All Chapters of STRANGE MAGIC : Chapter 1
- Chapter 10
12 chapters
THE SMITH OF MENTLIWAY
The cold wind of Mentliway swept through the valley, carrying with it the scent of iron and burning coals. Sparks leapt and danced around Darren’s anvil, each one flaring briefly before fading into the night. His hammer struck again and again, the rhythm echoing through the empty streets like a heartbeat.He wasn’t just forging a sword — he was shaping a dream.His arms ached, his palms blistered, but he didn’t care. The blade shimmered with faint light, veins of silver running through the steel like rivers under moonlight. No ordinary metal glowed like that. He didn’t know why — or how — but something within him guided every swing, every breath, as though unseen hands were helping him forge something that wasn’t meant to exist.By the time the sun sank behind the hills, the workshop was drenched in shadow. Darren raised his hammer for another strike when a voice came from behind him.“Darren,” his father said, standing by the doorway, “why are you still working? The forge’s been aliv
LOOKING FOR CONNECTIONS
Morning came softly over Mentliway, spilling sunlight across the rooftops and glittering on the damp cobblestones. The forge was quiet for once, the hammer cold on the anvil. Darren had promised his father he would rest, though sleep had been impossible. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw it — the sword, glowing gold, humming like a living thing.The voice that had whispered his name still echoed in his head. Darren…He needed air. He needed distraction.So when the sun rose high, he left home under the excuse of meeting friends. His mother smiled and handed him bread for the road, but his father only nodded — the kind of nod that carried unspoken worry.Mentliway was waking up. Market stalls opened one by one; the smell of roasted grain drifted through the air. Darren passed the well where women drew water, passed laughing children, passed the Royal banners fluttering above the town square. Each one bore the same mark — a golden crest shaped like a sunburst.The same mark that now
A SUCCESSFUL CONNECTION
The first light of dawn crept gently across the rooftops of Mentliway. Mist still hung low over the fields, and the faint sound of roosters echoed through the quiet village. Inside the small stone house at the edge of the lane, Darren stirred awake. His sleep had been light and uneasy, his mind still heavy with thoughts of the golden sword and his father’s strange behavior the night before. He rose quietly, washed his face in a basin of cold water, and stepped outside. The air was cool and smelled of wet earth and smoke from the morning fires. He greeted his grandfather, who sat outside the doorway polishing a small wooden pipe. “Good morning, father,” Darren said. “Morning, boy,” the old man replied with a smile. “You’re up early again. Can’t sleep without the sound of that hammer, can you?” Darren smiled faintly. “Maybe not.” He moved through the narrow passage to the kitchen, where his mother was already busy warming the dishes over the fire. The smell of spiced porridge fill
EVENING RETURN
The next morning came bright and calm over Mentliway. Darren woke early, full of joy and energy. The golden light of sunrise touched his window, and a gentle breeze drifted through the small house. He stretched, washed quickly, and began his usual morning chores.He swept the front yard, fetched water from the well, and helped tidy the small shed beside the house. He moved fast, humming softly to himself, his mind already set on the plans he had made with Joran.When he finished his chores, he wiped his hands on a cloth and looked toward the forge. The tools were still there, the coals cold and quiet from the night before. For a moment, he thought about telling his parents he was going out — but then he shook his head. He didn’t want to delay. He had promised Joran he’d be there early.Without another word, Darren took his small satchel and stepped out quietly. His mother was still busy inside the house, and his father hadn’t yet come out from his room. He walked quickly down the path
THE SWORD
When Darren stepped inside the house that night, the air felt heavier than before. His parents were still seated by the table, the faint glow of the lamp casting long shadows across the room. He could sense their unease the moment he entered, but this time, he decided not to hide anything. He cleared his throat softly. “Father, Mother,” he began, “there’s something I need to tell you.” His father looked up slowly. “Go on.” “I’ve made a connection,” Darren said. “Through a stranger — a trader that Joran knows. He’s agreed to buy my swords. Tomorrow, I’ll be taking one to show him. If he likes it, we’ll begin trading.” His father didn’t answer right away. He just sat there, staring at Darren with eyes that seemed both proud and troubled. After a long pause, he finally spoke. “That’s… good, my son. You’ve worked hard for this. But be careful. The world outside Mentliway is not as kind as you think.” Darren nodded. “I will, Father.” But before he could say more, his father leaned f
BETRAYAL
As usual, Darren stormed out of his bed before the sun had fully risen. The morning air was still cool, the faint smell of smoke from early fires drifting through the quiet village. Without a word to anyone, he left the house, his steps fast and determined. He didn’t even stop to eat or to greet his parents — something was stirring in him, a restless feeling he couldn’t explain.He followed the narrow dirt path that curved through the outskirts of Mentliway. The ground was still damp with dew, and a faint mist hung low over the fields. He wasn’t sure where he was going, only that he needed to move, to get away from the weight of his thoughts. His mind replayed the warnings from his father, the doubts that had filled the house the night before.And then, up ahead, a voice called his name.“Darren!”He stopped and turned quickly. Out of the fading mist came the figure of the trader — the same man he had met days earlier to discuss selling his sword. The trader’s cloak was drawn tightly
CONFRONTATION
When Darren got home, he found his father sitting at the table, having lunch. He greeted him politely, “Good afternoon, Father.”His father looked up from his meal, studying Darren’s face closely. “What’s wrong?” he asked. “You look strange. Were you in a fight?”Darren hesitated for a moment, but before he could answer, his mother entered the room, carrying another plate of food. She stopped when she saw him.“Darren!” she said, concerned. “What happened to you? Were you involved in a fight?”Darren quickly shook his head. “No, Mother. Nothing like that,” he said, forcing a small smile.His parents exchanged worried glances, but said nothing more. They sat together and ate quietly. After finishing his lunch, Darren stood up and said, “I’ll be going out for a while. I want to go hunting this afternoon.”His father nodded slowly. “That’s good, but be careful,” he warned. “Watch your steps, and stay alert. The forest has been strange lately. Don’t go too deep.”“I’ll be mindful,” Darren
MISUNDERSTANDING
That evening, Darren did not go home. Instead, he walked straight to his friend Joran’s house. The night air was cool, and the village was slowly falling silent as lanterns flickered in the distance. When Darren arrived, Joran was nowhere to be found. He decided to wait, sitting quietly by the small wooden fence in front of the house.Minutes turned into hours. He waited for nearly two hours, the evening growing darker, the air heavier. Then, at last, he saw Joran approaching from the path, carrying a small sack over his shoulder.When Joran came closer, he looked at Darren in surprise. “Darren? What are you doing here at this hour?” he asked. “You should be at home by now.”Darren’s expression was serious. “You shouldn’t be asking me that kind of question,” he said firmly. “I came to see you because there’s something I need to discuss with you.”Joran frowned, a little confused but curious. “What is it? What’s going on?”Darren took a deep breath before speaking. “I heard from the tr
SHOCKING CONVERSATION
When Darren woke up in the morning, the first thing he saw was the faint glow of sunlight streaming through his window. The air was calm, carrying the quiet hum of birds outside. He stretched, still feeling the strange weight of the dream he had last night. His heart felt heavy, as if the dream had followed him from sleep into waking.He stepped out of his room and met his parents in the sitting area. “Good morning,” he greeted them with a tired smile.His mother looked at him closely. “How was your night, my son?” she asked.Darren sighed. “It was... strange. I had terrible dreams again,” he said softly. His father exchanged a glance with his mother, concern flickering in both their eyes, but neither spoke right away.After a moment, Darren excused himself and went outside. The morning breeze touched his face gently as he walked toward the backyard. He crossed the small path that led to the field behind their house and made his way to the farm where the animals were kept. The goats b
TERRIBLE NIGHTMARE
After enjoying the peaceful wind and staring at the beautiful skies, Darren finally went back into the house. He felt calm, yet something inside him wouldn’t rest. He told his parents that he wanted to go out hunting again. His father looked at him carefully and said, “Always be careful, my son.” What his father didn’t know was that Darren had already fought with a monster on his way back home the other day. He hadn’t told anyone about it—not even his grandfather. That secret still burned in his chest. He only nodded to his father, trying not to reveal the truth, then went into his room and took out the original sword—the one connected to his magic, the one he had almost sold to the trader. He held the sword firmly, feeling the faint golden glow pulse beneath its surface. It hummed softly in his hand, like it was alive. Darren wrapped it and placed it on himself, then headed outside, ready for the hunt. This time, his expression was serious—he wasn’t smiling as usual. He went to t