The Gift of Magic (The Shadowmage Saga)

by Paul Sobol

  Several minutes later the car passed large wrought-iron gates. Alex marvelled at how immense the property must be, considering how long it took to get to the front gates. It would have to be an estate somewhere outside of the city, but how he knew that was also a mystery. These random flashes of thought were starting to worry Alex, and he wondered, not for the first time, if he was going crazy.

  Soon they were travelling at a decent speed along winding roads through lush and vibrant countryside, occasionally passing through small townships nestled between vast stretches of open fields. For some unknown reason Alex felt lost – like he was not where he should be. This place was like nothing he had experienced before, and an overwhelming urge to escape to the familiarity of the city threatened to undo him.

  Silver broke the silence first. He could sense something change in his companion, as though he now had a caged animal in the car that wanted nothing more than to be free. “You must want to ask many questions and, hopefully, I can answer some to the best of my ability. Go ahead.”

  “Where are we? This place doesn’t feel right, it’s too...”

  “Provincial?” Silver finished the sentence. “Some part of you still remembers things, mostly the basics like how to read and write, eat and speak. You also retain knowledge of those things that are most familiar to you. I assume you spent most of your life in the city, so this place would naturally be unfamiliar, especially considering how far away we are from your home. Please, do not be alarmed at what I must tell you, but for your own safety I brought you to a place I know...intimately. It is the one place in the world I know I could protect you – my home, in France.”

  “France!” Alex practically shouted in surprise as a flood of emotions overwhelmed him momentarily. Shock, mixed with rising anger, made his face turn a shade red that Silver was sure was not healthy. Drawing in a small amount of mana he gently let it flow around Alex, and like a healing balm the angry young man began to calm down. His face returned to its normal colour, although there still remained a tension to his entire body that spoke of the raging emotions still bottled inside.

  “It was the only place I could take you. My power is strongest here, and if we had come under attack you would be well protected. Once we have done everything to help you we can easily transport you home. You have my word.”

  “France,” Alex muttered under his breath as he turned away from Silver and looked out the window. The beautiful countryside had given way to a vast field of vines, and judging from the size of the grapes it would be harvest time soon.

  Pausing for a moment to organise his thoughts and decided which questions were more important to ask, Alex discarding those that seemed trivial and could wait until later. “This power I supposedly have, if it can be felt by everyone, why hasn’t someone else tried to get to me?”

  “Believe me, we weren’t the only ones looking for you,” replied Silver. “The awakening of a magician’s ability acts like a beacon, so any magician close enough can take him or her as a student. For hundreds of years this had been the most common practice of passing along knowledge to newly awakened magicians. Now, whenever a powerful magician is ‘felt’, the first one to find them temporarily acts as a protector until they can be taken somewhere safe. A lot of magicians, both benevolent and malign, were after you. Thankfully it was members of my Order that were on the scene first, which makes you my responsibility.”

  “And what do you plan to do with me?”

  “This amnesia you have, we need to explore its origin and hopefully remedy the situation. I know a magician who has a particular talent for that kind of work, and that is where we are going now. Once you’ve been cured, I would like to send you to the Academy. It’s one of the larger schools where young magicians are taught to control and expand their powers. You need to be trained so that you control the magic, not the other way around. Once you let go and give in to your baser instincts you head down a path that leads to darkness.”

  “So what can I do with this power?”

  “With proper training and plenty of study there is nothing a magician cannot do. Some are more suited to particular paths of magic, for example the Elementalists - they have a better understanding and control over the elements like fire, air, earth and water. There are mages who devote their lives to using offensive and defensive magic, and during times of war a single magician can mean the difference between winning and losing.

  “But not all magic is used for fighting. There are many amongst us who choose to study the gentle art of Healing, using their power to mend injuries and cure diseases. In extreme cases, a skilled Healer can even bring people back from the very brink of death. However, they can’t bring back those who died a long time ago, so don’t bother visiting Elvis’ grave.”

  Alex had little reason to doubt what Silver was saying, but the implications were staggering. His mind spun with the endless possibilities laid out before him. “So what’s to stop magicians from doing whatever they want? Why haven’t they taken over the world or turned this place into a paradise?”

  “First,” began Silver, “the single most important thing for you to remember is that, like the humans, we have laws. We cannot use our power to hurt anyone except in self-defence. We cannot use our power for personal fame or fortune. We cannot reveal our ability to anyone who is not a magician or an Initiate like yourself. These are the Highest Laws. To break any one of them is cause for punishment, and depending on the severity of the transgression will determine what happens to you. Minor infractions might be a few years in prison with your powers neutralised. More serious offenses may result in your powers being permanently limited or even removed completely. That may not seem so bad to you now, but believe me, having lived with magic for so long it would be devastating to have it taken away.”

  “You’ve mentioned something like that before, talking as though you’re really old. You don’t look a day over thirty.”

  Silver couldn’t help but smile a little. “Mana is the energy of life. It even exists in things we know not to be alive, like stones and water. The earth and stars are like giant reservoirs from which we draw our power from, and when we channel that mana it has a healing effect on our bodies. We don’t get sick, injuries heal rapidly, and age very slowly. Most magicians live a few hundred years, while those more powerful can see a millennium or two pass. I, for example, have already lived two hundred years. If I don’t get myself killed I may see another three to four hundred years. Someone of your power would easily expect a few thousand years, at the least.”

  “That seems like a very long time to live,” mused Alex, “I don’t even know what to do with that much time.”

  “Like most magicians you’ll spend time studying. Then the rest is up to you – see the world, see other worlds, the possibilities are endless.”

  “You’re pulling my leg now, other worlds?”

  “We are not alone in this universe. I know it sounds impossible, but we’re not the only sentient life. In ancient times, magicians held the knowledge of moving between worlds, using portals. Unfortunately this lore has been lost to us, but we’re pretty certain there are others out there. One predominant myth begins thousands of years ago. A group of magicians, similar to humans, came to our planet. They brought knowledge of ancient magic, technology, and accompanying them were several other races – elves, dwarves and goblins to name a few.”

  Alex didn’t doubt the last part. Something deep within assured him it was all true, and for reasons unknown decided to keep that to himself. “You were talking about the laws of magic. Who enforces them?”

  “Again, like human society, we too have a law enforcement group that monitors our activity from time to time for any breach in conduct. We call them Sentinels, and should you have any ideas of trying to get around the Laws I strongly suggest you forget it. The Sentinels are very good at what they do and go to great lengths to catch any perpetrators.”

  Silver surreptitiously glanced out the window before checking his
watch.

  “We have arrived. We can discuss more later on.”

  The Rolls Royce had just passed through the gates and made its way down another length of driveway. Impressive gardens in full bloom passed by on either side, and soon another mansion came into view. This French chateau however was freshly painted in pastel colours, suggesting a more feminine presence was behind the choosing.

  Coming to a halt, Godfrey managed to get out rather quickly and opened the door for Silver. “Fine, you can do it this time, just don’t make it a habit.” The butler bowed a little as both passengers exited the vehicle.

  Alex squinted at the sudden brightness of the day. The car had seemed so dark and secluded by comparison. Looking around he saw a large chateau sprawled before him, surrounded by neatly trimmed rose bushes and pebbled walkways. Beyond were large strands of trees giving the illusion the estate was hidden deep within a forest. Up close the building seemed very old but in good condition despite a few areas having undergone recent renovations. New brickwork and unpainted wood awnings gave testament to the slow ravages of time and the one Universal truth – everything dies. Buildings and magicians. Obviously the present owner was spending a small fortune to restore the chateau to its former glory. In a way it reminded him a lot of Silver’s home.

  Together they walked up the broad front steps towards two large bronzed doors. The door knockers were lion’s heads, with what looked to be gold rings in their mouths. Before Silver could touch one the door opened silently, and an elderly gentleman stepped forward. He was almost a spitting image of Godfrey; the two could have been siblings, even down to the bald spot on their heads. This one was also attired in similar fashion, except with less black. At least he wore a white shirt, Alex thought.

  “We are expected my good man. Please convey us to your mistress.” Silver said with a slight bow and flourish of his hands.

  “Indeed, she has been expecting you.” The Godfrey-twin turned suddenly and disappeared inside, expecting the two to follow.

  They were led down a series of corridors until reaching what amounted to be a parlour. Sunlight poured through large bay windows illuminating a beautiful room adorned with several book cases and a small unlit fireplace along one wall. Around the room were various chairs and divans, and sitting in one of them was a young woman who, moments before, had been reading through a small book which she promptly placed upon a side table.

  Rising from her plush chair, long golden braids of hair fell around her shoulders, lending her a much younger appearance. If he had to guess, Alex would have judged her age as barely in the twenties.

  Silver crossed the room and took the young woman’s hand, giving it a gentle kiss, his lips barely brushing the skin in an almost too-familiar fashion. Had they been lovers once? Alex pushed the thought aside. It was none of his business anyway. She was certainly beautiful, and he could see why Silver fawned over her, like a peacock vying for a female’s attention.

  “It is a pleasure to see you again Milady,” said Silver, “I have counted the days since last we parted, and I declare, it has been too long indeed.” Alex raised an eyebrow at that. However, he couldn’t stop the corners of his mouth from quirking in the beginnings of a smile at the lengths Silver was taking to be pompous. “But please, courtesies aside, may I present to you my newest companion, Alex.”

  Her eyes, a shade lighter than hazel, flicked towards Alex, and it seemed her smile matched the sunlight haloing her slender form. “A pleasure indeed, but this time Silver, it is solely my own.” She said with a British accent. Alex had assumed she would be French, so it came as a surprise to hear otherwise.

  Her voice, while soft as a whisper, held a steely note of authority as if she were used to having her every word obeyed. She motioned for them to take a seat, and once they were all seated she continued, “I am delighted to meet you in person. I must say you do look fetching in those clothes. Silver always did have good taste, even though I do believe that particular style went out of fashion almost a century ago.” She flicked a mischievous smile to Silver, seeing if he would take her bait.

  Silver, pretending not to have noticed the jibe, simply smiled and made himself more comfortable in the chair.

  “I am Lady Gwynneth,” the young lady extended a delicate hand towards Alex. Unsure of proper etiquette he decided on a gentle but straightforward handshake.

  “A pleasure to meet you,” said Alex. He was beginning to feel more like a character out of a Jane Austen novel.

  “Our charming hostess is something of a Seer,” butted in Silver, “little better than a fortune-teller, but she has her moments. At one time you even called yourself Lady Destiny.”

  “Fortune-teller indeed!” Lady Gwynneth retorted, feigning indignation. “You of all people understand the importance of prophecy and the role we are assigned. Although we are still given choices, ultimately we are mere actors playing to someone else’s script. You would do well to pay proper respect to those who are able to interpret what is hidden from most. It would be a shame if you were to inadvertently learn of your own demise, where and when. Would it not, Silver?”

  “Ahh Lady you play an unfair game, and I concede to you.” Speaking more for Alex’s sake he went on, “Lady Gwynneth has the ability to see the future. It can come in glimpses, randomly, but with enough training and concentration she is able to guide the visions. It may not always be clear what she has seen, and interpretation is usually half the battle.”

  “You knew we were coming?” Alex asked, slightly awed. Seeing the future would be very handy, especially at a casino. But then he remembered it’s against the Law.

  “Certainly,” Lady Gwynneth said with a small, secretive smile on her lips, “but not in the way you believe. I, like every other magician in the world, felt your awakening last night. However, my knowledge of you coming here was purely mundane – Silver sent a request for this meeting. He believes I can help you. My talents mostly lie with seeing the future, but I do have some skill with psychic magic. If there is a problem with your mind, I should be able to fix it. Silver told me you have amnesia. Come, sit beside me and we shall begin.”

  Alex moved to sit beside the young seer and looked into her light brown, honey-coloured eyes. Almost immediately he felt a kind of presence, like a pressure on his head, trying to push in. He could feel her gathering power, and as she placed her hands on either side of his head he could feel pulsating energy emanating from her in waves. She began to whisper in a language he had never heard before, and he felt his eyes getting heavier. As they finally closed he had the sudden sensation of complete weightlessness, drifting in absolute darkness, alone except for her voice.

  Chapter Four

  Alex woke with a start. He could have sworn he had only closed his eyes for a moment. Checking the video monitors around him he was relieved that everything seemed in order. Sitting up straight in his chair he rubbed his eyes and stifled a yawn. Night shift was always the hardest, especially early in the morning.

  Glancing at the clock on the wall it was barely past midnight. Yay, six more hours to go. The facility was especially quiet tonight, with only Dr Sullivan working. It was not the first time the reclusive physicist had pulled an all-nighter, but it was odd that he was working alone in the lab.

  Renowned in the field of high energy particle physics, Dr Sullivan usually had a flock of post-graduate interns working in the laboratories. Alex supposed it wasn’t such a bad thing to occasionally take a hands-on approach. Books can only teach you so much. Eventually you have to go out and experience things for yourself to truly understand how the world works. This made him reflect on the several years he had spent overseas. Mostly he travelled around Asia, training in martial arts from some of the greatest fighters in the world. Mixed Martial Arts in Thailand, aikido and karate from Japan, and Wing Chun in China.

  Never comfortable in learning just one style, Alex had explored several fighting methods which had resulted in a rather powerful and unique skill-set. Winning
a few contests had earned him a reputation as an up-coming fighter. It was also one of the reasons he had chosen to start out as a security guard. The hours were flexible, giving him plenty of time to train, and it paid the bills. Eventually he would try out for the police force or maybe do a short stint in the army.

  The lights flickered briefly and several monitors temporarily went blank. As they came back online, Alex relaxed. The facility had its own backup generators but power surges were still liable to cause damage to unprotected circuits. The doctor must be working on something big, thought Alex. Glitches like this rarely occurred unless someone was using a lot of power. He pictured a mad scientist deep in the facilities’ basement with a Frankenstein-like creation, and pulling a switch that diverted vast amounts of lightning-generated power into its abomination.

  Chuckling at his silly joke Alex got up to make another cup of coffee. He would need something strong at this time of the morning to make it to six. Walking into the small kitchenette next to the security control room, Alex blinked owlishly as the fluorescent lights flicked on, and crossing over to the kettle began preparing a much-needed caffeine hit. Once the steaming brew was made he was about to take a sip when he heard something like an explosion. Although muffled it was clearly nearby. Seconds later the room and everything inside began to shudder and vibrate, and before Alex could put down his coffee he was blinded by an intense light. Losing all sensation of gravity, it was like floating in a sea of white light. He tried to make sense of what was happening, but his thinking was dulled like he had drunk too much.

  Then gravity returned.

  God I hate the feeling of falling.

  Alex could feel his stomach move higher into his ribcage. It definitely felt like free-falling, but without any point of reference there was no up or down. The white light gave way to total darkness. The sudden change made him believe he had lost his sight, so deep and impenetrable was the darkness; he would give anything to see something. Anything other than black. An overwhelming sense of fear and loneliness threatened to drown him, and fighting waves of despair he managed to cling to a shred of sanity.