The Spark

by Taylor Gibson

  “How do I learn this craft? Is there a school for me somewhere?”

  “Yes, there is a place,” he said with a nod, “and it’s called home, under my wing. I’m a wizard, Sui, and I’ve spent many years teaching students before you; I will teach you everything you need to know.”

  “It takes a long time to learn these things, doesn’t it?”

  “It varies depending on the student, but it shouldn’t take you long to find the power within. I see a gift in you, Sui. It is a bequest given to you by the Fancore. You must see to it that you prepare yourself for your first lessons right away. I will meet you in the rose park where I will begin setting up. Meet me there in a half an hour, no more, no less.”

  After he clapped his book shut to leave my room, I decided that it would be best to do as I was told. Äbaka was not the kind of man to be kept waiting. I quickly got dressed for the outdoors and armed myself with a wooden stick, which I found by the house, for the sake of weapons training. After spending thirty minutes preparing for training, I ran as fast as I could to the rose garden. On my way, I looked around at the houses and barns. Seeing them still intact with the villagers going about their normal lives, I realized that no goblins or demons had ever truly attacked. The fancy silver fences around the rose bushes were open. As I walked along the brick tiles of the pathway, I started to hear Äbaka mumbling to himself. He was thinking out loud again. Since it was typical for him to do such things, I didn’t mind. I found him pacing around, holding his staff over his shoulder. My presence broke his train of thought and I told him that I was ready to begin.

  “Let me teach you the basics of being a mage.”

  There is a lesson that every full-fledged mage must be taught before anything else: magick ability, intelligence, and open mindedness are the keys to being a student of sorcery. I listened carefully as my forefather taught me the basics, letting everything else that was on my mind drift away. I put my ears to his words like I put my heart to George. In the old days, Äbaka told me there were groups of mages who taught him almost everything that there is to know about magick. He said that they practically made him who he was: the greatest of all Imgan wizards. For that title, it was an honor being related to him, but now, I was even more proud to be with him as his apprentice.

  The lessons were addicting and consumed me completely, slowly forming my sorceress personification into being. I wanted to learn more and more from the wizard; as much as he could possibly teach me before Jobik arrived. He demonstrated several incantations that could be used to kill a demon, all by using the energy flowing through the universe. The throbbing energy going in and out of my body with every new spell and charm that I preformed was a complete mystery to me. I wondered where it came from and how I was utilizing it. Äbaka told me that the birthplace of magick originates from the energy released from every single thing in the Fancore. I began to notice that the Fancore was a topic he stressed a lot in his lessons. He was hoping that it would make me believe, but it was still a ridiculous notion for me to chew and an even harder one to swallow. If everything I have thought came true, then Rideneer should have been a slave town because I once imagined Jobik taking us over. When I questioned Äbaka with this, he claimed that it did happen, but only in an alternate universe.

  My dismissal of the Fancore theory was blocking energy that could only be obtained by acknowledging its existence. Fortunately, in the long run, after a week or so of training, I found myself seeing a broader reality. Through meditation I witnessed many dimensions outside my own. My eyes were opened, and I felt as one with everything. Everything seemed to have a new, more profound order. My studies took place in my bedroom after dark, with George at my side, helping me with certain material. There were several occasions when I wanted to stop for the night and go to sleep early, but I knew that if I didn’t finish at least a half a book a night, I would fail the quizzes expected of me the next day.

  Magick was my main priority, and to this very day, I tell you, it is a part of what defines me. Every morning when I woke up, I went straight out to that rose garden and planted many spells in my mind, with time and effort being my fertilizer. The wizard completely changed me from a simple farm girl into a warrior mage, all in the course of a month. I knew how to wield a blade and I felt that I was ready to take on a horde of jaqae.

  However, there were several lessons that I still needed to learn. The world of Imga I was but one speck compared to whatever else was out there in the Fancore. Probably, no one knew it, but we were all created by millions of minds from innumerable worlds far beyond the old sea of stars. The month was lengthy and a new year had dawned. It was January and the weather was gradually beginning to heat up at last. Äbaka looked at me and said with pride, “My, my, Sui Bane Ozborn, you are the best student that I have ever had in all my years of teaching. You weren’t the easiest, yet I thank you for it. For if there is not a challenge in teaching someone, then how could we possibly teach ourselves?”

  “No master, thank you, without your guidance, I would never have found the strength within me. I am ready for that monster to come out of his dark prison! I’ll show him, I’ll show him if I have to tear down the very sky itself! Jobik will know his end soon enough!”

  I blame my foolish arrogance on my youth. Äbaka had told me what happened to warriors and mages who were so powerful, they thought themselves gods. I knew the possibility of me becoming drunk on power was on the table. But I wasn’t going to let my control drift away with my new abilities, at least not as easily as some of the men and women of legend. I was confident that I was far more responsible than that.

  “You know, Sui, I think you should learn even more about magick because Jobik isn’t out of his imprisonment quite yet.” He stood there, nervously staring at me, “I know it’s none of my business, but before we do that, I think you and George should take your relationship to the next level. It is time for the two of you to tell each other your true feelings. I can see it every time you’re with him. I know how you feel about each other. Now go and make the first move, Sui. Spend some time with him and get him out there on the spot. Have him take in your compassion to provoke his love to flow back into you like an ocean’s joining waves.”

  It felt awkward having Äbaka of all people giving me pointers on relationships, but he was right. I gave my mentor a firm hug and a kiss on his wrinkly, hairy cheek. Before running off to George, I told Äbaka the words that I always gave family members before departing.

  “I love you.”

  “I love you too, Sui.”

  It was noon when I pranced into my room, interrupting George’s reading by grabbing his pale hand. I brought him into the living room where we could spend some quality time together, as Äbaka had suggested. During this time, I asked George if everything he had told me in my dream was true.

  “Yes,” he reluctantly answered, a look of shock and terror on his face, “but how the hell did you-”

  “I am unsure. I think the dream wanted to emphasize how important you are in my life, George. I won’t hold any of your past transgressions against you. I know you’re a changed man. I trust you with my life. And, I-” I peered deep into his cat-like eyes and said everything that was on my mind about him. “George, no one in my entire life has ever been so kind to me and so understanding as you have. I want to tell you, when I am in your presence, I-I feel like everything I was missing in my life is meaningless as long as you, George, I…”

  I could not say it just then. I just couldn’t get the words out. I was extremely nervous and confused at the same time. Since I already started a sentence, I continued.

  “Uh, I want to take you out for a stroll in the southern forest. It’s just my way of saying thank you for all of your kindness and sensitivity since my birthday. You deserve it.”

  I could see the same anxiety in his gaze that had claimed my heart. He wanted to express his feelings for me, but there was something
holding both of us away from each other. It seemed that it was not the right time, yet. But to my surprise, that evening when we went to the southern forest, I never had a stronger bond with a man. We ran about and horsed around in the woods a good time until the setting sun drifted away from us and the clouds turned to gray. Rain would fall from the face of the orange and blue, starry heavens. We sat together at the edge of a hill, watching the orange horizon fade with the hour. I rested my head on George’s shoulder. The sounds of crickets and toads echoed through the wilderness.

  “Hey,” I broke the serenity, “what do you think about me? Am I different from other girls?”

  His eyes lit up as he looked down at me, gazing into mine, “Sui, you are a wonderful woman. I don’t see a girl sitting next to me. You are far too mature for me to consider you a mere girl. You are intellectual, innovative, considerate, and let us not overlook the radiant heroine you are to become one day. But-”

  “But what, George?”

  “To me, you’re already a heroine; the greatest heroine that’s ever lived. You saved me; took me in as a friend when nobody in the world wanted me. That’s enough to make you a hero in my book.”

  His words moved me closer to his heart and my own heart began to warm up and pump faster. I continued to look up at him with my head resting on his shoulder, to think many people saw him as a monster was a crime. George Goodwill was a decent man and he had charm that most men these days lacked. His curse was not a bother to me; I knew we would get through it together. As the rain crept its way toward us, I knew it was probably best if we went inside.

  “George, it’s about to rain. I think we should head back home.”

  “No,” he chuckled, “I think we should run around in it and enjoy nature’s shower. Have you ever danced in the rain at the break of dusk before, Sui?”

  “No, I haven’t. My parents always told me that it can make you sick.”

  “Nonsense,” he said, standing up, “let’s embrace in it and dance!” I knew that if I were younger, my mother and father wouldn’t approve of this, but sometimes one has to get out of the chains of authority and have a bit of fun every once in a while. We got up and danced around in the rain as it slid down the leaves of the trees in the forest. There was a tingling vibe that entered into my body; I felt as though I was flying around with him and excelling to heaven with sensational waves flowing through my entire body.

  I stared into his eyes and thought about how he might look if he was completely human. If the shading around his eyes was gone and the whiskers on his face disappeared, I wondered how he would feel. Our dancing became blasé when the rain began to alleviate. The lightning bugs floated around us with bright-yellow lights flickering in their thoraxes. The night was more gorgeous than any I could have ever imagined, and it was all due to George’s brilliant idea to dance in the cool shower.

  We were soaked and chilled to the bone, and absolutely nothing in life could have been any better than that moment. The warmth of our occasional touch kept us from shivering. The only shiver that we had stirring in our spines was that of bliss. When we finally settled down and stood in the rain face-to-face, George came closer to me, holding my hands and asked me that question I would never forget.

  “You know, you’re simply one of the most beautiful women I have ever met. Has there ever been a time that you wished somebody would prove it to you instead of just telling you? I mean, talk is cheap; I want you to know that there is no other woman that I have ever met that’s as divine as you. Sui, I love you. There’s nobody out there that will ever compare to you. O, by the gods, Sui. I love you more than life itself!”

  He came closer to me, pressing his nose against my forehead and breathing heavily in excitement. Never had he ever told a woman this before because he had no means to, and I told him something that no woman had ever uttered to him in his life, “I love you, George.”

  That was the moment that started it all; the moment we had our first kiss together under the moonlight, the trees, and among the buzzing fireflies, singing gently. Serene and jovial music played in my head and warmth filled my body. My heart was pumping as fast as a native dryad. I softly held his waist and he slowly put his hands on mine. As soon as our lips made contact, I discovered his lips were softer than they appeared and he tasted sweet like fresh-picked strawberries. Never in my life, even now when I tell this tale, have I ever had a finer romantic experience. It seemed like we stood there for hours, sharing our lips with one another and feeling the rain drip down on our skin with the accompaniment of nature. Time was absent. I felt like I was being lifted off of the ground and taken to a greater land where there is naught but love and peace. The experience itself was worthy of having its own novel.

  We could barely break free from each other; it was even greater than magick! It was love, true love. As soon as I broke free from his lips and his from mine, I opened my eyes and saw a different man, with his eyes wide open and his jaw hanging low. He had the same face as George, only without the neko features. He had human ears; bright-blue, human eyes; golden blonde hair; a more blushed skin tone; and his tail had completely vanished. After jumping from the scare this man had brought on me, I looked closer and realized that it was George, altered by our kiss; forged anew as he should have been born through the heat of our genuine love.

  Was I dreaming? I could not speak because I was in such an astonished state. His matching expression indicated that he was surprised to see a different person as well. I began to wonder if my face had changed as his did. George stuttered at me, barely able to breathe as I looked at him closer to see the details of his new body.

  “S-S-Sui, y-your ha-hair, it’s-”

  “What’s wrong with my hair?”

  “N-nothing, it’s just s-so… different. I-i-it’s beautiful- like flame.”

  “Flame?”

  I ran my fingers through my wet locks and felt nothing, not even heat as fire would give off. I had no idea what he was talking about. It would require me getting to a mirror. Before I could leave, George uttered one word in a whisper: “Flames.” Was he saying that my hair was the color of flames, having the hues of blondes, gingers, and crimsons, like that of an inferno?

  “My parents are going to freak out if they see us like this.”

  “How do you know that Sui?”

  “I-”

  George was right. I was just in a state of mind where my thoughts were twisted with confusion. What had caused our bodies to change like this? Sure, I heard how many people change after they have their first taste of another’s lips, but never had there been a case like this one. At least, I had never heard of such a tale. I stepped away from him, still staring at his new figure while I gathered my thoughts. Herald had mentioned George in the final moment of my dream.

  Kiss.

  Metamorphosis.

  “So that’s what he meant,” I mumbled to myself, “George, I just don’t know why we had to transform like this. In some weird way, I think it might be related to the prophecy. And if so, does that mean that you’re a part of it too? It seems like you have a place in this battle, and yet you haven’t received training in battle or in magecraft.”

  “Sui, don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine as long as you’re around. I’ll protect you as long as I draw breath. I will die for you. I have someone to live for now and that someone is you. If something were to happen to me, if I were to leave this world early, then I’ll know I must have been doing something right. I shall only die for you, my love.”

  His words penetrated my mind and soul with feelings too overwhelmingly divine to even explain. I observed my surroundings of the wet, dimly-lit forest. Looking at him, I compared his avid guardianship to the bulk of the oaks that stood watch over the homes of the spectating creatures. The trunks were sturdy and capable of supporting an entire family of animals. Even though the bark and wood were suitable for shielding the animals withi
n against the rain, it was still prone to an axe. Though George was strong, he was not immortal. He was the man I loved. He had to stay as tough as an oak for the both of us, but also careful.

  “Thank you, George.”

  “It’s hard to believe that I’m human. It feels strange though. I’m not used to this body. Will you show me how it works?”

  “I chuckled softly and rubbed his soft cheek, “Of course.”

  We smiled widely at one another and giggled.

  “Now, let’s go home.”

  Chapter 3

  Why were women put on this earth, you ask? Simple, to keep the generations flowing and to keep us men in line. Without women, there wouldn’t be such a thing as life. Men would have killed each other off long ago, when we first appeared, if it were not for the invention of women.

  ~George Gibson Goodwill

  When my body was eventually altered from neko to human form, I was stunned as much as Sui was. The magick felt so pure. Mere words can never describe how that kiss truly felt, but I can assure you that there was no better moment in my life than experiencing her warm, wet lips pressing softly against mine in the chill of the forest rain. My whole body changed, while only her hair changed. I had become a human as I was meant to be, thanks to her.