“How do I know that you indeed have proof that the human was here?”
Rog demonstrated his assertion with a wave of his hands, which resulted in a three dimensional image of the young Ben and Soone, sitting at the kitchen table and eating cookies and milk, as they exchanged small-talk about Alure.
Soone realized that he had no choice. If he didn’t go along with the Demon’s scheme now, he would probably be immediately killed and Ben would then face the monster alone. It took a team of Gaou to oppose a Demon or destroy Evil, and even if he had enough time and opportunity, Soone had grave doubts that such a team could be assembled from the Evil-weakened populace of Alure.
The only hope was Ben and his Evil detecting abilities or his as yet unknown full abilities, but to teleport himself to Earth would take too much energy. He could perhaps get Sky to help him, but there was no telling when the free spirited sprite would find her way back to Alure.
That left Rog. He would have to put himself in the hands of the Demon, and hope that this wasn’t all simply a convenient way of getting rid of him immediately. In case of that, he would leave a note for Sky, suggesting a back-up plan. In the meantime after they reached Earth he would have to somehow get away from Rog, then get Ben to Alure to join up with the elves that sill believed in Evil that Jeanine and Hancow were hopefully gathering even now. “Very well, Rog, I agree. Give me an hour to gather what I need for the trip, and I’ll be ready.”
****
CHAPTER 8
Busy School Day
Dr. Francis Snedville, the school psychologist, decided to establish regular therapeutic sessions with Ben. On the morning of a particularly serious session Ben had a startling experience. When he first entered the school he felt the presence of Evil close by. In the direction of the Evil at the far end of a long hallway he saw a group of students walking away from him. One of them glowed so brightly of Evil that Ben couldn’t immediately distinguish the features of any of them! As his focus improved he saw that instead of a human it was instead a monstrous creature dark and grotesque in shape: it was a Demon like the one that haunted the nightmares he still occasionally had! The next moment as the group rounded the corner the Demon disappeared, and the sense of Evil was abruptly greatly diminished by the magic damping wards of the building walls.
Ben was left standing frozen in the hallway, with a look of stupefied astonishment and fright on his face that was immediately observed by Jim Nater, who happened to be with him at the time.
"What's wrong, Ben?" he asked. "What did you see?"
Ben could only mumble something incoherent and go on to class.
Later Ben told Dr. Snedville about the attack on his parents but didn’t mention the morning Demon incident. The psychologist interpreted Ben’s childhood Demon story quite differently than Ben did. “Your problems are not uncommon,” he immediately announced. He was a tall, thin, serious middle-aged man, with an air of authority and uncompromising certitude. "Many of our students have problems coming to terms with their powers and with reality. You have to first understand that your Demon fantasy is just that, a fantasy."
“I think that you should first understand that what I saw was real,” Ben countered.
“The human mind is a marvelous and malleable thing, young man. When something happens that it can’t accept it invents something that it can. I don’t doubt that your Demon is very real to you, but it represents something deeper, something more commonplace but hidden below your delusional fantasies. You already acknowledge that you don’t remember much of what happened during the incident. Whatever really did happen has been replaced by vivid dreams of Demon attacks, sprites and elves that for some hidden reason your subconscious prefers over reality.”
Ben shrugged. This psychologist was as annoying as the one he saw when he lived among the Unaligned. They were all apparently trained to insist that their patients were delusional. “The sprite visited me the day I arrived in Hope. An elf took care of me for a year on Alure. They were real. They ARE real.”
“You clearly have a strong need to continue these fantasies, in order to hide whatever the truth is.”
“The sprite met one of my friends here in Hope.”
“You clearly have great powers that are not under your conscious control. Perhaps the sprite is created by your subconscious such that even others can see it. Elves might be real but humans haven't seen them for generations. Why would an elf contact a child instead of the Council? I am quite certain that your elves are imaginary. Or created by you.”
“You mean as some sort of astral projection of my mind?”
“Perhaps. I once had a patient that imagined a pet dog. Over a period of six months hundreds of people witnessed what they assumed was a real collie. She took the dog to our local veterinarian, and they phoned me to tell of a dog they could see and touch but had no weight, or heartbeat to hear, or blood to sample. What Wizards imagine sometimes become to some degree real.”
Ben didn’t say anything. His mind was spinning. Was that possible? Could he have imagined it all? And created much of it with his own powers? “What about Desolation Glen? Isn’t that real?”
Dr. Snedville nodded. “I’m afraid so.”
“So then, there must have been a Demon.”
“The Council thinks that wild, elemental magic got out of your parent’s control, killed them and caused the poisonous desolation that remains. Wild Magic is real, and dangerous, as your parents found out too late. Nowadays however, we know that there are no such things as Demons or Evil. There may well be elves, but if they are real they disappeared from Earth long ago. Sprites, like Demons, are even more rarely sighted by humans than elves. Like your Demon, I’m certain that your sprite is total fantasy.”
“That’s crazy. We were on a picnic when something monstrous attacked us; I do remember that part clearly enough. As to elves and sprites, they’re as real as you or I. As to Evil, that’s very real too. There's tons of it in my own backyard! Despite the wards around it, it could be influencing Hope right now! This whole town lacks my shielding and could be delusional because of the Evil.”
“Perhaps, but all that seems to me like more escapist delusion and rationality on your part. We must base our understanding of reality on facts and there is no solid proof for anything you have told me. Right now I only have various theories about what you really might have experienced. When we have worked past your hidden fears and helped your memory to return, I promise you that we will learn the hidden truth that you avoid.”
“But I’ve always wanted to know the truth! I’m not avoiding or hiding anything now! What I remember actually happened; I just need to also remember those bits that I've forgotten! How much do you remember of when you were six years old?”
“Something traumatic definitely happened eight years ago, that much we do have proof of. But sometimes we have no control over what we think and what we seem to remember. I believe you suffered a traumatic experience that caused your mind to juggle together truth and fantasy. I believe you when you say that you are not hiding from truth on purpose, but there is something in your subconscious that is blocking your memories and your ability to control your magic, something that you can’t get at consciously because it is too terrible for you to accept.”
That part Ben could not deny. Some of his recurring flashes of memories were of terrible things. Could there be even more terrible truths that his mind rejected in order to escape them?
As he and his friends walked home from school that day, Ben ran through it all in his head, again and again. Could it be true? What Doctor Snedville said made sense, in a strange sort of way. What if he was right? What if there was no Demon? What if he created the Demon in his head? What if he had totally imagined today’s Demon sighting? Maybe he just made all these things up in his mind to protect himself from some terrible truth? Maybe his Demon memories were made up in a dream, and then consciously thought about over and over thousands of times until it became firm reality for him!
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Unbidden, an even more terrible idea began to form. What if he had somehow killed his own parents? What if he lost control of himself and killed them using Wild Magic, then made up the Demon to absolve himself from guilt?
“Something is bothering you Ben,” said Ann, interrupting Mark’s unflattering description of their math teacher.
“Yeah, you haven’t said a word,” agreed Mark.
“It was that last session with Snedville the psychologist, I bet,” guessed Ann. “What happened with him?”
Ben told them.
“That’s plain crazy,” Ann said angrily. “Sky is real, the Desolation Glen is real, and so-forth. I saw it! I spoke with Sky! I think I would have known if Sky was some sort of astral projection or something! I have some skills of my own, you know! You might have lost your powers or misplaced them or whatever, but I still have mine.”
“Roger that,” agreed Mark. “You’ve been working on this thing for eight years, Ben, and this guy talks to you for a few minutes and tries to twist it all around to make it look like it’s all your own brain's fault? That’s totally bogus. We knew you eight years ago and would have known if you were wacko. You weren't then and you still aren't now.”
“That’s for sure,” agreed Ann. “I’d know it now if you were, you know that I would! Trust me on that!”
“That’s right, there is that weird connection between you two, isn’t there?” Mark said. “I didn’t really believe in it until you returned, but now I think that it’s real.”
“Anyway, that psychologist guy deals with Wizards and so forth all day,” added Ann, changing the subject. "He's not a Norm school psychologist, he is specially trained to address Wizard problems. You’d think he would at least have an open mind about Demons and so-forth.”
“Mom isn’t even convinced that Demons exist.” Mark noted. “A lot of folks aren’t. There are several Council members that claim there is no such thing as either Evil or Demons. That's official Hope policy now.”
“Maybe the elves have been altogether too successful in blocking Demons and Evil,” conjectured Ann. “Legend has it that the elves shield Earth from Demons and Evil. But elves haven't been seen on Earth for over a hundred years. That might not be a long time for an elf, but it's several generations for humans. Out of sight, out of mind, as they say. So now the Council says they don't exist. But you know better, Ben. You know better than Dr. what’s-his-name and the Council. Stick to your guns, Ben!”
“Thanks, guys,” said Ben, in gratitude. “But there is something else that’s been bothering me.”
“Well at least it can’t be as bad as Dr. what’s-his-face,” Mark said.
“It's much worse," said Ben. "I sensed Evil today. I think that I caught a glimpse of a Demon this morning.”
“Here in Hope? OK, that IS crazy!” said Mark.
“Where?” asked Ann.
“In the main hallway at school."
"Ah; so that's what freaked you out this morning!" said Mark. "Jim told me that you blitzed out, your face got white as a sheet, and your jaw was on the floor."
"Where did it go?" Ann asked.
Ben shook his head. "Hard to say where it went. It must be well-cloaked, and the school magic damping wards also apparently help hide it.”
"What did it look like?" Ann wanted to know.
"Bigger than a man, black, and built chunky like maybe like it was a bunch of rocks stuck together to sort of make a man. It had red eyes and horns on its head, I think. It looked pretty much like the thing that killed my folks."
"Pretty much?" Ann asked.
"It didn't seem to be as big as the one eight years ago, but maybe that's because I was smaller then," explained Ben.
“But inside the school?” exclaimed Mark. "Like you say, most of the school has protective wards."
“So did my backyard eight years ago and that didn’t stop it,” said Ben. "Most protective wards protect against Earthly dangers and magic, not against things from the Void like Demons."
“If it is a Demon you should avoid it and not look for it,” said Ann. “You aren’t ready to face a Demon.”
"I agree but I wasn't looking for it this morning and found it anyway," Ben noted.
"Why do you suppose it would have horns?" Ann asked.
"Cause they look cool maybe?" said Mark.
"I have no idea," said Ben. "I bet my psychologist would have some theories about that!"
"Horns are what some living creatures develop for various Earthly reasons," said Ann. "It just seems to be an odd thing for Demons from the Void to have."
"Who knows?" said Ben. "Not even the elves know why there are any Demons at all."
“Have you told anyone else?” Mark asked.
“No. After my visit with Dr. what’s-his-name, I didn’t even know myself what was real or who would believe me.”
"Snedville is real," said Mark, "but not so much his psychology BS. I wouldn't tell him about the Demon."
"I'm also afraid to tell Sharp," said Ben. "Maybe she'd kick me out of school!"
“Well we can’t just let a Demon have free reign in Hope,” said Ann. “The Demon is likely posing as a student or teacher. You could start by telling Moco.”
“No, I don’t want to worry him. Besides, his response would probably be to take me back to the Unaligned out West. I'm starting to like living here.”
“OK, so then let’s tell our Dad,” said Mark.
“Maybe we should, but he’s on the Council,” said Ben.
“True, and we don’t know what the results of that might be,” agreed Ann. “But we have to tell someone!”
"Let's tell everyone in town by telling our Apprentice Wizard friends," said Mark.
"Tell them and word will quickly get out about it to everyone in Hope for sure," said Ann, "but maybe that's a good thing. People have a right to know, and we don't want the Council to simply try to sweep it under their rug and try to forget it. This needs to be faced up to."
"OK, we'll tell our fellow Apprentice Wizards as soon as possible," said Ben. "They need to be put on alert at this point that there is definitely a Demon and very soon some nasty things might happen."
"I'll tell several of them telepathically right now while we are all still near the school," said Ann. "In class today we were told that if we were careful Apprentice Wizards could use telepathy out of school because Norms can't hear it anyway. So this is actually homework. I can focus my thoughts just to them."
They stopped walking for a short time while Ann closed her eyes to focus and send her messages.
"OK then," said Ben when they soon resumed walking home. He of course 'heard' what Ann told their friends. "My secret is out for sure!"
“Feel free to tell me about it also, young Ben,” said a small voice originating from an oddly dressed tiny old man with big ears that had just stepped in front of the trio from behind a tree-trunk that they were approaching.
Ben stopped in his tracks, and Ann and Mark quickly followed suit. “Soone?” he exclaimed, dumbfounded.
“None other,” the elf replied, in Elven. “Umph,” was all he could manage seconds later, as Ben lifted the little elf into the air and hugged him.
“What’s happening? What are you doing here?” Ben asked, after he put the elf down.
“What the heck’s going on?” Ann asked Ben. "Who are you talking to?"
“First things first, Lad,” said Soone. “Will you be introducing me to your friends? By the way, keep in mind they can’t sense, see, or hear me.”
“They can’t?” Ben replied. “You’re fully cloaked then?”
“Not to you, Lad,” noted the elf. “You see through any cloak.”
“Who’s fully cloaked?” asked Ann.
“Soone is,” explained Ben. “This is the first I’ve seen him in seven years! Soone, these are my best friends Ann and Mark. Go ahead and shake hands.”
“Yes, I had assumed these were your two closest red-haired friends,” said Soone, as he rea
ched out and shook their hands. "Flame is as beautiful as you described!"
“An honor to meet you,” Ann said to the invisible presence that gently shook her hand.
“Likewise, but this is totally weird, Mr. Soone,” Mark complained, when it was his turn.
"We can shake your hand but can't see, sense, or hear you!" Ann exclaimed.
“Step behind these bushes and I’ll cloak the lot of us,” Soone said.
Shortly thereafter, when Soone had extended his cloak to mask them all, but somehow they could all see and hear each other. Ann and Mark gasped when they finally saw what looked like a tiny, gray-skinned, pointy eared, very old man, two heads shorter than themselves, dressed in odd, dingy looking green and brown clothing.
“You’ve grown a heap and then some since I first met you, lad,” Soone remarked, as he sized up Ben critically from head to foot. "Humans grow up as fast as the weeds do in my gardens! Do you realize that normal cloaking spells slide right off you? My masking of you has always been ten times as hard as masking anyone else."
“But what are you doing here?” Ben asked.
The elf shrugged. “To business then. I do not cloak only to hide myself from your human Wizard friends. There is a Demon here on your world.”
“I saw it earlier today,” said Ben.
“Yes, I heard Ann's message to that effect," said Soone. "It helped me zero in on your location. But how? We only arrived here from Alure half an hour or so ago!”
“I saw a Demon at school several hours ago early this morning,” explained Ben.
“So early? Really?” Soone pondered. “It’s possible, I suppose. He probably makes the trip whenever he wants. Demons likely have energy to spare. He and I both were strongly cloaked when we arrived here. That helped me sneak away from him to search for you."
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