"How was that?" Falric said.
"Impressive," Alrion said. He looked over at Vincent who said nothing.
"You have to give these things the proper ceremony. Otherwise, their significance can be lost. Branthor is only the third person to lead the academy, which is a major event. If we can establish something now, then future generations can carry on and keep the ceremony alive.
"I understand that this is a big ask of you, to walk away from your life's work. I appreciate your help," Alrion said.
"Thank you. But it's also a good excuse to let go. It's time for some new blood, and Branthor has shadowed me long enough. Let's get a move on before we get noticed," Falric said. He started to walk and Vincent and Alrion followed closely behind.
They headed straight to the stables. A young wizard was waiting there with the horses. Vincent approached the young wizard first.
"Excuse me; I need to send this letter to my wife. I've addressed it appropriately. Can you see that it gets delivered?" Vincent said. The wizard looked over at Falric.
"It's fine, send a rider to hand deliver it," he said.
"As you wish, we will take care of it," the wizard said. Vincent mounted up, and Alrion and Falric followed. They secured their bags and rode out to the main gate.
"I shall return, with more stories and more knowledge," Falric said, looking back at the academy.
"Do you always say that?" Vincent asked, picking up on how Falric had said the words.
"Always. It has become a mantra of mine. Always bring something back, to share with the wizards. Not that I leave the academy as much these days. "
"That's nice. I shall return, with more stories and knowledge," Alrion said.
"I'll see to it," Falric said. Vincent grunted and started to ride. Alrion looked back and thought about how he was leaving before he had even settled in.
"When will I have a new place to call home?" he wondered as he turned his horse and began to ride.
12
Passage to the Mountain
They started slowly, leaving the academy at a stately pace, but gradually increased their speed as they traversed the woods and reached bigger and bigger roads. Once they were back on the main road, Vincent nudged his horse closer to Falric.
"Where are we heading?" he said.
"To the Pool of Knowledge of course," Falric said.
"I got that bit. But where is it?"
"I have been charged with keeping the location secret."
"Can you at least tell me what area we are heading to?"
"A place near Mirror Lake."
"I see," Vincent said. He paused to think some more.
"So then, we will want to be heading to Altarbright?"
"Yes."
"I know the way, in fact, I even know a shortcut."
"I'm all ears, although in my experience you never save time with a shortcut," Falric said, grinning at Alrion.
"It's certainly a concern. But this one is on the way, so it's low risk."
"What are you proposing?"
"We use the tunnel underneath the Thundering Mountain."
"Hmm. I have heard of it, but a long time ago. Is it still in use?"
"I'm not sure, I haven't used it in a while either. But it's worth a look. It cuts down the travel time significantly."
"I will defer to your judgement in this case. As you said, it is on the way so we can investigate and make a call."
"Excellent," Vincent said. Alrion waited for a moment to ensure the conversation was concluded, then spoke up.
"Falric, I have something I wanted to ask. Why is it that all wizards are male?"
"Excellent question. One that I often wonder myself. The truth is we don't know exactly. But I can explain the main reason. Do you remember the pillars of magic that I mentioned before?"
"Yes. Knowledge, Will, and Spark."
"Excellent. Well, you no doubt remember that which sets the wizard apart in the true mastery of magic is the Spark. However, women do not have it."
"Women don't have the Spark?"
"No. I don't understand the reasoning or detail behind it. But without the Spark, they cannot be wizards."
"But they can still use magic?"
"Of course, like any other, if they lean on the other pillars of Knowledge and Will they can do many things. But they cannot be a wizard."
"Seems odd."
"Certainly. There is still a lot we don't understand. I hope that answers your question."
"It does, well at face value."
"Good. With a healthy curiosity, I expect you will do quite well as a wizard. It is only in more recent times with the establishment of the academy that we have built up a good body of knowledge about magic. In the past, the knowledge and practices were very dispersed. There were fine wizards, but they kept many secrets to themselves, and only had one or two apprentices, who didn't even learn everything their masters knew. So much was lost. Your grandfather had the foresight and desire to do better than that," Falric said. Alrion took in the information with interest. There was certainly a lot more that he needed to learn about magic.
As they rode further along the road, they approached another wooded area.
"If I remember correctly, this forest is the best place to stop for the night, even though it is a little early," Vincent said.
"Correct. I believe the vegetation becomes quite sparse if we push on much further, and the area is very open and exposed. Stopping early suits me actually. I'd like to work on something with Alrion," Falric said.
"I'll keep my eyes out for a spot then," Vincent said. Soon enough he brought his horse to a slow clip, then stopped. To the side of the path nestled a small clearing, sheltered by a nearby hill.
Vincent busied himself getting the horses settled and comfortable, and setting up camp. Falric and Alrion walked deeper into the forest. Falric spotted a chunky log and sat down, asking Alrion to join him.
"This is as good a spot as any. Normally you would be learning a few books worth of theory and demonstration, but I think we need to start with something useful. Today we are going to work on your first spell," Falric said.
"Wow, sounds great."
"I like your enthusiasm. What we are starting with is by no means the simplest, but it has so many applications and is a good representation of the basics of magic."
"What is it? A fireball?"
"Not quite. I may be accelerating things somewhat, but I'm not looking to invite disaster! No Alrion, we will be starting with a push spell."
"Push? Like pushing things around?"
"Exactly. This spell draws on all three pillars of magic. However, interestingly enough, it can be performed with only one given the right amount of training. Care to guess which?"
"Hmm, I'll say Spark."
"Interesting answer, but incorrect. It is actually Will."
"Will?"
"Yes, there are people who with the force of their will alone can push objects around."
"Wouldn't they also need knowledge?"
"No, although it is a useful component. There are accounts of people who moved things purely with the power of their will and no knowledge that it was even possible."
"Wow, that's crazy."
"It sounds a bit crazy, doesn't it? However, the reality is that many things in our world are there to be manipulated in interesting ways, even if you don't realise it. Do you see why we harp on about knowledge so much?"
"Yes. The more you know about what's possible, the more you can do."
"Exactly. Part of the lesson here has already begun. I have told you that it is possible, and that it you can do it without being a wizard and without even knowing that it can be done. That is the most basic level of knowledge."
"Alright."
"There is a lot more that I can tell you, and we'll get to that but let's move on. The main component to this is your Will. You need to focus the strength of your mind and resolve to overcome the laws of nature. You can compel an object to move. We won't get into the nit
ty gritty details of how it actually moves."
"So, what are we using?"
"Let's start simple," Falric said. He hunted around and placed a small stone on the edge of a nearby tree branch. It was a low hanging branch, around Alrion's head height while seated.
"You are going to push that stone off that branch. I've placed it within an easy gaze so you can easily focus on it."
"Sure."
"What you will need to do in your mind is to will that stone to move just enough that it topples off the branch."
"I'm not sure that I know how to will things to move," Alrion said. Falric laughed.
"It takes practise. To start with, you need to think about it moving. But not the backseat, intellectual type of thinking. A more direct thought. Like you are imposing your will upon the rock."
"Should I try?"
"A little bit, just practice thinking about it," Falric said. Alrion turned back to face the stone and stared at it. He thought about the stone moving, and how he could push it. He visualised it falling. He continued the effort for a good thirty seconds.
"Ok, that's a good start. Take a break," Falric said. Alrion sat back and visibly relaxed.
"Now that's just the mental part, which is absolutely necessary. The next component to help us out is to draw on your Spark."
"How do I do that?"
"This is a little more abstract. Your Spark is what you drew on when you lit the lamp and caused the light show at the academy. It is your source of power. To be philosophical the Spark ignites your Will. If your Will is a wind of change, then your Spark ignites it into a rolling flame. It feeds on and amplifies whatever you apply it to."
"I see, so it's in a way a source of fuel."
"That's a good way of looking at it. Maybe your Will isn't targeted well or imposing enough to move that rock. But if you draw upon your Spark, you can compensate and send that rock away."
"I get it. However, I just don't understand how you draw upon it. I didn't do anything those other two times."
"Each person is unique, and the exact trigger to draw upon their Spark is also different but the mechanism is always the same. You must see the internal power that is within you, and draw it out. Open it up, or even let it loose but you must be careful because without the right safeguards unforeseen things can occur."
"Like burning the roof of my dad's workshop?"
"Exactly. So, let's give it a try again. Start as before with your thoughts, and once you feel like you are ready, see if you can draw upon your Spark to amplify the effect," Falric said. Alrion looked back at the stone and started up again. He thought about the stone, and the force required to move it. He thought about how the stone was just teetering on the branch, and that it just needed a nudge to get it moving. He intensified his concentration and focused on the thought. He pushed everything else away. It was as if he was floating above the stone, leaning against it with all his might. It started to move, and rock in position. As if it was under a force but was resisting. He kept up his focus but he needed something more, it wasn't moving.
He looked inside himself, and his focus dropped a little. He got annoyed that such a tiny stone on such a thin branch could be so solid. He felt the frustration that it wouldn't move. That his Will wasn't strong enough, and he felt a heat within him, a fire burning hotter and hotter. He opened the door, and the fire leaped out and consumed him. The stone stopped rocking and flew at great sped, colliding with a nearby tree with a gigantic 'thunk' and the resulting disturbance echoed through the forest like a shockwave.
Alrion stood up swiftly, a stunned look on his face. He walked over and inspected the stone. It was embedded in the tree trunk; scorch marks around it showed the size of the impact.
"Take it," Falric said. Alrion removed the stone and held it in his hand. It was a little warm to the touch.
"I did that?" Alrion said, looking at the stone and looking back at the branch.
"You sure did. You used your Spark, didn't you?"
"Yes, I could feel it coming through, but it was wild and uncontrolled. I think my anger and frustration fuelled it."
"That's very honest of you and perceptive. Yes, it is quite common for those kinds of feelings to draw upon your Spark. But as you grow you will get better at harnessing it at will."
"That sounds better. It was so strange, though, like the stone was waiting for that extra push."
"I have a small confession to make."
"What?"
"I was holding the stone there, so it didn't fall off by itself."
"What!"
"And I wanted to give you a reason to dig deeper."
"Why didn't you pick a bigger rock then?"
"Because I needed you to believe that it was an achievable task," Falric said. Alrion went quiet, thinking it over.
"I see why you did that. Pretty clever."
"Well, I've done this a few times you know," Falric said with a smile. Alrion heard footsteps and turned to face them.
"What's all this racket?" Vincent said.
"Alrion used a spell to send a stone flying into a tree," Falric said, pointing at the tree. Vincent walked over and looked at the impact spot.
"This looks pretty nasty. Alrion you did this?"
"Yes."
"Well, maybe you'll be protecting me pretty soon."
"That's the plan," Falric said. Alrion had a grin on his face.
"It's a fantastic first effort, but there's much more to be learned," Falric said.
"I know. I don't think I could do that on the spot if I had to," Alrion said.
"That's quite alright, it will come with time," Falric said.
"Food is ready if you've worked up an appetite," Vincent said.
"Definitely," Alrion said.
"That's enough for now, let's go eat," Falric said. They walked back to their camp and ate a simple meal of bread and cheese.
"So how was your first lesson?" Falric said.
"Unexpected, but I'm excited to learn more. The possibilities seem endless."
"That's the right attitude but remember that you must use caution and care. From now on, you have incredible potential and power, but that also means that you must act with responsibility. The consequences are significant."
"I understand," Alrion said. After more general conversation, they turned in for the night. Alrion had trouble sleeping. The world of magic had taken his mind by storm, and his mind was racing with ideas.
The next morning, they had a quick snack and packed up. The horses were keen to get moving, so Vincent suggested they make a start sooner rather than later. Within an hour of riding, they passed through the end of the forest and re-joined the main road.
"So where to next?" Alrion said.
"Wait just a moment," Vincent said. Alrion was curious but played along. The road was still flanked by tall trees, but they were riding into a flatter, clearer area. Once they emerged from the trees, a completely different landscape awaited them.
"They call that the Thundering Mountain," Vincent said. Far in the distance, they could see a large mountain rising above the landscape. It was tall and imposing, and clouds surrounded its peak.
"Is the weather always that bad? It's like the clouds are anchored to that spot." Alrion said.
"Yes, that's how it was named. There are rumours and legends as to what is on the peak that is attracting all those clouds and storms. But nobody knows," Falric said.
"Could just be a freak weather formation," Vincent said.
"Either way, that's pretty impressive," Alrion said.
"It's where we will be heading today. Hopefully, it won't take too long, I'd like to investigate the tunnel below it before it gets too late," Vincent said.
"That sounds like a good plan," Falric said. Vincent kicked his horse back into a faster gallop, and the others followed suit.
"I've never seen anything that big. It's massive," Alrion thought as they rode. It felt like for the first time, the adventure was starting to feel real. He ha
d goose bumps on his arms at the thought of exploring the mountain. He cautiously looked at both his father and Falric. Neither seemed to have noticed his excitement. They were focused on other things.
13
A Disturbance
The lushness of the forest they had recently left faded gradually. At first, Alrion didn't really notice but after a time, he realised that something had changed. After a more focused look at the countryside, he surmised that the vegetation was dead or dying.
"This area looks different, less alive," Alrion said.
"You have good instincts. I've noticed as well. Not as many signs of wildlife either," Vincent said.
"I haven't been through here for a long time, how about you?" Falric asked.
"No. There should be a town up ahead before the mountain, though. A good community there of hardworking people. I'm a good friend with the blacksmith there. A man called Malcolm."
"I'll be interested in talking with him, to see if he has any information about what's been happening in this area. It's probably nothing, but just seems so different," Falric said. Vincent grunted his agreement. Alrion was pleased that he had picked up on something of note. Every time he looked up at the mountain, it seemed to be the same distance away. But when he took the time to really look at it, and compare to other landmarks, he could tell that they were getting closer. With the comments made by Falric and his father, the mystery surrounding the mountain was even deeper now.
As noon approached, they started to see signs of the town ahead. There were a few abandoned carts on the side of the road and weathered signposts.
"These seem to be have been here for a while," Vincent said.
"Agreed," Falric said. They rode on. Houses were visible in the distance and other buildings.
"Usually there would be a bit of traffic on the road at this time," Vincent said, mostly to himself. They continued. Alrion could feel the difference, between this place and his hometown. The feeling of life was not present but he told himself that he was getting ahead of things, that he knew his own home so well that it skewed his expectations.
Once they were closer to entering the town, Falric finally spoke.
Pool of Knowledge (The Hidden Wizard Book 1) Page 8
