by Rain Oxford
“You have nowhere to go.”
“You’re wrong. There are people who care about me.”
“Liar. No one cares about you and no one ever will.” He rushed the boy, counting on shock to hold the boy still. Boy did not stay still, however. He closed his eyes and swung the poker when he sensed the man upon him. The poker was stopped by Mekeko’s solid body a second before he heard another terrible crash and a startled shout. Mekeko’s body was not made strong against physical abuse as Boy’s had been.
Seri rushed in and screamed. Only then did the boy open his eyes and see what he had done. The pain Mekeko felt from the poker had stunned him enough that he had collapsed against the wooden wardrobe, striking his head on the edge. He was dead.
Seri grabbed the boy by his shirt collar and dragged him into the main room of the house. For one instant, he thought that she was trying to get him away from Mekeko— that she cared about his wellbeing. Then he realized the truth; she was dragging him towards the fire.
He reacted instinctively, pushing against her with both of his hands. She flew across the room and was slammed into the wall. Boy slowly gathered his wits despite the curses the woman screamed at him. When he could stand, he went to her. He felt no love for a woman who would kill him for defending himself.
“I should have cut your throat when I found you,” Seri snarled. “Your mother knew you were a rotten child; that’s why she threw you away.”
“I was a good son. You’re just a terrible mother. And that necklace is my mother’s.” He snapped the chain off her neck and walked away without another word.
* * *
Boy traveled for days before finding a village. He was shy at first, watching everyone to determine how people other than Seri and Mekeko acted. Mostly, he watched how people acted with their children. No one here struck or demeaned their children. He ate scrap food that the people threw out for the animals to eat, but he felt bad for stealing their food and started taking care of them. He found a discarded blanket in the field and used it to comfort a pregnant pig. He found wood from an abandoned house and used it to fix pens and build temporary shelters for the animals.
The people took note of Boy’s work ethics and gave him jobs, like washing clothes and cleaning dishes in exchange for food and clothing. When a house burned down, everyone in the village worked together to rebuild it, including Boy. No one asked for anything in return. That was when they accepted Boy. Even other children asked him to play when they were done with their chores. Boy was not used to other children, however, and didn’t know how to play. Eventually, they gave up trying to encourage him. Instead, Boy started working in the fields.
One day, while he was resting by the stream, two women approached him quietly. Not expecting to be disturbed, he was practicing his magic by levitating fish in small bubbles of water. He didn’t want to hurt the fish; he only wanted to see them.
“You have magic?” one of the women asked.
Boy flinched and dropped the fish back into the water. “I... yes, but I wouldn’t do anything wrong with it.”
“We’re not going to hurt you,” the other woman said gently. “Magic can be a good thing. You can help people with it.”
“I want to. A wizard came to me a long time ago and said that I was someday going to be amazing. He said I would be the greatest wizard he knew, and that he would train me himself. The problem is, now that I’m ready to be trained, I don’t know how to find him.”
“Well, there are some powerful wizards on Duran. If you can’t find him, I’m sure one of them can help.”
“Really? That would be great!”
“You’ll meet a lot of them on Shomodii.”
“What is that?”
“The land west of here. Don’t you know anything about our world?”
“I’ve never been away from my parents, I can’t read, and I’ve only ever seen other people at the markets where my father sold our harvest.”
The woman grimaced. “Unfortunately, that is pretty common as well. The world is a lot larger than your parents had led you to believe.”
* * *
The next day, the two women packed some of the harvest in their wagon to take to the west shore. They invited Boy to go with them. The journey took three days and he could hardly contain his excitement. No captain was willing to take the boy at first, as he had no money. Fortunately, the women were able to convince them that Boy would do the work of three men. One of them was willing to take the chance and agreed to take Boy across the sea to Shomodii.
Boy loved the sea, thinking it was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. The men there were friendly once they realized he pulled his weight. He did more than the work of three men, and he did it gratefully, making the captain sad to see him go when they reached Shomodii. He was proud of himself when the captain promised he was welcome back on the ship any time. It was a choice he had earned— a future that was available to him because he was good.
He traveled by foot, hoping to find a village that would direct him to a wizard who could help him. Instead, he only found homes. Many of the people he ran across were wizards themselves, but were unwilling or unable to help. A few of them, however, suggested he find a wizard named Yatunus-mal Kiro, and were willing to point him in the right direction.
By the time he reached the wizard’s cabin, he was exhausted and hungry. He was good at growing his food, but not at hunting it. The wizard was sitting on the porch of his cabin. “Hello,” Boy said cautiously. He didn’t want to insult or frighten the wizard.
“Hello,” the wizard responded, not insulted or frightened. “Do you need help?”
Boy nodded. “I need to find a wizard who said he would train me when I was old enough.”
“Do you know his name?”
“Merlin. Do you know him?”
“I’ve heard of a Merlin, but he may not be your Merlin. Either way, there is no Merlin on Duran.”
“Then you can’t help me?”
“I can’t, but my son can. Walk with me.” The boy obeyed. The wizard was kind as he asked Boy questions. He wanted to know Boy’s entire history. After all, he couldn’t let just anyone around his son.
They reached the cabin of the younger wizard and Kiro went inside to speak to his son. Boy waited outside, afraid that he would get yelled at. He didn’t know what to expect from wizards.
When the younger wizard emerged from the house with a plate of bread and cheese, Boy was surprised. The wizard looked kind. “My name is Dylan. What’s yours?” he asked, handing Boy the food.
“Boy.” Boy didn’t eat.
“That’s not the name your mother gave you.”
“I don’t think she lived long enough to give me a name, and the people who raised me didn’t care enough to.”
Dylan invited Boy to sit in one of the chairs on the porch. Since Boy’s parents never allowed him to sit in a chair, it was a special privilege he didn’t think he’d earned.
“If you were to choose your own name, what would you want?” Dylan asked, not forcing Boy to sit.
Boy shrugged. “I don’t know enough names to like one.”
“Fair enough. You said the wizard you’re looking for is named Merlin?”
“Yes.”
“Did he give you anything?”
Boy shook his head.
“Do you remember what he looked like?”
“Yes.”
“Are you sure? Every detail?”
“I remember. I can see everything I have ever seen.” It wasn’t just because that moment was special to him; Boy had an impeccable memory.
“Good.” Dylan gently grabbed Boy’s arm and they sensed each other’s power. Boy didn’t understand what it was, but Dylan did. “You are surprisingly powerful. If you want, I would be happy to train you myself.”
“Thank you, but I don’t want to let Merlin down. If he hadn’t told me about my magic, I would have thought something was wrong with me. Because of him, I know I’ll be free somed
ay. He gave me something to look forward to.”
“That’s important. Just know that if anything happens, I’m happy to help. Now remember him. Imagine him standing in front of you.” Boy pictured Merlin in his mind and with a flash of light, he vanished.
“Poor kid has such a long way to go to get home,” Dylan said.
“He’ll make it,” Kiro replied.
* * *
Boy opened his eyes and gasped; he was standing before a cabin in the middle of a forest. He knocked on the door and smiled when Merlin answered. “I did it! I found you and I’m ready to learn magic.”
Merlin did not look happy, however. “Come inside,” he said solemnly. The boy did as he was told and sat on the chair he was told to sit on. “Things have happened since we last spoke. Actually, things have happened in the last month.”
Boy didn’t understand why Merlin looked so sad. “What kind of things?”
“I have had more dreams about you.”
“About me being great?”
Merlin said nothing and he wouldn’t look at Boy.
“What’s wrong? You said you’d train me.”
“I told you that my dreams always come true.”
“And I believe you. It has given me hope for years.”
This only made Merlin’s expression pained.
“Please tell me what’s wrong, Merlin. Am I too late?”
“You are, child. I am so sorry. I have seen what would happen if I train you in magic.”
“I’ll become great.”
“You will be great without me. If I teach you magic, I will see you dead.”
“Dead? How?”
“I am not sure. I only know that I cannot train you in magic. You do not need magic to be a great man, though.”
“What do I do?”
“Stop using magic. Learn to help people without it. There are worlds without magic that you can live peacefully on.”
“I can’t stop it. You told me I would use it and so I learned to. What could be so bad that you’ve changed your mind?”
“I want what is best for you, and that is to stop using magic.”
The boy was quiet for a while before nodding and saying, “Then show me how. I trust you, so if you think I can live without magic, I will. Just show me how.”
Merlin shook his head. “That is not enough. I am your undoing. You must leave me and this world. Go home.”
“I have no home. My… mother sent me to you,” Boy lied. It was not like him to lie, but he was willing to do anything to convince Merlin to keep him. He only wanted to be wanted. “Don’t send me away.”
“I have to.”
* * *
Boy left, reluctantly. He felt emotions boil in him that he didn’t understand— that he didn’t want to understand. As they did, he was unaware that his power was reacting to it. The more he tried to shove away his anger and resentment, the more it fed the magic inside. He lost out on several chances of happiness for Merlin, and Merlin didn’t want him. His parents didn’t want him. Even his mother sent him away. Did she really die? Maybe she lied to get rid of me, he thought.
He wandered the forest for three days, not meeting anyone else. He relied on his magic more and more with every passing moment, to the point where he didn’t watch where he was going or pay attention to what he was eating. When he was about to trip on something, that object would move. When he was hungry, he could tell what plant was edible and what wasn’t just by touch… and even those that were deadly had no effect on him.
He was alone with his mind and rejection. It was a poisonous concoction. Pain over Merlin’s rejection festered and paved the way for hate. He had never hated his parents, but they had never given him hope before.
“He is afraid of you,” a voice said, breaking the silence of the forest.
The boy spun around, his back slamming into a tree as he started to trip. He winced, but his magic quickly soothed his pain. The man who had appeared in the forest towered over him like no one had before. Black hair and satin flowed in the wind, yet his gray skin and orange eyes warned Boy not to take the man lightly.
“Who are you?” Boy asked.
The man smiled patiently. “My name is Set. I am your father.”
Chapter 18
“How did you find me?” Boy asked. Many other questions ran through his mind, but that was the first that came out of his mouth.
“I am very powerful.”
“I can tell. If you could find me and I am your son, why haven’t you found me before?”
“Your mother hid you from me. I could not find you until your magic was strong enough for me to detect.”
“But I haven’t been trained in magic.”
“That does not mean your power is limited. You are more powerful than you can imagine. Merlin could not have helped you.”
“You said he was afraid.”
“He was. He saw what you could do and he was afraid.”
“How could anyone be afraid of me?”
“Mortals often fear what they do not understand.”
“Mortals?”
“Yes, mortals. Your mother was mortal, but you got your magic from me, and that makes you as powerful as you will ever need to be.”
“I’m sorry, but I still don’t understand.”
“I am a god.”
“I don’t know what that is.”
“No, I guess not. You are still a child.”
“Please don’t tell me I’m not ready.”
“I will not abandon you like Merlin has. However, I have no interest in raising a child. I will send you to the world you were born on and give you time to learn. The priests will teach you everything you need to know. When you are ready, you will pass the trials. There, you will have the chance to prove yourself to me. You must work diligently and learn as much magic as you can. Do you understand?”
This time, Boy felt real hope. “I can work hard. I can prove myself. But what is it you want me to do?”
“I want you to do what you were born to do; be my son. You will live a life of luxury at my palace and when I need something done on one of the worlds, you will do it. Mostly, I want a son to represent me and make me proud.”
“I can do that.”
“I know you can; that is why I chose you.”
“Do you mean that you chose me instead of my brother?”
“Yes. He has not surfaced, which means his power is not as strong as yours. He is worthless to me. It is you I want; you are the better of my two sons. I want you at my side. You will command worlds. People will worship and love you. Is that what you want?”
Boy nodded. He was happy with just one person loving him. “Why did my mother hide me from you?”
“She was a suspicious woman who feared magic and anyone who had it.”
“Oh,” Boy said, disappointed.
“You can see her.”
Boy looked up at him.
“I can send you to the temple at a time before you were born. When you are ready for your trials, you will travel to all of the temples and that is when you will see her. She will not know who you are, but you will know who she is. Is that what you want?”
“Yes.”
* * *
As he promised, Set sent his son to the High Temple where he possessed his vessel and told them that they would train his son. They were thrilled to accept his son and the boy immediately began training.
Boy was a fast learner. When he wasn’t taking his lessons, he was sneaking into the private libraries. At first, he couldn’t understand why knowledge was forbidden in a place of learning. He couldn’t understand why he wasn’t allowed to practice rituals or enchant objects like the priests did.
Then he realized that they couldn’t stop him. The priests threatened him every time they caught him reading a prohibited book, but they never followed through with it. Boy was the son of a god; there was nothing they could do to him. After that discovery, he stopped caring what they had to say. He openly took wha
tever books he wanted. He started practicing some of his spells on other children and the priests. This slowed him down. Had he only focused on the lessons he needed to complete the trials, he would have been ready for them in a month.
But that was not how Boy was going to make his father proud. He’d learned quite a bit about Set from the books and he knew his father wasn’t going to be impressed by his ability to follow rules. He had to prove he was better than the priests.
It took him six months before he was satisfied. By then, the priests were terrified of him and wanted him to take his trials so that they could be rid of him. It didn’t matter; he only cared that his father wanted him. The priests were worthless to him.
He traveled from kingdom to kingdom, eagerly anticipating seeing his mother for the first time. He knew he couldn’t tell her who he was, but that was fine with him. He just wanted to meet her.
In the kingdom of Isis, he finally met his mother, and it was by accident. He did not know her name, so he couldn’t tell the priests to take him to her. When the bells sounded in the temple, telling them that either someone broke in, or someone broke out, Boy was asked to wait in the garden, where he was safe.
He was not interested in being safe, but he loved gardens, so he agreed. There was only one person there. She had beautiful red hair and expressive blue eyes. Her white robes glowed in the bright sunlight. Seeing her sitting in a bed of roses, he thought that they paled against her beauty. He imagined a garden much grander than this one for the woman, with a wall of carefully selected colors and a background of the darkest green foliage. He considered the colors that would best accent her hair and eyes, but then decided that no color was worthy. Instead, he wanted her to be surrounded by white roses to emphasize how innocent she was.
He often thought this way when he saw beauty, but this reaction was especially strong and confused him.
She smiled at him. “I have been waiting a long time to meet you, my precious son.” She held out her hand and he took it automatically to help her up.
“Meet me? But Father said I was not born yet.”
