The Legend Of The Wizard's Apprentice (Book 1) (14 page)

Kerwyn slowly dropped the blanket and the light started to make Kerwyn flinch and he thought of a quick spell to dim the light in the room. He tried to draw in the One Power and realized that he couldn’t sense the One Power. So instead he said the magic words to dim the light in the room
“Dim Lux Lucis”
but nothing happened.

“Master, why can I not feel the One Power? Also my spell won’t work,” Kerwyn said in a panic.

“Don’t worry Kerwyn; you will be back to normal soon. It is like a person who has been drunk on liquor for quite a while. He has dimmed his senses to the normal amount of liquor and so takes more alcohol to get him and keep him drunk. I’m sure you’ve seen the soldiers at the taverns. They can out-drink most people. All they do is drink spirits and ale. So it’s kind of like that with you; you have taken too much of the One Power into you at one time and your body doesn’t know how to react to it. In other words you have been saturated with it and you can not draw on anymore until you use up what you have stored in you,” finished Master Sernett.

“But Master Sernett, that doesn’t make any sense to me. If I am full of the One Power then why can I not even cast one simple spell?” Kerwyn questioned with sorrow in his voice.

“Oh Kerwyn, think of yourself as being drunk. Your body does not yet know how to use so much of the One Power stored in your body. I will warn you that when you do start to cast spells again, even your simple spells could be dangerous for the rest of us. You could have a simple fire starter spell burn down a huge part of the forest. You look like a shining star of energy to me. I would be able to see you with my wizard sight even through walls at this point. I have never used even half of the amount of the One Power you have resting in you, even during my most powerful spell casting that has left me drained for a week once I had cast it. Ah Kerwyn, you are a marvel. Mother Nature has chosen you for something very special and she is making sure you have the Power to do it,” said Master Sernett shaking his head and resting his hand on Erlina’s shoulder.

“Ok Kerwyn, you have to lower the blanket so we can see how you are doing. Erlina has been worried sick about you and has hardly left your side since you were brought here almost two weeks ago.” Kerwyn could tell that Master Sernett wouldn’t take no for an answer, so he slowly dropped the blanket and was squinting until his eyes adjusted to the bright light of the room.

Kerwyn looked at Erlina and both saw and heard her take in a breath of air that filled her lungs. Looking over at Master Sernett, he saw the wizard open his eyes wide and take an involuntary step back from Kerwyn’s bed.

“What? What is it? What makes you both fear me? Have I been disfigured in some way from the One Power?” asked Kerwyn with real panic in his voice.

After a few seconds Master Sernett regained his composure and took a step towards Kerwyn. He placed his hands upon the sides of his face and said some magic words that Kerwyn couldn’t hear. Kerwyn could also not feel any magic coming from his master other then for his skin warming under his Master’s touch.

“Master, what’s wrong, will I be alright?” Kerwyn said in a small fear-filled voice.

“Hush my boy, you’re going to be just fine. I just need to see what’s gone on with you. Erlina, why don’t you come over to the other side of the bed and hold Kerwyn’s hand? I bet that would help take his mind off of this.” At the direction of Master Sernett, Erlina crossed to the other side of the bed and almost hesitantly reached out and took Kerwyn’s hand in her own.

Kerwyn looking up into Erlina’s eyes saw the concern on her face like it was a painted picture. Keeping his mind on her face Kerwyn let Master Sernett do what he was doing.

“Damn Elvin Wizards!” turning to face Master Sernett who had just cursed the elvin wizards, Kerwyn saw the serious look on his Master’s face.

“What is it, Master Sernett? Will I be ok?” Kerwyn asked again.

“Will you be ok, will you be ok, you ask?... how should I know, I have never before in my life seen such a thing happen to anyone. Do you have any idea what happened when the Elvin wizards were filling you up with the One Power? No, well let me tell you. You not only have two eyes that are different colours, but each one glows with a bright inner light. Your black eye glows with a red light from within and it is as scary as anything. Almost like the Dark Wizard was here looking back at me. Your blue eye has gone such an intense blue that it is glowing and is such an icy blue light that it is almost too hard to stare into. No wonder the lights hurt you. I bet you could see in the dark with your glowing eyes. Also, I think some of the wizards’ life force transferred to you as well because you now have the look of an elf about you. If I didn’t know who you were I’d swear that you were Elvin born. I must say that you look more Elvin then some of the half -elves that I have seen through out my years. Mark my words: when I’m through with those Elvin wizards, they are going to regret doing whatever they did to you,” said Master Sernett as he turned on his heels and stormed out of the room in search of the Elvin wizards.

Turning to face Erlina, he saw her flinch and look away from the direct contact with his eyes.

“Erlina, am I so hideous that you cannot look at me?” asked Kerwyn while withdrawing his hand from hers.

“You are not hideous at all Kerwyn, you are very attractive. The Elvin change in you has made you much more handsome then you were as a straight human and you were handsome to start with. But it is your black eye that disturbs me. I can almost feel my own demise when looking into that eye; it is like looking into death itself. While looking into your blue eye is like looking into the eye of a god, it’s like you can see straight through me and into my soul,” said Erlina, her eyes still not looking into Kerwyn’s.

“Erlina, when I look at you, all I see is kindness and beauty in a very strong and proud woman. You are right though, I can see right into your soul and I see a very dedicated princess to her people and her family; someone who would do almost anything to ensure they are kept safe,” said Kerwyn.

“How could you possibly see all that when you look at me?” asked Erlina looking up and catching his blue eye while avoiding his black eye.

“You seem to forget that we have been in battle together. I do not need special sight to see all that about you. Erlina, you are the most wonderful women I have ever met. You were the first person to cast a spell when your mom was hurt. You were right there there during the battle with the trolls. You have been here by me since I was brought in here and even my master said that you have hardly left my side. If that doesn’t tell me who you are, what would? My special sight? Hardly! I do not need special sight to see how perfect you are,” Kerwyn blurted all this out without thinking. Erlina threw her arms around Kerwyn and gave him a big hug and a kiss on the blue-eyed side of his cheek. Whispering that she was very happy that he had survived and how upset she was when they couldn’t wake him earlier.

Just then there was a commotion outside of his room and it was coming closer. They could hear Master Sernett yelling at someone and then the door to Kerwyn’s room banged open. There stood Master Sernett with his staff out and it was glowing an intense green.

“Get in there you scoundrel and take a look for yourself if you don’t believe me. But next time you call me a liar, I swear that it will be the last time you ever call anyone a liar,” Master Sernett said in a very angry voice.

“Master Sernett, you have no authority here in the elvin domain. I am the head wizard and what you say is impossible. Please put up your staff and let’s discuss this like reasonable wizards,” said the newcomer to Kerwyn’s room.

“Just look at him and tell me I am lying again,” dared Master Sernett.

“Forgive the intrusion, Master Kerwyn, but your Master seems to think that you have been corrupted by elvin magic,” said the elvin wizard who had not yet looked at Kerwyn.

Turning to finally look at Kerwyn, the wizard drew in a quick breath and backed up. Holding up his hands he began to draw on the One Power. There was a sizzling sound behind him and Master Sernett cast a shock spell at the wizard before he had a chance to cast a spell at Kerwyn.

“Now there, Master Wizard, I told you that I would protect my boy and protect him I will,” said Master Sernett.

After being zapped by Master Sernett’s shock spell, the elvin wizard dropped to the floor and then tried to stand again. He shook his head and looked up again at Kerwyn and said a little prayer to the elvish god of long life.

Slowly regaining his feet the master wizard approached Kerwyn’s bedside again. He said nothing but only looked deeply at Kerwyn. When finally he did speak it was in very hushed tones, “Master Kerwyn, how do you feel? On second thought I want to know
what
you feel instead.”

“I am not sure that I understand what you mean Master Wizard?” queried Kerwyn with a shake of his head.

“Please call me Faunus, and yes I am the master wizard of the forest elves. I am the oldest living being in this forest next to the forest dragon, Fafnir, and the forest witch, Druantia. I have been alive a very, very long time. But that is not important right now. Master Kerwyn, did you know that your Master Sernett is a very persuasive man? He told me about your condition and I would never have believed him if he hadn’t used that magical staff and force me up and out of my chair. Which reminds me, Master Sernett, I would very much like to inspect that wonderful staff of yours? I have never seen a finer staff in all my long years and I do believe that it is god-made. Even our elvin weapon smiths couldn’t match the quality of the staff you hold.

Anyway, I am getting side tracked again. Master Kerwyn, let me take a look at you... Humm, I see that you have indeed taken on a lot of the One Power. Truly, you are glowing like a small sun. I see what Master Sernett was concerned about. Your eyes do seem to be peculiar, hmm, one black as night and the other the brightest of days. Looks like you have good and evil living in you, Master Kerwyn. I wonder how that would have happened.

I think you may have to go and talk to the forest witch, Druantia. She may have the answers and if she doesn’t then I would go and try and talk to the oldest living creature in the forest, the forest dragon, Fafnir. Ha-ha, now remember, he is a dragon and they do like to cook and eat anything that comes within range so you might want to get his attention before he roasts you to a cinder. Dragons aren’t known for chatting first and eating after. They tend to breathe fire and cook you before you have time to say hello. Dragons are such impatient creatures; it’s a wonder that they have lived so long and have become so intelligent.

You know, I remember one time when I was just a youngling; I went to see Fafnir to ask him a question. Come to think of it, I was lucky to make it out of his forest cave without getting roasted and he never did answer my question. Hmm... I wonder what my question was. Oh my, it has been such a very long time since I have thought about that dragon.

“Master Faunus, could we get back to how do we can help Kerwyn, which is why I got you in the first place,” pressed Master Sernett impatiently.

“Master Sernett, you are always in such a hurry. As I told you earlier this morning when you came and got me; we have all the time in the world here. With that fancy magical barrier that Master Kerwyn cast, no one is coming or going from the elvin domain, so why the rush? You humans are always rushing to get here, then rush to go there, then rush to get back, always the rushing with you humans. You’re all like a bunch of flies, buzzing from here to there, then back again and then you die. It’s such a waste of life never having enough time to stop and smell the flowers as we say.”

“Master Faunus, humans do not live as long as the elves and we need to do as much as we can in the time that we have. That is the way of humans. When something needs to be done, we get it done. We don’t have centuries upon centuries to complete certain tasks,” said Master Sernett.

“Oh alright, Master Sernett, patience is something that the human race really could use more of. Sometimes having enough time to think about a problem will eventually give you the answer you were looking for... wish I could remember what it was I went to the dragon about... oh well, that’s for another time. Ok Master Kerwyn, let me place my hands upon you and see why you have been turned into a partial elf,” Master Faunus placed his hands on the side of Kerwyn’s head the same way Master Sernett had done. Again Kerwyn did not feel the power building in Master Faunus, just the feeling of warmth under his hands.

“Oh my, Master Kerwyn, you have a lot going on inside that head of yours...very peculiar. I can sense multiple entities living within you. There are at least three separate beings roaming around in your head. I can sense you, Mother Nature’s presence and one other; an evil presence that I cannot identify. It is like the evil has attached itself to your soul at birth and has been inside you growing along with you. Hmm, I wonder whom, or what has become a very real part of your life, but it’s one that wants you dead,” concluded Master Faunus as he took his hands off of Kerwyn’s head and turned to look at Master Sernett, a very serious look about his eyes.

“Master Sernett, I think you and I will need to have a conversation in private,” said Master Faunus and, with that, he started to walk towards the door. Stopping and turning around he said to Kerwyn, “Now Master Kerwyn, I would suggest you get up and get something to eat, and get some exercise. I have a feeling that if you can open that barrier anytime soon; you will be heading to see the witch. I think it would be very wise to get well rested and very well fed, as it is a perilous trek to her tree. Be safe, Master Kerwyn, and please drop in to see me before you leave. I think our paths will again merge and I think I like you the way you are now. Let’s try and keep you that way, shall we?” Master Faunus turned and walked out without another word.

Master Sernett was speechless and he didn’t know what to say. So he turned and walked out the door after Master Faunus trying to make some sense out of the whole conversation. At a loss, Kerwyn turned to look at Erlina and asked her to find his cloths because he needed to use the facilities and then they should go find something to eat. Erlina went over and collected his clothing. Feeling very self-conscious he asked her to turn around while he quickly jumped out of bed and got dressed. Erlina thought that this was very funny as she had seen naked elves many times before in the bath houses and when swimming in the rivers. Elves were not as modest as humans were when it came to nakedness. They regarded a good naked physical shape as one would admire a beautiful flower and to be in excellent physical shape went along with the long lived. It was just a part of who and what the forest elves were.