Wizard's Chronicle: Chapter 5

Nausea

While Thomas and his family were walking around the plaza. Mythos had one of his fits again.

"Father. I feel dizzy."

Thomas and Elena looked at each other.

Thomas quickly took hold of his son.

On Mythos's skin he could see violet spots on his arms and his face.  Mythos eyes were dreamy like he was about to fall asleep.

Thomas quickly decided to enter the nearest inn.

They took a table and they rested Mythos on a chair.

The innkeeper approached them looking for someway he might assist.

"Mister innkeeper, do you have a chair with an armrest?" Thomas inquired.

The innkeeper glanced briefly at Mythos. His look of concern was quickly mixed with a hint of fear. Thomas noticed that the people who were dinning in during that time were feeling the same.

They were no stranger to the danger of a gifted child having fits.

Still the innkeeper came back momentarily with a new chair. He even helped Thomas transfer Mythos to the new chair.  But Thomas knew that if the innkeeper had a choice, he would not dare touch Mythos.

"Thank you innkeeper."

"Anything else sir?" The innkeeper asked.

"Please bring me and my wife something to eat and a soup with broth for my child."

The innkeeper nodded.

Elena pulled her chair near Mythos and she held his hand stroking it gently as if that would help ease his pain.  But they both knew that there was nothing they could do but wait.

"I can't bear to see him like this." Elena was near tears.

"I know wife." Thomas sighed and slumped his back on his own chair. "I hope the wizards can cure whatever ails him."

Thomas wondered, why does it have to be his son?  If only he could take the child's pain instead.

"Little witches." Someone in the inn spat. He was a thin, frail, and balding man. He was probably frustrated to be in the inn during this time and he could run lest town people brand him a coward. "Damn." He took a swig at his liquor. Cold perspiration were starting to form on his forehead.

Thomas was oblivious to the man cursing because his concern was for his son.  He noticed that Mythos's spot were beginning to disappear. He took a sigh of relief.

"He will be alright."Elena told him. She was now  able to smile.

The people in the inn who were frozen stiff on their chair began to relax.

Mythos slowly opened his eyes but it was obvious that he was still feeling dizzy.

"You alright?" Thomas asked.

Mythos forced a smile. "A little bit father."

"You had us worried there son. But it will be alright. The wizards will find a way to cure you."

Mythos tried to nod.

Thomas tried to recall if anyone from his bloodline ever had the gift. As far as he can tell, there was no one. He was descended from a family of professional soldiers. There was no one in his family history of anyone being mentioned to be different. Mythos was the first one.

Elena was decended from a family of landowners: barons, and dukes. No one in her family history has ever been mentioned of having the gift.

"Why Now?" Thomas asked himself.

Wizard's Chronicle: Chapter 4

Secrets

Outside, Thomas was waiting for both of them. All three of them when down the stairs to the receiving room. Then they went outside the front of the house.

It was a beautiful morning. The sun was shining brightly and yet it did not feel hot. There were a lot of dragonflies flying in the garden in front of the manor house. And there were still traces of mist from the early morning.

A servant opened the carriage door and the three of them, Mythos, Elena, and Thomas, went inside.

His father already told him that he was to go with Wizard Stephen to Wizard City. He told him that that is where he needed to study from now on.

“Where is that place father?”

“I cannot exactly tell you because I have not been to that place myself. But I heard it is a nice place and you will like studying there.

You will meet a lot of other children. And you will make a lot of new friends.”

Mythos smiled at the thought of it. He always liked playing with other children.

He has playmates, Jethro and Rica. They were son and daughter of one of their servant. But apart from them he knows no other children outside their manor.

“Remember what I told you son.” His father said while the carriage started to move. “This is your first time to travel very far. You must be brave.”

“Yes father. I will remember.”

“That's my son.” His father ruffled his hair.

His mother sat silently beside him and his father. From time to time Mythos noticed her looking far outside.

One time she glanced at him.

He thought she looked sad but it was quickly gone in an instant. Still he wondered.

“Is there something wrong mama?”

She looked into his eyes and then gave him a kiss on his forehead.

“No son. Mama is just thinking about something.”

It took them half a days ride to reach the plaza. Mythos noticed that the sun was already past its zenith when they stepped out of the carriage.

The town was a collection of many houses and various shops. The ground of the whole town was paved with cobblestones. In the distance, to the west, you could see Forge Mountain rising majestically above the roofs.

Allen Town was the place where all the people who live in the whole Brigg's valley and outsiders, meet to trade.

There was a flurry of activities in the middle of the plaza. There were a lot of people. There was a caravan of carriages lined up. It reminded Mythos of Circus caravans except there were no animals, clowns, strongmen, and performers. The carriages where bare of decorations except for symbols of a staff and a flaming lion which mark that they belong to Wizard City.

Mythos has never seen so many children gathered in one place. Not even since he and his father were here one week ago.

Speaking of his father, Thomas seemed to be scanning the crowd looking for someone. Finally his father spotted him. Wizard Stephen waved at them from among the crowd.

His father walked over to Wizard Stephen. They shook hands.

“It's good that you have finally come.”

“Well, we don't really have a choice Wizard Stephen.”

Mythos overheard his father say from a distance. His father was squinting from the blinding light of the sun.

“Have you and your family taken lunch?”

“Not yet.”

“It is way past noon already. You first better get your family something to eat. Meanwhile we still have to wait for the rest to arrive.”

His father nodded and then went back to him and his mother.

They looked for a local inn so that they could eat.

Wizard's Chronicle: Chapter 3

Leavetakings

“Would you rather have him live with you but die after several months or would you sacrifice to be apart from him but give him a chance to live.”

When Wizard Stephen said that, Elena quickly forgot about her own pain and began to be concerned with her son.

“How do you think he will handle it?” She asked the Wizard.

“Madam, based on the children we have trained in the past, it was hard for them in the first three months. But don't worry. You're boy will get used to his situation.”

And that was the other thing that worried Elena. What if her son forgot about her. There were so many things to worry about. But only time will tell of what may become.

“When do you expect to leave with him?” Those words stung Elena's heart.

“In a week Madam. We still have to prepare the other children.”

A week. That was all they had. Only a week to say all the things that needed to be said. Only a week to impart all the lessons that parents need to tell their children.

With that Wizard Stephen and his two companions took their leave.

She and her husband were left holding onto each other. Through all this Thomas was just silent beside her.

She could feel that this ordeal was hard for him too. But he wa trying his best to look strong - for her.


The family spent the whole week going on picnics with their relatives and friends. They visited the beautiful places in Briggs Valley. They tried to cram as much happy memories with each other as they could.

They went fishing in Serendipity Lake. They went boating in the Alduin River. They went hunting in Gilden Forest.

In between their excursions Elena taught Mythos to read. Mythos could already read a little but she wanted him to improve more. She wanted to make sure that when she sends him letters he would be able to read them.

Fortunately, Mythos appears not to mind and he seemed to be enjoying it. , especially when she handed him books about the heroes of the past, mythical creatures, and far away places.

Seeing this, she felt that he would grow up to be an adventurous child. It was sad that she might not have the chance to see this. But what could she do? Like all parents, she would sacrifice anything for her child.

One week passed so quickly. Elena was folding Mythos's clothes when he noticed something.

“Mama why are you preparing only my clothes?”

Elena looked at him. She was silent for a moment. And then she smiled and said, “Because your Papa and I will not go with you today.”

Mythos looked puzzled.

“But your Papa and I will join you in a few days.” Elena bit her lips. It was a lie.

“Okay,” Mythos replied with his sweet child voice.

Elena placed his clothes in a few wooden chest. Then after she was finished she handed the chests to servants who took them to the carriage waiting outside.

Then Elena looked at him and smiled. “Ready?”

“Yes mother.”The boy replied.

Elena stood up and took his hand. They went out of the room.

Wizard's Chronicle: Chapter 2

Parent's Sacrifice

It took half a day to travel from Briggs Plaza to the Bryne's Manor.

At home his father talked immediately to his mother. Mythos saw his mother appear more and more distraught as their conversation went on.

She noticed him looking and she tried to smile. Then she and his father moved on to another room to continue their discussion.

Mythos Brynes was left alone in the front room with just one servant standing by.

He was thinking about what to play inside the house but he decided to go to the garden instead.


Inside their room, husband and wife discussed. Elena was crying now.

“No. I won't have it,” She said defiantly between sobs and tears. “They are not going to take our son.”

Thomas wanted to calm his wife but he could not find the words to ease her pain.

“He is too young.” Elena continued as she looked at him. With a look that seem to ask if there was anyway he could prevent this.

But Thomas could not do anything but embrace his wife and let her cry on his chest. He too was anguishing at the thought that their only child will leave them soon. It was all happening so fast.

“Tomorrow Wizard Stephen will come.” He did not want to say it because it will add to more pain to his wife but she has to know.

Elena wailed harder.

The next morning, a servant came over to Thomas to say that a guest was waiting outside. He instructed the servant to let them inside.

He and his wife waited for the guest in the receiving room.

As expected, Wizard Stephen came in. He was accompanied by two young men in white robes. They were magician apprentices.

“Master Thomas, Madam Elena.” They exchanged greetings.

Elena tried to stipple a sob.

“I know you are aware about the reason I came here.” Wizard Stephen looked a the couple measurably.

“We are aware Wizard Stephen.” replied Thomas.

“No this is not true!” Elena could no longer control it. She broke down into a flood of anguish.

Thomas quickly came to his wife's aid.

“Please calm yourself madam.” Wizard Stephen implored.

“You people are so cruel. I carried that child in my womb nine months. You don't know the pain I endured to bring him to this world. I nurtured him for him to grow to what he is now. I love him. He is my flesh and blood. And who are you to him? Why do you come here to take what is not yours? Why do you come here to ruin our family?”

Wizard Stephen waited. He was aware that there is nothing he could do to appease a grieving mother. But when she finally calmed down, he began to explain the first reason why children with gifts need to live in Wizard City.

“Madam.” He began. “Yesterday your husband and son came to us at the plaza, as was customary. We tested a lot of children. And we have found your son, Mythos, to possess the gift.” Wizard Stephen wanted to say that Mythos maybe the strongest he have found in a thousand years but it was irrelevant at the moment. “We must take your son to your son to Wizard City to train him.

This is for his own safety and yours.”

He then began to relate to them several stories about untrained children. He told them about a boy who began to manifest the gift.

For some reason the Wizards were not able to find him and test him. A whole year passed and the child died because he accidentally triggered a spell and burned himself.

He also told them about how on several occasions whole families died and about villages raised to the ground due to accidents caused by spells.

“Would you rather have him with you but die within a few months. Or would you sacrifice to be apart from him but give him a chance to live?”

Wizard Stephen knew the stories will not be enough to ease the madam's pain but atleast she appeared calmer now– although she is still wiping off tears.

“Is there a way that we could see him even once in a while?” She asked. Her tone with a hint of begging.

“You could madam. But only after he learned to reign his gift. But before that it will be a dangerous time for him or anyone around him.”

“How long will that take?”

“One year, two years, three years, five years. It depends.”

Elena looked at her husband forlornly. “No,” She said helpless and resigned to their fate.

Then Wizard Stephen seem to have thought of other things. “May I ask?”

“What is it Wizard Stephen?” Thomas was stroking his wife's back.

“Have you started noticing something different about Mythos?”

“Like what?” Elena sobbed. She appeared weaker than when Wizard Stephen first entered the receiving room. She was leaning on her husband for support. And her hand was gripping his hand tightly.

“Dizzyness, Fever that isn't there, Boil Skin but not red but of different discolor.”

Elena and Thomas looked at each other - a bit surprised. “Yes.” They both replied.

“When did this happen?”

“About a year ago. It happens every other month ever since.” Thomas said. "Why? What does it mean?"

Wizard Stephen did not notice himself as he began to stroke his long white beard. He started to think deeply.

“This is not good.” He murmured to himself.

Wizard's Chronicle: Chapter 1

A Test

Mythos clung to his father’s hand as they made their way to the strange old man in long flowing robe and beard.

The man lifted his head from the scroll where he was writing and nodded to Mythos and his father.

Mythos and his father stepped forward.

The man with the long beard took an examining gaze at the child.

Mythos held his father’s hand tighter.

“It’s alright son.”

“Come child. Let go of your father for a while.”

Mythos felt hesitant but he still obeyed.

For a moment he stood there in silence while the man closed his eyes.

It appears to Mythos that he was in deep concentration.

When the man opened his eyes there was a bright blinding aura glowing around Mythos.

The crowd in the plaza gasped.

Mythos did not know what to do. He did not know where the strange glow was coming from.

“Father…”

“I’m here son,” Came the voice from the crowd. The aura was so bright that he could not see the other people around him.

Then suddenly it was gone like it was never there in the first place.

When he looked again the old man’s attention has turned from him to his father.

“Mister Brynes right?”

“That is correct Wizard Stephen.”

“You need to give me directions to your house. As I would need to visit you personally after the testing.”

“As you wish Wizard Stephen.”

His father came to the wizard’s table. He was given a parchment where he drew the directions to their house.

Then his father took him again.

Mythos looked behind him and he saw another child being tested.

“See that wasn’t long.” His father turned to him as they started walking back to their carriage.

Mythos smiled.

His father smile back but Mythos noticed there was something different about him.

Like he was worried.

Wizard's Chronicle: Prologue

A Spurned Wizard

Once there was a wizard far south of Altera. This wizard was ill treated by their king.

Because this kingdom never suffered any war during the whole of its history; no famine nor pestilence ever visited it; the king and all the people felt that the wizard was a redundancy in their kingdom.

What need do they have for a wizard? There's no sickness to cure; no enemy to turn back; no pest to rid. No, nothing to consult him with. It was such a relief for them that they have only one wizard. How awful would it have been if there were two?

Because of this, the wizard was relegated to the task of entertaining the king and the people during feasts and during great occasions, which the wizard resented very much. The wizard had a high esteem for his art. And providing mere entertainment as a profession was revolting.

One time, during the feast of the king's mother's birthday, the king asked the wizard to perform an entertaining trick for him, his mother, the people, and the guests.

"Prove to my guests that I have the best wizard in all the land and the best there will ever be," The king said.

All the music stopped and all the activity. Everybody's attention was focused on the wizard.

"I have just the thing for you, my great king," Boasted the wizard.

The king and the crowd listened.

"I will call upon lightning to come out from the very ceiling of this magnificent hall of our castle and strike the caskets of wine there."

There was a moment of silence, which was broken by the king's laughter.

" Ha, ha, ha. Enough of that my wizard. Any magician can do that" The king spoke. "What I am thinking is a more challenging and entertaining trick."

The proud wizard's grin disappeared. He looked around him shamed and dejected. With an effort, he hid it.

"Bid me my king," Said the wizard trying to manage a smile. "What would satisfy your appetite for magic?"

"Turn into a donkey," The king said without hesitation. “Stay that way for a few moments. Then turn your self back to human.”

"But my king," The wizard protested. "What you ask of me is a very difficult task. If I turn myself into a donkey, everything of me will be a donkey. And I will not have much intelligence left to turn myself back to human. Why don't you let me turn somebody else into a donkey and then I can turn him right back to human."

"That's is not what I want my boy," Said the king blandly.

"Having left with no choice, the wizard set about the task. Slowly he turned into a donkey. Everyone was amazed and they laughed on top of their wines. He remained a donkey for a few moments struggling to remember who he was for dear life. Perspiration beaded from the donkey's forehead and the donkey's eyes grew wild.

The crowd bursted into a row of laughter.

One of the king's guards, who was terribly drunk, stepped in front and bawled, "Let's see if this donkey is authentic."

"Let' s do to this donkey what all donkeys are good for." Then he kicked the donkey's behind.

The donkey lost its footing and fell flat on the floor. It turned back into the wizard: exhausted and gasping for breath.

This elicited a more boisterous laughter from the people.

"Great work wizard!" Said the king unable to control his laughter. "Great work!"

As soon as the wizard caught his breath he ran away from the crowd. Tears welled from his eyes as he exited the hall.


From then on, he plotted to get back on his king and the people. He consulted books about the ancient black art. He studied necromancy. He summoned great demons and took over the kingdom using them.

But having immersed himself with evil, he grew worse. He not only dreamt of conquering this kingdom, but also the others that are in the land.

From the Author

In the past I have written a technical blog. Finding a relevant topic to post can be a struggle. There are days that I could not find a worthy subject to post.

When my most visited technical journal got deleted by accident or some technical glitch, I began to think.

What if I spent those times writing technical stuff to composing works of fiction instead?

Perhaps I may have already completed two novels. Or I may already have several novelettes or novellas.

This is my attempt to go back to a form of art I really enjoy.

But be warned. Most of the things you will read are works in progress. I may omit or add to them as I deem necessary.

But please enjoy. Most of the stuffs you will find here are rough. But I am sure you will feel my passion when I wrote them.