling. “Don’t worry, I’m not here to scare you or warn you of great dangers. I’m here to announce tomorrow, come to the area where Pagus and I live. We are going to celebrate my birthday in style! There are going to be lots of hunting games, magic showdowns, and other fun stuff!”
He could see the crowd’s excitement rising with every word and loved how much control he had just with his tongue. Just imagine what happens when I get stronger with red magic. Could control everyone. The crowd cheered, and Typhos kept it short, adding, “Don’t miss it!” before he turned back to Pagus.
“Just make sure your girl is gonna be there,” Pagus said with a wink.
“His girl?”
They both turned in shock to see Hanna standing behind them, her gorgeous white teeth shining at both of them. Pagus, you are a dead man if this kills it.
“Oh, he’s just playing, I don’t have a girl,” Typhos said.
“Yeah, I was just teasing,” Pagus said, but he quickly made his exit, leaving Typhos with the girl of his daydreams. She had such beauty it seemed unfair. No one else even came close to the radiance that she had, and the fierceness of her eyes. It was an odd sight considering how lovely and non-aggressive she was that she have such fire in her eyes. She could make a great black magic Kastori, but wants to be white magic casting. Of course she does. It’s prettier on her.
And it’s all for moot if Pagus just ruined it.
“You’re funny,” Hanna said. “I know you don’t have a girl. I just like to see you squirm sometimes.”
You live another day, Pagus.
Typhos found that funny since it was exactly what he was doing at the moment. And since it came from Hanna.
“Yeah, I know, thanks. So, you’ll be there?” he said, his tongue unusually tied on trying to find the perfect words. Now I really need red magic!
“Of course,” she said. “I also wanted to say how I loved how you stood up to Tara. Someone had to call her out on her bitter attitude.”
Typhos laughed, trying to think of a response, but awkwardly could not come up with anything.
“You’ll make a great chief someday. No matter what Tara says, I believe in you. See you tomorrow.”
With that, Hanna departed, and Typhos felt so many shivers going through his back that he didn’t think a fire spell would get rid of them all.
“Young love,” Pagus said laughing. Now you appear! “The silver tongue became lead and didn’t know what to say!”
“You have no idea how lucky you are.”
Pagus continued his mocking laughter, and, deciding to return the favor, Typhos cast an electric spell on Pagus. The spell, which Typhos had intended as a mere annoyance, came out far stronger than expected and knocked Pagus to the g
round.
“Ow, Typhos,” Pagus said, all of the humor gone as smoke rose from his robes. “What’s your problem?”
“Oh,” Typhos said, realizing what he had done. “I’m sorry, I didn’t… I didn’t think it would happen that way. It was supposed to be a tickle, and…”
Typhos offered his hand, which Pagus looked at, annoyed, before deciding to accept it.
“You gotta be careful, I don’t think you recognize how strong you are,” he said, running his hand over his burned leg. “Man. Like, really?”
“I said I’m sorry,” Typhos said.
“I know, just be careful.”
Pagus gently cast a minuscule ice spell to ease the pain. Typhos stood back, afraid to cast anything more. All of the other students had disappeared.
“Someday you’re gonna be strong enough to kill someone,” Pagus said.
“I know,” Typhos said, seeing no point in denying it. “But I’ll know when it comes, and I won’t ever do anything worse than that to you.”
“Good,” Pagus said, and for the first time since the spell hit, a slight smile appeared. “You’re good man. Just… might be time to retire our magic pranks.”
“What!” Typhos said, leading to laughter from both boys. But he’s probably right. Don’t fight it. Too many good things to try and do so. No more Tara. Hanna’s there. Birthday tomorrow.
Can’t ask for much more.
5
The two best friends walked back to their favorite hill, trading jokes the whole way. They took their usual seats and gazed up at the empty, blue sky that represented their lives at the moment—nothing but the vast openness in front of them, with no predetermined path on the horizon. Ironic, since I know my future already.
Typhos foresaw himself becoming chief, and Pagus assuming the role that his father currently had as his most powerful black magic council member. It seemed so clear a future that Typhos felt he could live it out now.
In fact…
Seeing an aviant flying, Typhos cast an electric spell to immobilize the enormous winged creature. With the animal stunned, Typhos controlled it and began flying it at Pagus. To the surprise of Typhos, Pagus quickly cast a fire spell and deflected the creature toward Typhos. Typhos rolled at the last second, and they both laughed at the near miss.
“Future chief of the Kastori, you wish,” Pagus said. “You’re not serious enough for a classroom of about twenty, and you’re going to rule an entire world with who knows how many thousands of Kastori here?”
“Different setting, different Typhos,” the young boy boasted, causing Pagus to just shake his head.
“Whatever. You should follow your parents to the council and learn how to be a different Typhos there.”
Pagus meant it as a joke and punctuated it with a chuckle. To Typhos, though, it reminded him so much of how he wanted the exact opposite. He felt the council had become too stilted, and that his parents took it too seriously. They need to lighten up. We have no issues ahead. Give it a rest.
The less I’m like the older generation, the better.
“Anyways, what did you think of Tara’s little spiel at the end of class?” Pagus asked.
“Which spiel?”
“The one—wow, were you even paying attention?”
“Oh, right, the one about using black magic responsibility,” Typhos said. “Yeah, that. I’ve heard a variation on that speech for my entire life. Ever since all that ‘savior’ talk came in, everyone telling me I could bring about eternal life… or I could bring about extinction, it’s like, I get it, I have responsibility and I have to follow Kastori ethics. I’m not stupid. I just wish people could realize I’m a fourteen-year-old kid who wants to have fun, hang out with girls, and someday be the chief.”
“I get it,” Pagus said. “I’ve never seen your powers that strong. Truth be told, I envy you. Everyone tells me since Garron’s my father I’ll be one of the most powerful Kastori, but compared to you?”
“Nothing compares to me,” Typhos said with a joking smile. But really.
Pagus laughed as he shook his head in mock disbelief.
“I’m just saying man, your power, it’s only going to get stronger. You may not even need the council to do what you want when you reach your peak.”
“Well, I’m not going to go against my parents as long as they’re associated with the council. But you’re right in one area. The council just seems so set on doing things ‘the right way’ rather than focusing on the outcomes, that… it’s frustrating. They move slow, they work long hours, and they don’t really seem to get a lot done. Really, there isn’t a lot to be done, which makes their methods even worse. Maybe I don’t need the council. I would get to hang out more, ironically, if I showed I didn’t need the council. Their power wouldn’t mean as much.”
“You can come with me, Pagus. We could form a new council, or, if we decide to keep things traditional, you could take your father’s place and be a council member at my side.”
“First, it’s nice that you think I would work under you,” Pagus said with a wink. “But honestly, I wouldn’t make that assumption.”
“Which one?” Typhos said, unsure how anything he said could’ve sounded out of place.
“That I would want to join the council at all.”
Confused, Typhos said nothing, letting the silence compel Pagus to speak. They both looked up at the sun for a while, hovering over the horizon for another couple of hours. Typhos looked down at the forest, admiring all of the aviants suddenly flocking away. It probably would be easier not complicating life here. But how could he not want more?
“Honestly man, I have to be real. I see how much you hate your parents not being around that often. I’m not a big fan of my dad rarely being around. They all wake up before we do, stay well after we finish classes, and if we see our parents, it’s for an hour or two before we sleep. At least with my dad, I see him more, but even then… I just wanna live. I don’t wanna be in the same area with the same six people for the rest of my life.”
“It’s OK, I don’t wanna be the same area with you for the next week,” Typhos said, drawing a playful punch from Pagus. “But I keep thinking they can’t keep going like this. That—”
“Typhos,” Pagus said directly. “They’ve been doing it ‘like this’ for centuries. What makes you think things will change anytime soon?”
I don’t. Not from who is there now, anyways. When I get there…
“Maybe we should just take it by force so we can make them more efficient,” Typhos said with a fake laugh.
“So you’re saying it’s possible,” Pagus said with a chuckle.
It is possible.
“Anything is possible,” Typhos said.
“Well, if it’s the way it is now when we start taking jobs, I sure won’t want to jump in. I’m not about that life, man.”
“So then tell me, Pagus, if you don’t want to work for the great Typhos, what would you do?”
Pagus smirked, and his grin foretold of an amusing answer.
Party trickster or something, I bet.
“Charm all the lovely ladies and live life making them happy.”
Nailed it, Typhos thought as he playfully applauded his best friend.
“I’m pretty sure that doesn’t pay in any fashion.”
“Oh, on the contrary,” Pagus said.
“As long as you aren’t with my girls.”
“Please,” Pagus said with a dismissive wave. “First, your ‘girls?’ Let’s get a girl first. But, seriously, I may be a lady’s man, but I am not a thief. I do things the right way. To seriously answer your actual question, though, I don’t know. I haven’t figured it out yet. I just know that I’m not going to take the route my Dad’s taken. If I have people I love, I want to be around them. I think…”
His voice trailed off.
“Dad probably regrets not being around for Mom enough,” he said.
Normally loquacious, Pagus said nothing more, his eyes looking
anywhere but at Typhos. Typhos looked out east, where more mountain peaks and valleys blocked his view of the ocean. He had made the walk of a couple of days many times and yearned for the day when he could teleport to the ocean to escape from the thoughts that ran through his mind and the tough moments with Pagus. Nowhere else seems to get rid of these swirling emotions.
“You? Why chief?”
Typhos looked back at Pagus, who had regained his strength and had a friendly smile, a clear sign the previous conversation was closed. Why not chief? My parents are. My power is better than anyone here. It’s self-evident. I mean…
“I…”
I don’t actually know why. I just know why I would be the best candidate. And it just is sort of inevitable with my parents.
Silence settled on the two boys who could talk through an entire night—and who had done so at least three times in the last two years. Typhos thought of the duties of the chief and simply figured he could do them.
But why do I want to do them? Power? Assumption? Greed? Do good?
Why does it matter? Why can’t being the best at this be good enough?
“You need another three years to think about it?” Pagus said with a snort.
Typhos refused to answer, wanting to think of a genuine response. Pagus dropped the playful mocking. The two looked up at the yellow evening sky, the space above them providing no inspiration for an answer.
Exploration. Leadership. Leadership? Guide Kastori. It’s the best I can come up with.
“Honestly…” Typhos began, but he still didn’t love the answer in his mind. “It’s just… something about being in charge of people, and reaching new heights with them. I’m ambitious, it’s what I am. Being the chief and the savior of the Kastori, guiding our entire race—that excites me. That touches my soul, and it just feels right. I don’t have any qualms or doubts about it. It’s something more ephemeral than a basic reason. You know?”
“Sorta,” Pagus said, and Typhos could tell he didn’t understand.
“OK, it’s like, I hear stories of all these worlds out there, but I don’t know a lot about them. I don’t know how much the council knows about them. I have this insatiable thirst to find out as much as I can—it’s almost a curse, the way things just stick in my mind until I resolve them. And the sense of the universe is something I desperately want to explore, and I think I can do so as chief. That’s… that’s as good an answer as you’ll get right now, in the last hours of me being fourteen.”
Kastori Tribulations (The Kastori Chronicles Book 3) Page 3