Mr. Wizard

I met him when I was seven, two years after we migrated to Ylea.

It was in the middle of winter. My brother, cousins and I were playing tag in the forest behind our house. It was stupid of me, really, because I had a very bad sense of direction but I was a child and I just wanted to have fun.

So I ran after them into the forest.

In the maze of branches, bushes and roots, I quickly found myself alone and lost.

I yelled and called for my relatives but no one heard me. I was already deep in the forest and I didn't know which way was home.

I didn't immediately cry. I continued to wander.

I was stupid as a kid.

I kept wandering until I found myself at a snowy clearing with a large tree majestically standing at the center. It was the biggest tree in the whole forest, I thought.

Somehow, the whole place emitted a heavenly aura.

Because of this, I felt at peace despite my situation. I trudged towards the tree and sat on one of its big roots.

However, even though it was peaceful, I still couldn't help but sob at my helpless situation. How was I going to get back home? Will they ever find me? I cried and continuously wiped my tears because of the cold.

Then I got the biggest shock of my life.

"Ah!!"

The root I was sitting suddenly moved! I gasped in shock as it raised me high up in the air, my sadness immediately replaced by surprise and fear. I hung on to the root for dear life as it wheezed up in a dangerous speed.

Why was the tree root moving?! How was it moving?!

I closed my eyes in fear as it continued to bring me up. Until it finally stopped.

Silence.

The groaning sound of the wood stopped. I opened my eyes then.

What I saw took my breath away.

In the far away distance, the sun was setting and it cast an orange to pink to purple hue in the sky, matched with the grayness of the winter clouds. The golden color of its rays reflected on the snowy tops of the trees in the forest below me and it looked absolutely breathtaking. Beyond, I could see silhouettes of snow capped mountains and a frozen river just after the edge of the forest.

I saw everything.

And it was all so beautiful.

Because of this, I completely forgot about my fear and current predicament. I was entranced by the view before me.

Once the sun finally disappeared from my view and the sky darkened to a solid dark blue, the tree root suddenly gave a groan and slowly lowered me down back to the ground.

It was as if the tree was trying to comfort me by taking me to see that view.

"Thank you," I said to it even though I sounded weird talking to a tree.

It didn't reply.

I huddled up in its base, in a small corner between the large roots. I hugged myself tightly for warmth and prayed that someone would find me.

A couple of minutes later, it suddenly appeared. It was far but I saw a hint of light somewhere in the forest.

I didn't think.

"Is somebody out there?" I yelled. "Please help me!"

The light stopped moving.

"I'm lost! Please help me!" I continued.

Then the light started getting brighter and brighter, a sign that it was coming closer. I then heard the scrunching sound of footsteps on snow getting louder.

I was saved!

I leaped up from my crouched position, hope rising within me.

"Over here!" I yelled, waving my arms.

Back then, I didn't think the light and footsteps could have belonged to a dangerous man. I didn't think my loud voice could attract wolves. I was just so desperate to be saved.

Then a man emerged from behind the trees and bushes.

And on his palm was a bright golden fire, burning brighter than an oil lantern.

I knew he was a magician right away.

The man had pale skin that glowed golden in the fire's light. It was matched with jet black hair. He wore a black turtle neck with a brown fur coat covering his torso. He wore black pants and black leather boots.

His most distinct feature though was his onyx eyes that didn't reflect any light. It looked scary and lifeless as he stared down at me with an unreadable expression.

I hesitantly walked over to him and stopped a few feet away. "Mister Wizard, can you help me get back home?"

"And why would I do that?" he asked, eyes scrutinizing me. "What will I get out of helping you?"

I couldn't answer. As a child, what could I possibly give to a wizard?

"Thought so," he said and turned away.

As he began walking away, my fear returned and my tears started falling once more.

"Wait!" I yelled at him.

Suddenly, there was a loud, groaning sound and before I knew it, the large tree whipped one of its big roots and aggressively landed it in front of the wizard.

"What the hell?!" he cursed as he jumped back from the root that almost crushed him. Then he turned to the large tree with a glare. "I could have died, you know!" he yelled at it.

The root began moving again but this time it was shoving the wizard, nudging him back in my direction. Its branches were wildly shaking, the snow on them falling to the ground in heaps. I had to distance myself in order to avoid the falling snow.

I was in awe of what was happening that time.

"What?!" the wizard yelled again. "You want me to help the kid? And why the hell would I— gah! Stop that!" He cursed again as the root pushed him so hard that he almost fell.

"Fine, fine!" he said in defeat. Then he turned to me with an irritated look. "Looks like you've made friends with the Tree of Life. Lucky brat, you are."

"The what?" I asked, not understanding.

He scoffed and looked back at the tree. "See? You care so much for a kid who doesn't even know you!"

The tree emitted a groaning sound and nudged the man with its root again.

"I get it," he said, annoyed. "I'll help her out!"

Turning to me, he flashed me a glare. "The Tree of Life is the mother of all things nature in the South Continent. It's made of pure magic and has a mind of its own. Apparently, she's taken a liking to you. Happy?" he said, more to the tree than to me.

"Woah," I said in awe. "She's awesome."

The tree shook as if it was laughing and amused. The man only rolled his eyes. "Come on, kid. I'll get you home," he said. "Hold my hand."

I reluctantly held his hand, aware of the burning fire in the other. I then looked to the tree and smiled. The man suddenly raised his burning hand and snapped his fingers.

In a blink of an eye, I was back home in my room. I gasped in surprise.

"That was awesome!" I squealed. Then I noticed the wizard sitting on my window sill, his legs dangling on the outside. "Thanks, Mr. Wizard!" I said out of excitement and relief.

He looked at me and smirked. "Don't thank me. Thank that damned tree," he said. "I don't know how you managed to make her like you, but don't go wandering off in the forest again."

"But I want to see her again," I protested.

He huffed in irritation. "Kid," he said. "It's dangerous out there and I'd be in serious trouble if the Tree will find you dead in its domain. It's best you stay put. Got that?"

After he said that, he snapped his fingers and disappeared in a cloud of smoke.