“Yes, he’s the leader. The general runs the entirety of the armed forces, general and special unit, but Brady has a lot of influence. We need his support first.”

  “Then let’s get it.” Certan smiled. Alyx sighed.

  I was just with him before, he won’t change his mind so easily.

  Before long they were outside the office. The door was closed.

  “Here we are. He’s probably busy, are you still keen?” Alyx said.

  “Absolutely.” Vincent opened the door and strode in. Brady was sitting at his oversized desk, deep in conversation with a man not in military uniform. Brady looked up, annoyance on his face and his moustache skewed on an angle. Just as he was about to speak his expression changed to complete surprise.

  “Vincent?” Brady said. He rose immediately.

  “It’s been a long time, a lifetime. I’m surprised you still recognise me.” Vincent laughed. Brady looked to his guest.

  “I’m sorry, Marlin, let’s finish this off tomorrow. Same time?”

  “Of course.” Marlin nodded to Brady, acknowledged the rest of them and quickly left the room.

  How does Vincent know Brady? He never said anything about being a soldier.

  “We always wondered what happened to you.” Brady looked to Alyx and Certan.

  “How do you know Alyx? And is that a monk?”

  “We ran into Alyx at an opportune time, while surrounded by Blighters. She’s been an invaluable ally on our travels. Certan, likewise, has proven himself an able fighter and reliable companion.” Vincent took a seat, and Brady sat down as well. Alyx and Certan stood at the back of the room.

  “I’m a family man now. Busy blacksmithing, before I made this trip. I’m helping my son out.”

  “I thought you were against making weapons.” Brady pointed to the Runesteel blade.

  “An exception had to be made. I crafted only a few for people that I trust. Alyx is currently wielding the one I made for my son, Alrion.”

  “Alrion, nice name. He must be grown up by now. Where is he?”

  “He’s on his way here, but I’m not sure when he’ll arrive. I wanted to see you before then, on official business.”

  “Official business?” Brady looked at Vincent with suspicion. “Does your son want to be a soldier?”

  “I doubt it, although he’s keen on learning how to wield a sword properly. Alyx has been extremely helpful in that regard. No, I want to talk to you about your assistance in tackling the Blight.” Vincent’s expression lost the smile and became quite stern. Alyx watched Brady shift his focus from Vincent to her.

  “Is that what this is about? Alyx has already talked to me.” Brady leaned back in his chair, unimpressed.

  “My son is a wizard, Brady. This is real.”

  “What?”

  “Yes, my father was Granthion.”

  “Hang on, really?” Brady looked completely thrown.

  “You never told him?” Alyx said incredulously.

  “It’s not something I advertised, I was trying to live my own life. But, as it turns out, you can’t get away from your past.”

  “This story about the Blight is true? Your son is a wizard who can cure the Blight?”

  “Yes, I’ve witnessed it myself. So has Alyx.”

  “It’s true. Did you hear the reports of the Skull Queen?”

  “Of course. We were preparing ourselves in case we were targeted. Some were discussing options for going after her. Suddenly though, she disappeared.”

  “That was me. They infected me and transformed me into that thing, as payback for what I had done.”

  “What? No, it can’t be.”

  “The Skull Queen wielded a great sword. I destroyed the Skull King. It’s not a coincidence. But Alrion cured me.”

  “It’s fantastical, but it’s true. Alyx has mentioned reports of the Blight massing. It’s for one purpose. They know Alrion is coming and they mean to block his passage. This is our chance to end this cycle.” Vincent spoke with real passion, and Alyx could see Brady starting to be swayed.

  These two must have had some sort of bond back in the day.

  “I trust you, Vincent, even though you abandoned us. It seems like that’s a bit of a trend in this room.” Brady glanced at Alyx. “But I can’t promise you support without some proof. Have Alrion demonstrate his power to cure the Blight when he arrives, and I’ll declare my forces and recommend that the general do the same.”

  “Thank you, that’s all I can ask.” Vincent started to rise, but Brady motioned for him to sit.

  “You can’t drop this on me and leave. Stay and let’s catch up.”

  “Sure, that’s only fair. I bet you have a lot of great stories to share.” Vincent turned to Alyx.

  “I’ll come find you when it’s ready. In the meantime, why don’t you two go acquaint yourselves.”

  “Sure. Let’s go, Certan.” Alyx was about to say goodbye to Brady but he was fixated on Vincent already.

  I can’t believe that just happened.

  Alyx walked out, trying to make sense of it all.

  39

  The Making of a Wizard

  The boy entered the cave, the dark consuming him. He pushed forward, knowing each step intimately. Following the twisting of the path, the light behind him soon faded and he kindled his Spark, creating an orb of light and floated it ahead of him. Quietly, his steps resounded within the cave, and he observed the interesting formations on the walls.

  There were multiple ridges and geometric constructions that looked unnatural. But at the same time, they didn’t appear to be made by human hands or tools.

  I’ll have to ask him about that.

  But the boy shook his head immediately. That would not do. He knew the answer he would get. None at all. He continued to progress through the cave, the depth of his exploration no longer causing concern. But deep within he could still remember the terror he had initially. There was something wrong about venturing that deep into the bowels of the earth.

  In no time he had arrived. He could see his father standing and waiting. No matter what expression was on his face, the wizard always had fierce piercing eyes.

  “You’re late.”

  “Sorry.” The boy knew not to use any excuses. They just made his father angrier.

  “We’ve discussed this. Punctuality is paramount.”

  As is everything else.

  “Have you selected a name?”

  “Yes.” This was actually a task he found interesting. He had pored through all the old tomes, looking at old names and the old language.

  “And?”

  “Aydan.” He tried to say it with confidence, but it still felt strange. The wizard laughed.

  “How poetic, Lost One. Is that how you really feel?”

  “Yes. I’m kept away from everyone. I feel so alone. I don’t understand.” Aydan sighed.

  “I’ve explained it to you countless times. I have powerful enemies, and they would do terrible things to you knowing you were a wizard. This is for the best, for both of us.”

  “Can’t you just teach me to defend myself?”

  “I can and will. But today I will teach you something much more important.” The wizard closed his eyes. Aydan closed his eyes also, waiting. He felt something, like a prodding at him. But it wasn’t a physical sensation. It was more like a magical nudge. The more the feeling continued, the more he tested it. Suddenly he understood, it felt like his Spark. But not, at the same time.

  “Is that your Spark?” he said.

  “Yes. Wizards can sense each other’s power. Sometimes from great distances, if the wizard is particularly skilful. I was amplifying that sensation, hitting you over the head with it so you could feel it properly.”

  “I did. I couldn’t tell it was you though. Only because we were here alone.”

  “That’s true. But with practice, you could learn to recognise mine and distinguish it from others.”

  “That could be useful. For finding you.”

  “Yes, but that’s not the purpose of what we are doing today.” The wizard stepped forward.

  “Today, I am going to teach you how to hide your Spark.”

  “Hide it?”

  “Yes. You need to be completely invisible. Indistinguishable from a normal boy.”

  “Why is that important?”

  “I cannot protect you all the time. If you are hidden in plain sight, then that is the best protection I can provide. It will deflect attention away from you. I expect great things of your potential, and if they even suspected what I think is possible…” The wizard looked away, staring out into the distance. He didn’t even try to hide the concern on his face. He rarely showed it.

  Maybe he’s trying to worry me?

  “My enemy will stop at nothing. They will never rest, never lay down their fight.” The wizard stepped closer, putting a hand gingerly on his son’s shoulder. Aydan almost jumped and looked up at his father.

  “One day you will understand when you have a son of your own. But for now, you have to trust that I’m doing the right thing.” The wizard cleared his throat and stepped away again, putting his hands behind his back.

  “Now onto the lesson. I need you to focus and feel the Spark within you.” He paused and watched Aydan closely.

  “Good. Now, this is a visualisation exercise. It’s remarkably simple, but as far as I can tell nobody else has achieved it. They never even thought it necessary. But this, this will save your life.” The wizard waited until Aydan nodded then he continued.

  “You need to take your Spark and wrap a metal box around it. A box so thick and heavy that the flame of your Spark doesn’t even heat the box a tiny bit. A box so tight it suffocates the air from your fire. Imagine that you can touch the outside of the box and it feels completely cool.” The wizard paced around the room, observing Aydan from different angles.

  “More. Your Spark is a core of flame, but it is being stifled by the box. It’s going back to a smouldering ember, waiting for ignition.” The wizard poked Aydan in the back.

  “Good. But you’re trying too hard. It needs to be effortless, something you can slip on and off. You need to create a mental state of the box and, once placed, maintain it automatically.”

  Aydan let out a deep breath and bent over, panting.

  “Was it working?” he said between breaths.

  “Almost perfectly. You have a talent for this. But you need to go to the next level. You need to create a reality that supports this state. As you can see, it requires too much concentration. Do you know why?”

  “Because I’m thinking about it so much?

  “Yes, you’re trying to actively maintain an abnormal state of being. Instead, you need to declare a new state of being and simply activate it. Do you see the difference?”

  “Maybe.” Aydan shifted his feet and looked at the ground. The wizard sighed and started pacing again. He stooped down and picked up a rock, striding over to Aydan. He opened the boy’s hand and placed the rock onto his palm.

  “Where is the rock?” the wizard said.

  “It’s on my hand.”

  “Close your eyes.” The wizard watched Aydan comply. Then he added, “now, where is the rock?”

  “It’s still in my hand.”

  “How do you know?”

  “Because I can feel it.”

  “And if I made you stand here for an hour until your arm and hand became numb. Would you still wonder where the rock was?” The wizard loomed over Aydan. He thought carefully before answering.

  “No, because I had no reason to think it had moved. I could always just look if I wanted to confirm that.”

  “Good. Now, you know.” The wizard stepped away and put his hands behind his back once again. Aydan closed his hand around the rock.

  “I think I see what you’re saying. I can create the change, like holding the rock then my mind will think it’s still there until I change it. Or I can peek to double check.”

  “Close enough. That’s your new instruction. You are to practice until it becomes second nature.”

  “For how long?” Aydan could feel his stomach starting to protest. Some of these magic lessons had gone on for entire days.

  “As long as it takes. It’s the best way to immerse yourself. The next time you leave this cave, I want to be confident that you’ll have mastery over this. You must be invisible.” The wizard locked his gaze onto Aydan’s eyes, making him want to look away.

  No, not this time. Aydan stared defiantly back.

  “Fine, I can do this. But you need to explain why you’re so paranoid. I’ve seen what you can do, you’re a powerful wizard.” The wizard stepped back and leaned against a nearby wall. The energy seemed to drain from him.

  “Boy, I’m playing with things I should not be. Things that will change the world. I can’t have that knowledge lost forever. I have a plan to ensure that it is not. But I also do not want to endanger you. I believe you will have a part to play in this too.”

  He’s not concerned about me. He’s more concerned about what I can do for him.

  Aydan’s cheeks felt hot. He flung the rock at the wizard as hard as he could. Instinctively he used force to propel the rock even faster.

  “I’m not your tool.” The rock stopped suddenly, inches from the wizard’s face. The rock started to crumble, turning into dust. The wizard’s face softened.

  “Son, what I feel like I need to do is of paramount importance. And I’m hard on you, I know. But please, believe me, it is all for your own wellbeing. I could not live with you coming to harm above myself.” The wizard smiled weakly, momentarily breaking up the bleak expression he always wore.

  I have to trust him for now. Maybe after I master this, he will relax a bit. This can’t go on forever.

  Aydan returned to the lesson, stopping and starting the suppression of his Spark. He had to make the transition effortless, otherwise, he would never achieve the level of perfection his father demanded.

  40

  Startling Discovery

  Celes rushed down the tunnel as quickly as she could without stumbling. She kept a hand on the walls, making sure she was heading in the same direction and using it as a way to stay balanced.

  Wherever this ends up, I’ll be happy to be away from there.

  She didn’t blame the farmer, in that situation anyone would act the same. But it showed that the Blight was more advanced than anyone realised. They were proactively trying to gain the advantage and close off routes.

  I hope Alrion finds a safe way in.

  It made her quest for the mysterious wizard more important. If he truly was an ally, then they needed his help directly, rather than from the shadows. And if he was truly a danger, better that he be confronted and dealt with now before the end of the quest.

  Alrion needs a way to do the spell safely.

  Time became hard to judge as she pushed forward in the tunnel. She tried looking back once or twice but there was no sign of any pursuit and she didn’t hear the tell-tale rumbling. Finally, she started to see glimmers of light in the distance.

  I hope that’s an exit.

  Celes kept up the pace, spurred on by the possibility of escaping the tunnel. As she approached, she noticed what looked like a stone staircase leading up. She rushed ahead as fast as she could handle and surged up the stairs. As she ascended, she could see signs of a room up ahead. But she couldn’t quite make out any details.

  Celes reached the top of the stairs and stepped out into the room. It was all stone, with a single torch lit and hanging on the wall. There seemed to be old supplies in the room, going by the crates, sacks, and other storage she saw. There was a wooden door slightly open at one end. Celes walked towards it, carefully peeking through the door. Beyond was another room, organised like a storeroom. Or a library. There was a robed man reading a book at one end. Celes slipped through the door and assessed the situation.

  This looks like a Wizard Store. Is that man a wizard? He must be.

  “Hello,” Celes said. The man looked up, surprise and alarm on his face. He closed the book immediately.

  “Who are you? How did you get here?”

  “I’m Celes. Is this a Wizard Store? In Valrytir?”

  “Yes, it is. How did you get in?”

  “Through an underground tunnel.” Celes pointed to the back room she had entered through. The wizard looked puzzled.

  “I’ve looked through there, it’s a long tunnel with a dead end. There’s no way out.”

  “That’s good to know. But you should know that there’s a way in!”

  “How curious. I’ve never had anyone come through there. By the way, my name is Magnus, I’m the assigned wizard representative for Valrytir.” Magnus bowed. “What business do you have here? Did you just stumble through? I’m quite curious what leads here.”

  “It’s a house in Stonebridge, that used to be a wizard residence.”

  “Ah, yes I know the one.”

  “I entered the house via the Wizard Gate, and then discovered the underground tunnel. Quite fortuitously, it would seem, as the owner of the house had tried to lock me in.”

  “Really? For what reason?”

  “Seems like he’s been coerced by a representative of the Blight. He was to detain any who came through the Wizard Gate.” Celes walked closer so she could converse from a more comfortable distance.

  “How odd. I think I need to pay this man a visit.”

  “I think that’s wise. But before then, perhaps you can help me.”

  “I will do what I can. After you describe how you used the Wizard Gate.” Magnus gave her a stern look.

  “Another wizard activated it for me. His name is Ashra.”

  “The desert wizard? He’s still alive?”

  “Very much so. He was quite helpful. I’m actually on the trail of a wizard.”

  “Go on.” Magnus looked intrigued.

  “He has the alias of Aydan, and the trail leads here. But it’s an old one, probably twenty years old.”

  “You’re looking for this wizard, but you’re following a trail from twenty years ago?”

 

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