The Complete Series, page 3
part #1 of The Hidden Wizard Series
“Really? My facts are correct, but perhaps more has happened that I am not aware of.” Falric had a cautious look on his face, but still seemed quite confident.
“Who is Andar?” Celes asked, her voice rising in pitch. Alrion didn't know where to look, but settled his gaze on Falric.
“Andar … sorry Vincent here, is the son of Granthion. That means you must be his grandson,” Falric said, nodding at Alrion.
“Who is Granthion?” Alrion asked finally. There was something going on here, and he seemed to know the least about it.
“Why Granthion was the saviour of Avaria, and the great wizard who founded the Wizard Academy,” Falric said.
“Let's all just sit down,” Vincent said. He gave Alrion a look that made him swallow what he was about to say next and sit down on the couches provided. Celes was similarly quiet.
“I see I have caused a bit of a commotion. I'm very sorry about that. I should start again from the beginning. I am the head of the Wizard Academy, and I came here to find the grandson of our founding wizard, Granthion. I recognise Vincent here from when he was younger. And you, young man, have your grandfather's look about you. There's no mistaking it.”
“My name is Alrion. I've never heard about my grandfather.” Alrion looked at his father, who avoided eye contact.
“Oh, well I'm surprised your father never mentioned him. He's the most famous wizard that ever lived. He died over twenty years ago, sacrificing himself to cleanse our country of Avaria from the Blight.”
“Wow, I had no idea. This is all so strange. Why are you looking for me?” Alrion felt like something was off. His stomach churned away.
“It will become much stranger soon, I'm sure. But I came here to find you because you must be tested and trained to be a wizard.”
“I see,” Vincent said. Alrion felt something shift. That nervous energy became a mix of curiosity and fear.
“Because my grandfather was a wizard?” he said.
“Of course. Magic is accessible by all, in various strengths and means. But the talent of a true wizard is passed through the family,” Falric said.
“Shouldn't that make my father a wizard too?” Alrion looked over but again, his father avoided eye contact.
“It should,” Falric said, looking at Vincent.
“Sometimes it skips a generation,” Vincent said, offering no additional details. Celes gave him a questioning look.
“Well regardless, Granthion left specific instructions to search for his successor when the time was right. And here I am.”
“How did you find me?” Alrion said.
“Magic. With the right spell and the right focus, you can find just about anything.”
“I still don't understand, though. My grandfather was a famous wizard but until now nobody has ever talked about it. It doesn't make sense.” Alrion just wanted some sort of explanation.
“It doesn't make sense, does it?” Celes said, giving Vincent a pointed look. Alrion felt better that his mother also seemed to be in the dark. It wasn't just something kept from him.
“Well, that's a fair question. To put it simply, having such a famous father is the kind of thing that follows you around and gives people the wrong impression. So, I changed my name and left it behind me. There was nothing good to come of it for me.”
“But you don't deny your son the opportunity?” Falric said.
“If he's got the gift and he has the desire he can be a wizard. If it is his true calling I won't stop him.” Vincent had a resigned reluctance to his voice. Alrion had never heard him sound so defeated.
“I can't believe you are the son of Granthion,” Celes said, looking at Vincent with new eyes.
“I am, but that doesn't change anything,” Vincent said.
“Yes, it does, a wizard has come for my son.” Celes was raising her voice again.
“Are you saying that he cannot go?” Vincent said. Celes looked at him, exasperated.
“No, I just need time to adjust to this. If he does go, you must join him and make sure he is safe.”
“Sure, I can accompany him. It might even be fun,” Vincent said. Celes did not look impressed.
“Falric, can you tell me more about wizards and my grandfather?” Alrion said. He needed to know more about what they were talking about. Nobody in the village discussed wizards at all. Only in stories were they referenced, and rarely.
“Certainly. Wizards have been around for a while. They are the masters of magic and can do wondrous things. But for the longest time, it was a master to apprentice relationship. The skill of a wizard was very much dependent on the quality of his master. It developed a strong bond between the two wizards, but kept out other wizards and bred secrecy and competition. There were some other drawbacks too, but they were the key ones,” Falric said.
“What was the answer?”
“Your grandfather realised that there was a better way to do things. A way to share the knowledge evenly to make every wizard better, and at the same time have stronger bonds with his fellow wizards. He conceived of an academy where all wizards could go to train, and absorb the knowledge from other skilled wizards.”
“That sounds pretty good.” Alrion liked the idea of such a place. It just seemed more open and exciting than the constraints of Hamley.
“Yes, it's a fantastic thing. Knowledge is such a key component of being a wizard; it's largely what sets us apart from others. Building a place to gather and distribute knowledge to all wizards was a fantastic idea. And now the academy is thriving and becoming bigger and bigger.” Falric's excitement was obvious. He gestured with his hands to show the growth of the academy. Alrion saw in him the same passion that his father had invested in blacksmithing. Maybe this would be the answer he was looking for. But there was more to it than that. This was a whole side of his family that had never existed until now.
“What was my grandfather like?” he said.
“He was a kind soul, but a little abrasive at times. He was very abrupt and to the point. He didn't tolerate silliness at all. But he was fascinated with the world, and even without his final gift he contributed more to wizards than any other.”
“You mean when he sacrificed himself?”
“Yes. He devised a means of cleansing the Blight from people. And he used it to great effect to save Avaria. Our peace and prosperity are largely due to him. But I believe he was working on something bigger, a way to cleanse the Blight for good,” Falric said.
“So, are we in agreement then, that Alrion will undergo wizard training at the academy and see if it is the life for him?” Vincent said, standing quickly.
“Yes, provided you accompany him,” Celes said.
“Yes, I want to try it out. This could be what I've been looking for,” Alrion said. It was an unbelievable opportunity. And he could always return here and help his father if it didn't work out. That wasn't going anywhere.
“I'm not particularly comfortable with going to the academy. But I won't deny him the opportunity,” Vincent said.
“There is still a matter to discuss before we proceed. The test,” Falric said.
“The test?” Alrion said. The nervousness came back.
“Yes, it's a simple matter that won't take long. As I discussed, many people can use magic to some degree, but wizards have a special talent. We have a test that proves whether you have the gift, even if it is untrained. Given your lineage I don't foresee any problems, however, you must pass to undergo the training,” Falric said.
“What does this test consist of?” Alrion was fine with the idea of being a wizard, as a new concept. But this whole idea of a test made it more of a reality, one he wasn't quite ready for.
“That I will explain in due course. Is there somewhere safe to perform the test?” Falric looked at Vincent.
“Let's use the workshop,” Vincent said after a short pause.
“Very good. If you don't mind, I'd like to administer the test straight away.” Falric rose and stretched his legs.
“Fine by me, let's head over now,” Vincent said.
“I have to see this so I'm coming as well,” Celes said. Alrion looked at them both. He was trying to hide his concern, but he wasn't sure he was doing it well. He wasn't ready for a test. Not when they just announced he was a wizard.
“Don't worry, lad, you'll do fine,” Falric said. Vincent strode towards the door, opened it, and waited for the rest to leave. Alrion was last.
3
The Test
They walked in silence to Vincent's workshop. Alrion's steps were heavy and slow. He wanted more time.
He looked over at his mother and she also seemed nervous. She kept stealing looks at Vincent, trying to find an opportunity to talk. However, his father just walked on, his posture stiff and unnatural. Falric looked like he was somewhere else, his mind processing something.
This is really happening.
“We're here, let me open up,” Vincent said. He unlocked the front door and swung it open, disappearing inside soon after. Again, Alrion waited and was the last to enter the workshop. He could see everyone congregated around a few lit lamps in the middle of the room.
“This should be fine,” Falric said, looking around.
“Good. How is this going to work?” Vincent said.
“There's nothing to it. I'll explain as we go.” Falric walked over to the nearest workbench. He reached into his bag and removed an ornate gilded lamp with a gold base and glass sides.
“This here is a magical artifact. It operates like a lamp; however, instead of being lit by oil, it is lit by the Spark of a wizard. If you have the gift, it will light without any additional spells required.” Falric placed a hand on the lamp and it instantly ignited, a controlled flame dancing inside.
“Wow!” Alrion was amazed. Seeing that flame suddenly appear was magical.
“Pretty nice, isn't it?” Falric looked to be enjoying himself.
“Dad you should try it too,” Alrion said.
“No thanks, this is for you,” Vincent crossed his arms and took a step back. Falric extinguished the flame and looked over at Alrion.
“Care to give it a try?”
Alrion looked around the room. He shuffled his feet on the floor, hesitating. Finally, he crept closer to the lamp.
“What do I need to do?”
“Just place both hands on the lamp, close your eyes and think about it lighting up,” Falric said.
“And that will work? Is that a spell?”
“No, it's just a useful way of focusing yourself to make the test work better. This is a spell,” Falric said, and he made a flame appear above his open hand flickering in the slight breeze. Alrion rushed over and looked at it, curiosity overtaking him.
“Does it burn?” Alrion was tempted to wave his hand through it.
“It sure does. But let's not get too distracted. You will learn this as part of your training.” Falric let the flame wink out and he pointed to the lamp.
Alrion nodded and headed back to it. He inspected it closely, procrastinating. He didn't feel magical, surely that was something you could tell. He was going to look quite foolish when he failed this test.
“It's just as simple as holding it?” he said.
“Absolutely,” Falric said.
“OK, I'll try.” Alrion placed his hands on the lamp gingerly, like he was afraid to hold onto it.
“A firmer grip will work better,” Falric said, seeing the hesitation. Alrion held on a little tighter but was still tentative. He looked over at his parents. His mother was holding his father's hand, and squeezing it hard. He gave her a reassuring look, then returned his gaze to Alrion.
There's no other way, I just have to try.
Alrion closed his eyes, trying to think about a spark or flame lighting up the lamp. He felt so awkward with this wizard and his parents staring at him while he held a magic lamp. What if this was all some kind of prank?
Here goes, he thought, focusing his attention more. But his mind wandered. He wondered what might happen, and if this thing really was magical. He got angry about how he had been put on the spot since he knew nothing about magic or wizards. He felt a sudden intense heat within him, then realised it was real. He opened his eyes and saw a giant flame leaping out of the lamp. He removed his hands immediately, panic rising within him. The extent of the flame, and the wild manner in which it had risen scared him. He had done almost nothing, and yet the flame was colossal.
“I need some air,” Alrion said, and ran for the door. It was like the flame he had created had sucked all the air out of the room, and he just needed to breathe again.
“There's no debate about that result.” Vincent peered at the black scorch mark on the ceiling.
“That was a success,” Falric said.
“Go after him,” Celes said. Vincent nodded and left the room.
He stepped into the cool night air and looked around for Alrion. He saw his son striding down the street, towards the town exit. Vincent upped his pace and followed close behind. He needed to catch up with his son and calm him down.
Alrion was slowing, and Vincent slowed too. Soon they were walking together.
“Hey, slow down a minute,” Vincent said. He put a hand on his son's shoulder.
“Sorry, I just had to get out of there. I couldn't breathe.” Alrion finally stopped and turned to face Vincent.
“That's fine, tell me what happened.”
“Well, I just felt awkward and on the spot. And I got angry and annoyed at you all. And I felt the heat of my anger and saw the flame. I don't know how else to say this, but it scared me.” Alrion looked down at the ground. He seemed ashamed of himself.
“Because it was so strange?” Vincent needed to understand what was behind this sudden panic.
“Yes, and because it came from me. I know that. It was uncontrolled and unexpected. Even if that lamp was magic, it came from me.”
“Well, there's nothing wrong with that. It means you have a powerful gift, and you need to learn to control it.”
“What if I can't?” Alrion had a desperate look about him. Vincent sighed. This wasn't what he had wanted, but this wizard business was really happening. He had to support his son in it.
“Well, think about it. Clearly, this is something you were born with. Have you ever mysteriously burned any houses down?”
“No.” Alrion looked more hopeful. Vincent could see him coming around.
“Well, there you have it. You were doing just fine up until now, and from now on, you will be safe. Falric is an old hand; he will teach you how to control your gift.”
“You're right. But what about you? Why didn't you go through this?” Alrion looked at him for an answer, but Vincent just turned away.
“Let's walk back to the house,” he said. He started walking and Alrion followed. After a minute or two, Vincent spoke up again.
“Like I said before, I didn't have what it takes to be a wizard. My father was one and it consumed his life, so there was a bit of friction there. He wanted me by his side regardless. I left to live my own life.”
“Why me then?” Alrion stopped and looked into Vincent's eyes.
“Who knows? The world works in mysterious ways. But you clearly have his gift, so it's up to you to nurture it.”
“What do wizards do anyway?” Alrion started walking again and Vincent breathed a sigh of relief.
“Well, Falric will be the best person to tell you. But, I can imagine that you will travel the world and help people. When you're not working on becoming a better wizard, that is. I don't think it's the type of thing you master overnight.”
“I think you're right,” Alrion said. They were back in front of their house.
“Come with me, I have something for you.” Vincent entered the house and walked straight to his bedroom. He rummaged through his wardrobe and removed a dusty wooden box. Instead of a normal lock it had a strange mechanism. Vincent pressed special parts of the box and it opened. He withdrew a soft blue pouch, closed the box, and put it back where he found it.
“Here, this was given to me by my father. Now I'm giving it to you.” Vincent handed Alrion the pouch. Alrion opened it and removed a silver ring with a blue stone set in the middle. The ring was on a silver chain.
“What is this?” His eyes were bright with curiosity. Vincent chuckled.
“It's a magical ring. He told me it would keep me from harm. I'm not sure how it works, but here I am. So maybe it will be of use to you.”
“Thanks, I'll keep it with me.” Alrion returned the ring to the pouch and put it in his pocket.
“You know it's funny, after all this time I never lost it. It always showed up when I felt like I needed it. Anyway, take good care of it and keep it with you always.”
“Why didn't you ever mention all this before?”
“I wanted you to have a normal upbringing. This magic stuff is about as far from normal as you can get. I didn't even know if you would have the gift. So, I did the best job I could raising you, without all that hanging over your head. You always felt that you were meant for more than blacksmithing, and I guess this is it.”
“I guess so.”
“Think about me for a moment, I'm about to lose my best apprentice!” Vincent hoped he could lighten the mood.
“I'm your only apprentice,” Alrion said, but he did crack half a smile.
“I think I hear your mother, let's go take a look.” Vincent walked back to the living room. Falric and Celes had just arrived.
“So, you'll set off tomorrow?” Celes said. Vincent looked over at Falric.
“Yes, tomorrow is best. You will need to make a few preparations before you leave,” Falric said.
“True, and the workshop will have to remain closed while I'm away.” Vincent started thinking through what he needed to do.
“Well, in that case, we should celebrate. A farewell feast for my wizard son,” Celes said smiling at Alrion. He returned a cautious smile.
“Don't worry, you'll become accustomed to the title soon. You will feel it in your very being,” Falric said.
“If you say so.” Alrion shrugged his shoulders.
