Chapter Nine

It came towards them with an aim, the fiery hellish orb of blackness and destruction. Before it could carve the ground with its sickness, Prentice leaped into action and masked it in a protective spell and covered it away from the people. The horrified look on the King’s face said it all, and with a nod he took off running with the giant ball lagging behind him. The giant ball was uncontrollable, lashing the shield at all ends to get through to the bright light of life. It dawned upon Prentice things seemed to be getting more out of hand than he initially expected. He knew things were bad, but this was heartbreaking as well as troubling. The questions lingered, pressingly on his mind; how long did they have before the walls couldn’t protect them anymore? What was happening over there?

The king quickly waved his hand to dismiss training and shouted to let them prepare for their battle if one was to come. Everyone scattered, half panicky, half aggressive for what’s to come. Fear could be seen on everyone’s face. No one had faced imminent battle for so long, but they all knew that when one happens, blood always spilled and sorrow reigned afterward.

Franklin was lost in the hoard of people and with a call of the queen, Prentice saw him making his way to her. Knowing that she would continue to make preparations for emergency affairs, and she would like to have Franklin by her side. Franklin took one last look at Prentice leaving and realized he didn’t want to be here in the kingdom, he wanted to be in the fight. There he felt the anger bubbling in him once more.

Quickly after that, Prentice was flying off to his lab to inspect what threw it over or, more importantly, if it was a deeper sign for Prentice to quickly progress with his work. It was a giant boulder, glazed over with fire. The ball was unstable and ready to combust anytime, and even if it did, nothing would be lost, and no one would get hurt.

Prentice left the room and after grabbing some heard from his herb room, and when he came back, he saw the ball was empty and only mulch was lying at the bottom. Inserting his hand into the ball fearlessly, he picked up a few of the ashes. It stained his hand black, and Prentice’s eyebrows wrinkled. It looked as though it was once a tree bark, but the fire made it turn to something solid, imitating a boulder. Interesting, thought Prentice. He left the room once more to use a liquid he called the mirror to see what kind of tree it was.

He poured a few droplets into the ashes and a leaf sprouted up, looking almost withered. It seemed the tree was poisoned. Inspecting it a little more, he noticed the rapid drying of the leaf, even though he was sure the leaf was getting enough water in his orb. In an instant, he felt feet coming towards his room, and he paused, knowing very well who it was.

“Franklin, what brings you here?” Prentice asked and lightly bowed to the boy. Although Franklin was his student, he didn’t hesitate to show respect when due.

“My hand is hurting a bit. I asked my mother to let me come see you.” He fibbed just to come along to see what the problem was.

“Well, I was looking at the boulder that hit us this morning. It was actually a tree bark.” Prentice said, holding the orb with the now shriveled leaf.

“How could that be? It looked like stone. It was on fire.” Franklin cried incredulously. His hand was rigid behind his back anxiously.

“Stones don’t catch fire, does it?” Prentice asked with realization. It should have clicked long ago, only now saying it out loud did he realize the sense it made.

“What are we going to do now? We have to do something about the problem.” Franklin now replied, pacing up and down, looking over at the tubes and liquids in the dark, damp room.

Prentice preferred silence to commotion, as well as damp places over the clean, sunlit room he was offered to sleep in. Most times he would make room on the floor, or stand sleeping. He is, after all, a creature of the night, or what one would call a night bird.

“I need to plan for something, but in the meantime, there is no imminent trouble.” He convinced Franklin, who looked displeased at him. For sure, his expression told he didn’t believe one minute of it.

“The king would be pleased to hear that. Though I am afraid the preparations are already set for a party too.” This time his voice was blank, almost angry. Franklin’s eyes never left Prentice’s as they stared at each other.

“Franklin, your sword handling is good. You have exceeded your training this week, and I am happy to see you adapting so well.” Eyeing the hand that was rigid behind him once more, Prentice extended his hand and unwillingly, Franklin’s hand floated upward. He cried out in pain, hissing as his teacher muttered a few words under his breath and his hand was twisted back in place with less pain.

 

“Thank you, Prentice. It is all thanks to my studying, and learning new ways to manage myself and my anger.”

 

“What made you want to continue working on your training? Books or not, you showed more attentiveness, what changed?”

 

Turning to look at the leaf once more, Prentice gave it a few more droplets of a purple liquid and saw no change.

 

“I stopped caring about what people think. I should have done so a long time ago. I thought I did, but then I realized, why is their opinion strong enough to define who I am.” Franklin asked quietly, as though trying to solve it as he spoke.

 

All the while, Prentice kept quiet, listening to see if he would bring the library scenario up, but he never did.

 

“It is such a big step for you to want to something like that. I wonder why all this time, only now you came to that. I don’t mean to sound crude, but you must understand my point of view.”

 

The purple liquid had no effect and as Prentice eyebrows wrinkled, he saw Franklin standing next time him, mimicking his actions, taking in the reaction towards the leaf.

 

“No worries. I was hoping to continue our sessions with magic.”

 

“I told your father I wasn’t going to do for a time being. I have much work to do as of right now.”

 

Immediately the room went cold, and as if to get Prentice’s attention, Franklin cleared his throat. Looking up completely now, they both shared a look of defense.

 

“Have I done something to upset you? Is that it?” Franklin asked above his normal speaking voice.

 

“You’re doing fine by yourself. I thought you would be happy about that. You can continue working by yourself.”

 

“That is not the case, I was hoping we could share, or I can help you with what you have to do here.” He motioned to the current experiment they were not looking at now.

 

“I am going to think about it, Franklin, but in the meantime, you need to head back to the party.”

 

“It feels like you’re pushing me away. I thought we were closer than that. Tell me what I have done wrong.” He said pushing along the anger he felt. It radiated from his aura, but somehow he was trying to hold it off. Why, Prentice thought, why was he trying so hard now?

 

“I said you did nothing wrong. I cannot monitor you all your life. You need to grow for yourself, too. I admire what you did today, and your lack of a tantrum.”

 

“You make me feel like I am a burden to you. I did not come to argue, only to relate you are to be with the guards tonight. Father wants you out there.” He said, walking to the door he came a while ago from.

 

“I would be there regardless. You would also be there. If I need you, I would find you. I always do.” Prentice gathered more leaves and added it to the orb, but no reaction occurred, which made him slightly irritated.

 

“Prentice, what is the point of planning when all we seem to do is train and work on the fields?”

 

“Going into battle blinded is setting yourself up for failure without even trying. You’re headstrong, but I don’t blame you, you’re only sixteen. You have a lot to grow.”

 

“I want to start doing harder tasks, to build my stamina and self-esteem. Making you proud would be an aim also.”

 

“Pleasing people isn’t a task, Franklin. It is a burden, one your father is fixed into, and one you won’t ever find yourself doing. I can see it in you. You’re brave, but you like things your way.”

 

Patting his shoulder, Prentice knew it was time for him to go, or else more people would be filing into his little haven.

 

“That is not a problem. Hiding away from choices is a coward’s way. I won’t be one, so don’t set your mind to it.” He said, puffing his chest out, willing to let anyone defy his word. One would not try it, for his reputation’s sake, and also his determination.

 

“Prepare to be escorted to the main hall to your mother right away, Master Franklin.” Prentice announced quickly, closing his eyes and sending Franklin off to his mother with his magic.

 

“Farewell Prentice. I shall see you tonight. Don’t be late. Mother dislikes tardiness.” Chuckling, he realized what happiness he found in this kingdom. Not often mages get to find themselves happy where they are.

 

More frequently, they are pulled into havoc or death, and some are not even chosen, destined to be alone to fight for their survival. Remembering the visit, he had earlier, he knows that Freda was never picked. She was unwanted and although it was a poor misunderstanding, she was destined to be alone. Being the only one she was ever close to; Prentice didn’t favor the likes of her being around him. The only person he found tolerable around him was Franklin, and delivering him to his fated destination would break him. The choice was already weighing heavily on his heart.

 

Freda is his magic sister, not by blood. He kept in contact with her when he found she was living in the dark forest. She claimed she would cure the forest of its dangers, and she would find her purpose there. Prentice refused to bring her close to him, always at arm’s length with her. He didn’t understand why, but it seemed she carried a depressing aura, and it was something that always stood out with her.

 

“What are you up to now, Freda?” Prentice silently enclosed the picture of the two of them in his mind, younger, smiling happily in their long coats.