"You’re sure that nobody else can do it?"
"Nobody that we've identified. Perhaps there is another, but in all the years I have been head of the academy, we have not seen one. You are our best and so far, only hope."
"How do you even know that? Are there instructions?" Alrion said. Falric laughed.
"That's a good question. Actually, the instructions and information we have are minimal. Granthion explained briefly the spell that he was about to undertake, and that it wasn't the ideal solution. And that the answers to fixing it would be available elsewhere."
"What was wrong with his solution? If it wasn't perfect, why did he do it?”
"I can answer part of that. The rest would come from your father."
"Dad, what's your part in this?" Alrion said.
"The day that your grandfather performed the ritual, I was captured. Held by a group of people infected by the Blight, who wanted to infect me too. I'm not sure exactly what their plan was, but I guess I was targeted because I was Granthion's son."
"The ritual performed by Granthion, whilst imperfect, was an incredible feat. He connected to every single Blight infected soul within the country of Avaria, drew the Blight into himself, then destroyed the Blight within him. It saved the lives of many, and prevented harm for many more," Falric said.
"And he did it to save you?" Alrion said to Vincent.
"Yes. He succeeded and I left the place unharmed."
"Wow."
"It's a fact not known by the general population," Falric said.
"I had no idea that Granthion was capable of that, and had plans for a better spell," Branthor said, speaking up for the first time.
"I was also in the dark until Granthion's disappearance. He did like to keep his secrets," Falric said.
"But keeping this knowledge hidden for all this time?" Branthor said.
"It was Granthion's wishes. He wanted his vision to be kept a secret until the right person was unveiled."
"If that spell was so effective, why can't it be used again? What's wrong with it?" Alrion said.
"I don't have an exact answer for that. My guess is that the amount of power required to target the entire world with such a spell is impossible. There would have to be another way. But for whatever reason, Granthion didn't know the way, or could not document what he had discovered," Falric said.
"What am I supposed to do then?" Alrion said.
"He did leave us with something to follow up. The Pool of Knowledge."
"The Pool of Knowledge?"
"It is a sacred place hidden within Avaria. It is said that all knowledge is preserved there. The answers you need to complete your quest must be there."
"I'm the only one who can cleanse the Blight, but we don't know how. So, I have to go to this Pool of Knowledge, then I'll know what to do next?"
"That's right. It may seem like an odd request, but I believe it to be the best course of action. Armed with the knowledge of what the ritual requires, we can better plan our next steps."
"Have you been there?"
"No. It is a sacred place that few know of, and even fewer are allowed access. However, I do know its location."
"Wow. I'm a bit overwhelmed, to be honest. So much has just happened. First, I'm a wizard, and now I'm some special wizard who can end the Blight? It's a lot to take in," Alrion said.
"Don't worry son, we'll do this together," Vincent said.
"You'll go with me?"
"Of course. You have lived a sheltered life, but I have travelled the world. I can help guide you through the dangers out there, and keep you safe."
"I will go also," Falric said.
"But Falric, you are needed here," Branthor said.
"You are perfectly capable of looking after the academy. What Alrion needs is teaching in the ways of being a wizard if he is to succeed."
"Which is why he should stay here. Train with his peers then set out when he is more capable," Branthor said.
"This is an incredible opportunity; we can't just sit on it. We don't even know what is required. What if we wait around for years before setting off, and discover that we could have been preparing all along? No, this is too important. We must set out at once," Falric said.
"If that is so I can accompany them. Your place is here at the academy!"
"My place has been here my entire life, to serve the cause of my teacher. Now there is an opportunity to continue his work, and you want me to stay here idle? No. I have earned this right and I will exercise it," Falric said.
"By your command," Branthor said. He turned to look away.
"It will be one of my last. I will arrange a proclamation today that you are the new leader of the academy."
"Won't that just be a temporary arrangement?"
"Let's just see. Maybe you'll do such a great job, I'll come back as a trusted advisor."
"Of course, I would be honoured," Branthor said.
"I knew you would be," Falric said. He turned to address Vincent and Alrion once more.
"Take some time to wander around and think everything through. I'll send someone to find you and we can finalise our preparations."
"Sure," Alrion said. He looked like he was in a daze.
"Thanks. Let's go," Vincent said, leading Alrion over to the stairs. They slowly descended, not uttering a single word. As they emerged outside there were still some wizards in the courtyard. They stared at Alrion as he emerged.
"Awkward," Alrion said.
"They don't understand, this has never happened before. But don't worry; it looks like we won't be staying here."
"Why me?"
"That's the eternal question," Vincent said with a laugh. He looked over at Alrion, who wasn't amused.
"Seriously, why?"
"It's fate, or destiny, or just bad luck. Alternatively, good luck. Depends on how you look at it."
"I shouldn't have complained about being bored at home."
"That's the problem with wishes; you may just get what you are after."
"How can you be so cheery and upbeat? This is crazy!"
"This is an opportunity. One that nobody else has. You owe it to yourself to go after it. We don't know what is involved. Maybe you'll get to the Pool of Knowledge and find out you just need to read books for a few years. We just don't know. But I bet if you look inside, and really think about it, you'll realise that underneath this annoyance and complaining you're excited by the possibilities," Vincent said. Alrion remained deep in thought then sighed,
"You're right. Of course, you're right. But I need time," he said.
"There will be plenty of that. But you need to take that first step."
"It feels like the first step is taking me," Alrion said. He snuck a tiny smile onto his face, which Vincent picked up on.
"That's the spirit. Own the unknown. Maybe when you return here you'll get a different look from these guys."
"I hope so. I just feel like even more of an outsider."
"Your grandfather started this place. You couldn't be any less of an outsider."
"Tell that to them. The whole feeling is noticeably different since the initiation."
"Don't worry about them. Let's just go for a walk," Vincent said. Alrion nodded and they set off.
They walked around the perimeter of the courtyard and watched the remaining wizards filter back indoors.
"You've already seen the tower, let's check out indoors," Vincent said.
"Have you been here before?" Alrion said.
"No, this place was established later. Your grandfather and I had a difference of opinion on something and parted ways. He came here to found the academy, and I travelled."
"Will you ever talk about him? I mean properly."
"One day. However, all you need to know is that he was a great wizard, and did a lot for many people. You have a lot to live up to in that regard."
"Sure beats being a blacksmith," Alrion said and started walking faster. Vincent chuckled to himself and made sure he wasn
't left behind.
After wandering through the main building, they found themselves back at the entry.
"Let's take a seat," Vincent said and settled down on a leather couch. Alrion sat on the seat next to him.
"So, what now?" Alrion said.
"I think they'll come find us before long," Vincent said. As if on cue, a wizard walked in and addressed them both.
"Please come with me, your equipment needs to be provisioned," the wizard said.
"Now this should be fun," Vincent said and winked at Alrion.
11
Adventure
Vincent and Alrion followed the young wizard out of the main building, across the courtyard and into a smaller building that they had not spotted before. It was made of stone with a heavy steel door.
"This is our store," the wizard said. He placed his hand on the door and it unlocked. He pulled the door open and walked inside. After he stepped in, he held his hand up and lit a lamp. As the light danced around the room, Alrion started to see what it contained.
There were shelves all around the walls, containing objects of different types and sizes. There were racks of equipment in the middle of the room. Alrion spotted robes, bags, staves, shoes, and other clothing.
"You are well stocked here," Vincent said.
"Of course, a wizard must be prepared," their guide said. He walked down the aisles, collecting things in a bundle before returning to present them to Alrion.
"Here are your things. Treat them well, and they will serve you for a long time," he said.
"Do I get anything?" Vincent said.
"You will both be given ample provisions from the kitchen store," the wizard said.
"That's a no, dad," Alrion said.
"There is one more thing, follow me young wizard," the guide said, beckoning to Alrion. They walked to the end of the room, where there was a small doorway otherwise not visible.
"Go through and select one item. Do not show anyone," he said. Alrion turned to ask a question, but the man had left. He shrugged and decided to walk through the door.
The room was pitch black, and he couldn't see a thing. He felt around with his hand, wondering what was there. It seemed to be a collection of objects on shelves, but he couldn't tell what they were. They all had a cold, metallic feeling to them. As he brushed his hand across them, he felt a sudden surge of warmth and jumped. He returned his hand to confirm it. One of the objects was warm to the touch, so he decided to grab it and stash it in his pocket. Then he left the room. He saw his father standing near the entrance, and no sign of the wizard except the light he had left anchored to the wall.
"All done?" Vincent said.
"I think so," Alrion said.
"Good, let's head back to the main building and get some food," Vincent said, stepping outside.
"Aren't you going to ask me what I found back there?"
"Not my business."
"Fair enough."
"Looks like you have a full outfit there," Vincent said, gesturing at the bundle of items Alrion was holding as they crossed the courtyard.
"I hope they fit," Alrion said. Vincent laughed.
"You have a lot to learn about magic my boy."
"Now that you put it that way, it seems like they really should fit."
"You would hope so. After you," Vincent said holding the door open. They walked through the hallway of the main building and returned to the room they had stayed in overnight. Alrion had a better look at the things he had been given.
"This looks like a robe," he said, putting it on.
"Definitely. And feel the material too. It's quite hardy, for travelling."
"Shoes, a walking stick. Why a walking stick?"
"They can be quite useful especially on uneven terrain but I bet there's another reason for having it. Ask Falric about it," Vincent said.
"This bag looks useful; I can hang it over my shoulder. These things are all geared for walking I think."
"There are many places a horse cannot go, so that seems like a good idea. Let me know when you're ready and we can finalise our preparations."
"I think I'm done," Alrion said, as he finished buckling his new shoes on. They were surprisingly comfortable, given how sturdy they looked. He looked at himself in the mirror. Despite the plain nature of everything he was wearing, he felt like a wizard.
"They don't seem particularly fashionable, but are comfortable," Alrion said.
"Comfort is the much better of the two possibilities. Wear them in good health."
"Thanks. I guess we go see about provisions then," Alrion said. Vincent opened the door and they walked through the hallway in an attempt to find the kitchen. They followed the sound and smells of food, and found themselves in front of a petite young woman with a rolling pin across her folded arms.
"Hello we were just looking for the kitchen," Vincent said.
"You the travellers? This way," the woman said in a gruff voice. Vincent and Alrion looked at each other in surprise at the tone of her voice, then followed her through a door into a storeroom.
"You looked like you were guarding something," Vincent said.
"I was. You have no idea how many wizards get it in their heads to go steal some food from the kitchen. It's like some sort of ritual or initiation or something, and they don't even eat the food. It ends up being buried or exploded or something else," the woman said.
"Boys will be boys," Vincent said.
"Some of these boys are old enough to be grandparents," the woman said.
"Not surprised at all. I'm Vincent, and this is Alrion. Nice to meet you."
"Pamela. Nice to meet you too," Pamela said while rummaging around. She started collecting food, her long red hair swishing around as she moved.
"Since you are going on a trip, I'll give you some of this flatbread. It lasts a while and is sufficient by itself at a pinch. Here try some," Pamela said, handing them both a sample.
"Wow that's delicious," Vincent said.
"I could eat that for days," Alrion said.
"Be careful what you wish for," Pamela said, her laugh rippling through her chest.
"Sounds like you have a story about that," Vincent said.
"Yeah, it's a good one. I'll tell you when you come back. Maybe you'll have a story of your own," she said. Pamela continued collecting other food and handed them each a sack full to the brim.
"There's a week's worth there. All I was instructed to provide. Either it's a short trip or you will have opportunities to restock yourself. But make it last," she said.
"We'll be careful," Vincent said.
"Travel safe, I'm going back to my guard post."
"Aren't you a cook?" Alrion said.
"First and foremost, but you need ingredients to cook with so back I go," Pamela said.
"Good luck," Vincent said and waved goodbye. Pamela waved her rolling pin at them and marched off as if she was on a mission.
"I like her," Alrion said.
"Yeah, she seems like a good sort. I think you'll like it here," Vincent said.
"If I ever make it back."
"Don't worry about that, you'll be back. It's just a matter of when."
"You're probably right. What do we do now?" Alrion said.
"We have equipment and food, and our horses are in the stables. I just need to do one more thing before we go," Vincent said. He left Alrion in the hallway and walked off with purpose. He returned a few minutes later with a piece of paper and a pen.
"I need to let your mother know that I won't be back so soon. But I won't include all the details, she may worry," Vincent said while writing.
"She would definitely worry. Any reasonable person would," Alrion said.
"Then let's not cause your mother any undue distress. There that should do it," Vincent said, folding the letter in half. "Let's go see what Falric is up to."
They walked back to the central hallway of the main building, and seeing nobody around continued to the back door. They emerged into the
courtyard, surprised by what they saw.
Just as in the morning, the courtyard was full of wizards. Like earlier, they had arranged themselves around the perimeter of the courtyard. In the centre, they saw Falric and Branthor with their heads bowed. Vincent and Alrion found a spot amongst the wizards and waited to see what would happen.
"Today is an auspicious day. Our newest member, Alrion, has passed his initiation and revealed his true identity. He is a bringer of light, one that can turn back the darkness of the Blight," Falric said, his voice somehow amplified so that it rang through the courtyard. He paused, to let the statement sink in. There was a quiet murmur throughout the wizards, which quickly died down.
"I have been waiting for this day, since I took over from our founding father, Granthion. Now I have an opportunity to take on his legacy and complete the work that he began. I will be leaving you, and travelling with Alrion to train him and assist with his journey," Falric said. There was louder murmuring and discussion amongst the wizards, but within a minute, it quieted down once more.
"I don't know when I will return, but I know that I cannot provide the same support for this beloved academy as I have before. So, I am passing on leadership to my dear and trusted friend, Branthor," Falric said.
"This must be a big moment. There's only been one other hand over of leadership, and that was when your grandfather died," Vincent said to Alrion.
"As a symbol of the transition, I am handing over the Crystal Staff to Branthor. May you lead the academy to an era of even greater prosperity," Falric said. He knelt in front of Branthor and held up the staff. It was a dark brown wood, with a cloudy crystal ball set in the top. Branthor accepted the staff and held it aloft. A pulse of light radiated out from the staff, covering the entire courtyard for a second, before disappearing completely. A cheer rose up amongst the wizards.
"They're gone," Alrion said.
"Theatrics! Let's go up to the tower," Vincent said. Alrion nodded and they walked across the courtyard as the wizards dispersed.
"This is really happening then," Alrion said.
"It certainly is," Vincent said. As they reached the bottom of the tower, they saw Falric step out of the stairwell.
Pool of Knowledge (The Hidden Wizard Book 1) Page 7
