Chapter 11: I found him

“Was magic never a choice for me. Am I really meant for something much more better than it.”

“In this world, in this era, magic or your sword says it all. Its either you're a mage or a swordsman, if you're none then sorry is your fate.”

“What would happen if you're stopped from learning and improving on what you're talented with the most?”

“Yeah, said that’s how he led a terrible life ever after, from a youngling talented in the arts of magic to a beggar on the streets of brion town begging for alms. He never enjoyed his youth life, he really led a miserable life.” The narrator stops as she heaved a sigh of relief, he stared at the groups of kids that formed a cluster around her.

“Then what? Then what happened after that?” A kid yelled urging the narrator to continue the story.

“He became the chief general of this empire, but it was his childhood friend whom he taught techniques of magic when they were kid that later helped him and pulled him out of the trenches.” The narrator said and heaved a sigh of relief pausing for a moment before continuing the story.

“He rose from the rank of an ordinary officer to the rank of the chief general of whole army of brion empire, he became a force to reckon with, that by only the mention of his name do scare beast and monsters in any vicinity, let alone his presence. He became formidable to the extent that no one could ever think of doing anything such as harm to him.”

“But it was his disappearance that shook the world, some believed he was dead, while others believed he still alive in this world somewhere trapped and unable to escape from.” The narrator sigh as she stood up stretching her legs, she dusted away the sand particles that stayed on her skirt before stretching her hands into the sky.

“That would be all for today, we meet another day.” The narrator said to the kids of brion as they troop out of the shed where they used to sit always, every afternoon to listen to stories from the narrator.

The narrator sat back as all the kids deserted the shed, she looked at the sky above brion town while she thought to herself.

“This is an herculean task I've offered myself for.” She murmured to herself while still sitting on the ground. “I hope you don’t give in till I found him, please don’t else we all die, and the world shall crumble she said beneath her breath as she stood from the ground, looking at the surroundings, contemplating on where to venture next into.

Her shed is the only compact in this surrounding, far from other houses and building in Brion town, it was situated under a cave that was just some miles away from the forest. She’s has been living there for quite some years as far as she can remember, telling the kids of brion town stories whenever the come by to give her things since she was all alone.

“Let me go and relax at the stream.” She said to herself since it was the place nearest to her after the forest.

...

A turquoise blue stream wound its merry way through the forest. Babbling and burbling as it sprung over the limestone rocks in it ways, pebbles whisked about in the under wash like pieces of glitter. Seeping and snaking trough all obstacles, it manages to hurdles its self to a mountain foot as it converges and forms a river. Two heads poked out from the underwater, breathing in as the sweet perfume of the forest drifted into their nostrils. They dived back into the water as they both swam to the mountain foot. They climbed out of the water revealimg their well defined and chiseled body for such a tender age. They put on their outfit which was lying on the floor by the mountain foot, one donned a fitting swordsman cloth, while the other was donned in a kind of swordsman cloth but it was a bit loose.

“Lets get back home on time, its getting dark.” Drake said to harris as he placed his two daggers respectively into their sheath, he bent and picked one of the two bags which was lying on the floor by the foot of the mountain, it mainly contained fishes and bunnies that was captured by him and drake when they were training in the bush and the fishes that were caught in the river while they were swimming.

Harris also took the second bag which contained his share before tugging drake by his top as they both circled to the other side of the river and ventured deep into the woods heading back for the lively area of brion town.

* * * * *

It was still the same mysterious woman all along, living in a shed under the cave, she walked the path of the woods all by her self as she hummed words that can’t be deciphered between her lips. She kept her eyes closed as she maneuvered the tall trees and other obstacle in the woods.

“Bunnies she muttered as though she can see every single thing vividly even without her eyes opened.

Suddenly, a rabbit ran past her front, but it became stiff as a spike emerged from beneath the earth, keeping it in place as the blood in its body ran cold.

“I would have to do it the same old way, for my own safety in order to be safe from this world's logic.” The woman said speaking to no one actuall as he sat on the ground, she formed a fire with some woods she found nearby, two sticks stood vertically as she dip them into the ground, she pierced the a spare stick through the rabbit as she place it over the fire. She sprinkled some seanoning which she brought out from her inner dress as she left the fire to do the remaining magic.

After some time, she had finally finished savouring the whole rabbit meat all for herself, she drank some water from her water skin as she heaved a sigh of satisfaction.

“This isn’t good without some wine, she said to herself as she stood up to continue her journey. After walking for quite some distance, she sighted two kids coming from the direction of the stream, suddenly she froze on her spot as she trembled slightly, her lips quivered but she couldn’t let the words out of them. The duo passed by the woman with confusion written all over their faces, they shrugged their shoulders as they walked past her.

“I found him.” She muttered hurriedly as she suddenly felt relieved, she turned her back as she changed her direction towards her shed, running as fsat as her legs could carry her.

* * * * *

“Hi mom, am back.” Drake yelled as he barged into the house, making his way to the kitchen to know what is ready for dinner.

“Hey lad, you’ve got noisier since I’ve left for duty.” An hoarse voice beckoned on him stoping his next set of actions, he was startled for a bit before he realized who the owner the voice is. He scampered through the living room as he make his way to his mom’s bedroom, he jumped up in joy as he hugged his dad who was blocking the entrance of the room. Its been quite long since he has been around his dad, and every moment with him, he cherishes it.

“Dinner is ready.” His mom's voice rang from the living room interrupting their little moment of intimacy.

He walked with his father to the living room as they both choose their seat respectively, his father sat beside his mother while he sat at the other side of the table, with the dining table in their middle. A sumptuous meal was served on each persons plate respectively, their mind was drawn into the content in the plate as they devoured it all for themselves.

“Where have you been all day?” Drake's dad broke the stiff atmosphere as he inquired from Drake about his whereabouts.

“I went training in the woods with harris, then we caught some rabbits after we were done and we also caught some fishes in the river while swimming.” Drake said while munching on his meal.

“Oh, I see. That explains the bag you brought in earlier on.” Drakes dad had a now I understand expression on his face as he blurted those words out of his mouth.

“Yeah, before I forget, your mom told me you qualified for the imperial envoy selection and you'll be escorted to your academy of choice along with your colleagues in the next three days.” His dad bellowed with no expression on his face.

“yeah, I did pretty good.” Drake said with all smiles on his face.

“What was your academy of choice.” His dad asked still wearing a blank expression.

“Hmmn, it was the Imperial Mages Academy.” He retorted still smiling.

“I think you’ve made a mistake.” His Dad bellowed as he kept savouring his meal.

“Mistake?”Drake said, his face contoured due to confusion.

“Yeah, you heard me right, You’ll never study at that academy.” His father said bluntly as he stood from the dinning and headed straight for the bedroom.

Drake sat down, fazed, unable to comprehend what just happened, he turned to look at his mom who was at the other edge of the dinning table, she mumbled some words to him before she stood up and headed straight after her husband.