The Complete Series, page 10
part #1 of The Hidden Wizard Series
“What are we using? What am I moving?”
“Let's start simple.” Falric hunted around and placed a small stone on the edge of a nearby tree branch. It was a low hanging branch, around Alrion's head height while seated.
“You are going to push that stone off that branch. I've placed it within an easy gaze, so you can easily focus on it.”
“Sure.” Alrion started sizing up the task.
“What you will need to do in your mind is to will that stone to move just enough that it topples off the branch.”
“I'm not sure that I know how to will things to move,” Alrion said. Falric laughed.
“It takes practice. To start with, you need to think about it moving. But not the passive, intellectual type of thinking. A more direct thought. Like you are imposing your Will upon the rock.”
“Should I try?”
“A little bit, just practice thinking about it,” Falric said. Alrion turned back to face the stone and stared at it. He thought about the stone moving, and how he could push it. He visualised it falling. He continued the effort for a good thirty seconds.
“OK, that's a good start. Take a break,” Falric said. Alrion sat back and visibly relaxed.
“Now that's just the mental part, which is absolutely necessary. The next component to help us out is to draw on your Spark.”
“How do I do that?”
“This is a little more abstract. Your Spark is what you drew on when you lit the lamp and caused the light show at the academy. It is your source of power. To be philosophical, the Spark ignites your Will. If your Will is a wind of change, then your Spark ignites it into a rolling flame. It feeds on, and amplifies, whatever you apply it to.” Falric waved his hands in a dramatic flourish.
“I see, so it's in a way a source of fuel.”
“That's a good way of looking at it. Maybe your Will isn't targeted well or imposing enough to move that rock. But if you draw upon your Spark, you can compensate and send that rock away.” Falric mimicked the stone flying off the tree branch. Alrion nodded.
“I get it. However, I just don't understand how you draw upon it. I didn't do anything those other two times.”
“Each person is unique, and the exact trigger to draw upon their Spark is also different, but the mechanism is always the same. You must see the internal power that is within you, and draw it out. Open it up, or even let it loose, but you must be careful because without the right safeguards unforeseen things can occur.” Falric gave Alrion a knowing look, and he picked up on it.
“Like burning the roof of my dad's workshop?”
“Exactly. So, let's give it a try again. Start as before with your thoughts, and once you feel like you are ready, see if you can draw upon your Spark to amplify the effect,” Falric said. Alrion looked back at the stone and started up again.
He thought about the stone, and the force required to move it. He thought about how the stone was just teetering on the branch, and that it just needed a nudge to get it moving. He intensified his concentration and focused on the thought. He pushed everything else away. It was as if he was floating above the stone, leaning against it with all his might. It started to move, and rock back and forth in its position. As if it was under a force but resisting. Alrion kept up his focus but he needed something more, it wasn't moving.
He looked inside himself, and his focus dropped a little. He got annoyed that such a tiny stone on such a thin branch could be so solid. He felt the frustration that it wouldn't move. That his Will wasn't strong enough, and he felt a heat within him, a fire burning hotter and hotter. He opened the door to that place, and the fire leaped out and consumed him. The stone stopped rocking and flew at great speed into a nearby tree with a gigantic 'thunk' and the resulting disturbance echoed through the forest like a shockwave.
Alrion stood up swiftly, a stunned look on his face. He walked over and inspected the stone. It was embedded in the tree trunk; scorch marks around it showed the size of the impact.
“Take it,” Falric said. Alrion removed the stone and held it in his hand. It was a little warm to the touch.
“I did that?” Alrion looked at the stone and then back at the branch.
“You sure did. You used your Spark, didn't you?” Falric had a knowing smile.
“Yes, I could feel it coming through, but it was wild and uncontrolled. I think my anger and frustration fuelled it.”
“That's very honest of you, and perceptive. Yes, it is quite common for those kinds of feelings to draw upon your Spark. But as you grow, you will get better at harnessing it at will.”
“That sounds better. It was so strange, though, like the stone was waiting for that extra push.”
“I have a small confession to make.” Falric had a guilty smile, and he beamed it at Alrion.
“What?”
“I was holding the stone there, so it didn't fall off by itself.”
“What!”
“And I wanted to give you a reason to dig deeper.”
“Unbelievable!” Alrion swore under his breath, “Why didn't you pick a bigger rock then?”
“Because I needed you to believe that it was an achievable task. The stone sure looked precarious the way it was balancing on that branch didn't it?” Falric chuckled with warmth and looked directly at Alrion. The young wizard went quiet, thinking it over.
“I see why you did that. Pretty clever.” Alrion sighed. He had been played with, but Falric had come through.
“Well, I've done this a few times you know,” Falric said with a confident smile. Alrion heard footsteps and turned to face them.
“What's all this racket?” Vincent said.
“Alrion used a spell to send a stone flying into that tree.” Falric pointed and Vincent walked over immediately. He stopped and assessed the mark.
“This looks pretty nasty. Alrion, you did this?”
“Surprisingly, yes.”
“Well, maybe you'll be protecting me pretty soon.”
“That's the plan,” Falric said. Alrion had a smile creep onto his face.
“It's a fantastic first effort, but there's much more to be learned,” Falric said.
“I know. I don't think I could do that on the spot if I had to,” Alrion said.
“That's quite alright, it will come with time.” Falric walked over and slapped Alrion on the back.
“Food is ready if you've worked up an appetite,” Vincent said.
“Definitely.” Alrion rubbed his back and stretched his legs.
“That's enough for now, let's go eat,” Falric said. They walked back to their camp and ate a simple meal of bread and cheese.
“So how was your first lesson?” Falric said once the food was finished.
“Unexpected, but I'm excited to learn more. The possibilities seem endless.” Alrion felt energised, once he was over the initial shock of it all.
“That's the right attitude but remember that you must use caution and care. From now on, you have incredible potential and power, but that also means that you must act with responsibility. The consequences are significant.”
“I understand,” Alrion said. After more general conversation, they turned in for the night. Alrion had trouble sleeping. The world of magic had taken his mind by storm, and his mind was racing with ideas.
The next morning, they had a quick snack and packed up. The horses were keen to get moving, so Vincent suggested they make a start sooner rather than later. Within an hour of riding, they passed through the end of the forest and re-joined the main road.
“So where to next?” Alrion said.
“Wait just a moment,” Vincent said. Alrion was curious but played along. The road was still flanked by tall trees, but they were riding into a flatter, clearer area. Once they emerged from the trees, a completely different landscape awaited them.
“They call that the Thundering Mountain,” Vincent said. Far in the distance, they could see a large mountain rising above the landscape. It was tall and imposing, and clouds surrounded its peak.
“Is the weather always that bad? It's like the clouds are anchored to that spot.” Alrion said.
“Yes, that's how it was named. There are rumours and legends as to what is on the peak that is attracting all those clouds and storms. But nobody knows,” Falric said.
“Could just be a freak weather formation,” Vincent said.
“Either way, that's pretty impressive.” Alrion couldn't take his eyes off it.
“It's where we will be heading today. Hopefully, it won't take too long, I'd like to investigate the tunnel below it before it gets too late.” Vincent kicked his horse back into a faster gallop, and the others followed suit.
I've never seen anything that big. It's massive, Alrion thought as they rode. It felt like for the first time, the adventure was starting to feel real. He had goosebumps on his arms at the thought of exploring the mountain. He cautiously looked at both his father and Falric. Neither seemed to have noticed his excitement. They were focused on other things.
13
A Disturbance
The lushness of the forest they had recently left faded gradually. At first, Alrion didn't really notice any change, but after a time he realised that something had changed. After a more focused look at the countryside, he concluded that the vegetation was dead or dying.
“This area looks different, less alive.”
“You have good instincts. I've noticed as well. Not as many signs of wildlife either,” Vincent said.
“I haven't been through here for a long time, how about you?” Falric asked.
“No. There should be a town up ahead before the mountain, though. A good community there of hardworking people. I'm a good friend with the blacksmith there. A man called Malcolm.”
“I'll be interested in talking with him, to see if he has any information about what's been happening in this area. It's probably nothing, but it just seems so different.” Falric had a worried look on his face. Vincent grunted his agreement. Alrion was pleased that he had picked up on something of note.
Every time he looked up at the mountain, it seemed to be the same distance away. But when he took the time to really look at it, and compare to other landmarks, he could tell that they were getting closer. With the comments made by Falric and his father, the mystery surrounding the mountain was even deeper now.
As noon approached, they started to see signs of the town ahead. There were a few abandoned carts on the side of the road and weathered signposts.
“These seem to have been here for a while,” Vincent said.
“Agreed,” Falric said. They rode on. Houses and other buildings were visible in the distance.
“Usually there would be a bit of traffic on the road at this time,” Vincent said, mostly to himself. They continued. Alrion could feel the difference, between this place and his hometown. The feeling of life was not present, but he told himself that he was getting ahead of things, that he knew his own home so well that it skewed his expectations. Once they were closer to entering the town, Falric finally spoke.
“I think it's deserted.”
“Are you sure?” Vincent seemed anxious.
“I can't sense any people within. It's also uncommonly quiet.” Falric closed his eyes and concentrated
“Too quiet.” Vincent swept his gaze back and forth. Alrion didn't say a word but just listened carefully. It was true that the normal sounds you expect; of work being done, of people and animals were missing. It just sounded empty.
They slowed the horses, making the final approach at a gentle clip. Their reduced speed increased the tension for Alrion. He didn't know what was going to happen next. As they passed through the town gates they got a better look at the buildings and the main street. Alrion read the sign.
“Welcome to Hopetarn,” he said. There were no signs of life or recent habitation whatsoever.
“Certainly looks empty,” Vincent said.
“There's an inn.” Alrion pointed it out. A sign for The Titanic Tankard gently swung in the wind, squeaking as it went.
“If there's life, it'll be with the booze,” Falric said with a chuckle.
“Truer words were never spoken.” Vincent spurred his horse forward, heading directly for the inn.
“Let's just tie the horses out front.” He stopped and dismounted, leading by example. Once the horses were secured Vincent stepped up to the entrance.
“Let's see what's in store for us.” He pushed the main door open and entered the building. Falric and Alrion kept close behind. It was dark inside, the stench of rotting food hitting Alrion's nose before he could become accustomed to the low light.
“Something's off,” Vincent said.
“Here.” Falric raised his hand. An orb of light materialised above it and slowly floated up until it reached the ceiling.
“More warning next time,” Vincent said as he shielded himself from the bright light. Alrion shied back too, surprised by the sudden brightness. Once his eyes had adjusted, he got a good look at the room. There were rows of wooden tables and benches and a bar up one end. Food was left on most tables, which was probably the source of the smell. Vincent walked over to the bar to inspect it. He turned one of the taps behind the bar and beer flowed out.
“Interesting,” he said.
“Looks like they left in a hurry. Or had no form of transportation,” Falric said.
“Why do you say that?” Alrion was curious how he had come to such a precise conclusion.
“The food mess. That shows that they didn't intend on coming back. Or couldn't think about that. Leaving kegs full of beer, now that's an unusual situation. I would expect either the people leaving or any people attacking the place to take it with them.” Falric looked to Vincent.
“I agree, nothing raises morale like a drink or two. It was obviously considered unnecessary in the rush,” he said. Alrion maintained a blank stare.
“You never liked the taste, so you wouldn't understand.” Vincent laughed.
“Alrion and I will look around here if you want to take upstairs.” Falric gestured to the staircase.
“Sure.” Vincent strode forward with confidence, but kept his hand on the hilt of his sword.
“What are we looking for?” Alrion said.
“Anything of note. We want to work out why the people left.”
“Why is it important? Maybe they just wanted to move on.”
“This used to be a prosperous town with a long history. People wouldn't leave without a good reason, and nobody has come back. That's what it looks like. Let's see what we can find.”
“You think there's some potential danger around here and it forced them to leave.”
“Exactly. This kind of evacuation shouldn't be happening around here. Avaria is a very safe place. See what you can turn up.” Falric started by looking behind the bar. Alrion wandered the room. He turned over some chairs that had been knocked over and inspected the food that was left. But he didn't find any personal belongings.
“I don't really see anything,” Alrion said after a few minutes.
“Nothing special behind the bar either. We'll see what your father says.”
“Not much to report.” Vincent descended the staircase.
“Abandoned at seemingly short notice?” Falric said.
“That's my assessment. Did you find anything here?”
“Just something for the road.” Falric held up a metal flask and wiggled it.
“At least we can leave with something. I'd like to get out of here immediately, the stench is terrible.” Vincent headed directly for the door and Alrion followed without argument.
“Any ideas on what happened?” Falric said once he was outside.
“Not really, but I want to check out the blacksmith.”
“Sure, lead the way,” Falric said. Vincent started untying the horses.
“Did you know him well?” Alrion said as they walked with the horses.
“The blacksmith? I used to, but we lost touch a while ago.”
“What was he like?”
“An orderly man. Had everything in the right place, and a good system for running his shop. I definitely learned some things from his approach.” A smile crept to Vincent's face as he looked in the distance, like he was remembering something.
“What do you think we will find at his shop?”
“Well, I don't know yet. But I understood him well, so whatever condition the shop is in should be very telling,” Vincent said. No more was said until they arrived at the blacksmith workshop. It had no name, just a sign with an anvil on it. Vincent tied up the horses and was the first to enter the shop.
It looked like a scene frozen in time. A piece of iron sat idly on the table, with a hammer next to it. Other items were out, but most were tucked neatly away.
“He was making a sword.” Vincent walked through, letting his hand linger on some surfaces or tools as he went, “Look at this. I told you he was organised. Only the parts he needed were out, everything else is packed away.”
“Well, there's definitely a pattern. People left suddenly. How long ago do you think?” Falric said.
“Judging by the rust, and the decay we spotted at the tavern I'd say recently. Days or a week at most,” Vincent said.
“That seems plausible. However, there's no evidence of what made them leave. I didn't notice any signs of attack,” Falric said.
“Attack by what?” Alrion said. His heart started to race, and he looked at Falric.
“Could be any number of things. Perhaps even Blighters,” the master wizard said.
“Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Why don't we rest here and eat, then we can move on and leave this ghost town behind us,” Vincent said.
“Sure,” Falric said.
“C'mon, Alrion.” Vincent walked outside, holding the door open. Alrion helped him bring in some food, and move some stools so they could all sit around one of the workbenches.
“I can't believe I'm already back in a blacksmith workshop,” Alrion said, trying to lighten the mood.
“You can't escape your destiny.” Vincent chuckled.
