Run!

When I saw the things that were there in the clan's treasure room I felt a hint of rage burning within me. I recognized the belongings of the wizard apprentice that Gabriel took back. Most of it was useless everyday stuff but there was a book among the useless stuff. It had an aura that was very welcoming and warming, brightening up the dim room a little.

When the chief saw me looking at the book he said: „This is a book of light magic, namely: <lessons of the light - beginners edition>. Many wizard apprentices have to train for years or even decades before they are able to become officially recognized wizards. Many fail and choose an easier way living as apprentices or becoming magic swordsmen. Once an old friendly wizard came to our clan. He was still an apprentice and only knew half a dozen spells. He used one of them to save my wounded father from certain death after facing off against a wyvern who tried to steal his familiar. It was the light elemental spell <healing light>. He spent his last days here in the village until he died of old age. These are his belongings. I know that you don't know much about magic but you should learn something about it. It can be used for good things as well. My father's benefactor has brought four books with him <the principles of magic>, <the light among the darkness - light elemental healing magic>, <purification through flames - use of fire magic against creatures of the darkness> and last but not least <the forbidden light - sacrificial magic>. He told me these were very valuable books that he had only access to because his father was a famous wizard who even taught at the school of all magic up north. He taught light magic. That's the reason why he received two things after departing from the school where his father taught: a ring that can shine bright even in the darkest night that can be used to store a small amount of things. That was the parting gift from his father. The other thing was this..."

He then handed me an orb that was without colour.

„Valentinus, please concentrate, focus as if you had to fight the fiercest battle of your life and your calm mind alone could save you."

I did as he asked and I closed my eyes.

When I heard him chuckling I looked at the orb and was baffled. It glowed with a variety of colours words could not attempt to describe.

„What is this?" I inquired.

He answered quite happily: „Valentinus, this means you have potential. The potential to become a wizard. I know that you are strong. And I know that you want to become stronger. Set aside your anger. Walk on the path of magic to avoid letting the ones you care about be hurt."

Can I really do that? Walk a path that destroyed my previous life.

I could feel drake's distaste in these thoughts.

‚Val, I need some time to think about this but you have my permission to read about the principles of magic.'

„Fine, I will do as you wish. Hand me the book about the principles of magic and tell me how the ring works."

„The old apprentice told me that it works the same way as the orb."

I put the ring on my left ring finger and concentrated once more and indeed: the orb and all the books except the <principles of magic> vanished into the ring. I was hesitant to start reading and decided to walk around the village to free my mind.

Then I saw two guys dragging a third one towards me. They were Max and Moritz and although the third man was covered in blood I would never forget him.

It was the one who spread my name far and wide in the all human empire. It was Mercy.

———————————————-

A few hours earlier outside of the forbidden forest the battle slowly came to and end. No side was clearly on the winning side. The elites of the empire were indeed strong but even some of them had fallen to the numbers of their enemy.

Both sides had received tremendous losses. That's why the empire blew the trumpets for a strategical retreat. The remains of the freedom army of Mercy were very happy to have survived because until now they had lost their hope of victory. Both sides had less than 10000 soldiers left and many of them weren't able to fight any more.

There were not many people left who were unharmed but Mercy stood upon a hill of the king's men looking like the proudest of warriors.

When he thought the battle was over he saw two persons walking towards the forbidden forest. They had the crest of the king on their white robes therefore he decided to follow them. He wasn't very adept at hiding but he had very good senses. He followed them from a safe distance.

They talked about one topic that interested him very much.

„Jane, are you sure that the Night serpent lives in that part of the forest."

„Of course John! Why are you even doubting me? Even our master said that my special magic skills are able to impress him and that he wouldn't be able to do anything like it when he was our age."

„I know of your ability to utilize spells for location and information gathering but these spells are absolutely useless in battle."

„You do know that I am a magic swordswoman?! Just because I haven't learnt any offensive magic such as yours that doesn't mean I am weaker than you! Oh, I think I can prove it to you right know." she smiled „we have some company"

*Fuck! They must have noticed me* Thought Mercy. *I am already exhausted. I could barely fight one wizard's apprentice in this state not to mention two of them.*

But they didn't move towards him and he was surprised when he saw the two being surrounded by a dozen people with countless dogs and birds. While he couldn't contain his surprise when he saw them, he was even more surprised to feel a blade touching his throat. He didn't dare to turn around but he could hear: „Nice Job Fang." „Yeah Claw. I think we'll be promoted to the Night Serpent's Eyes after this patrolling mission.

When Mercy focused on the two wizard apprentices again he was shocked to see that all the surrounding people were paralyzed while the girl swung a rapier to kill them one by one.

Max and Moritz decided it would be best to take a shortcut to the clan's village to inform the stronger fighters of this impeding danger.

They dragged Mercy with them.

———————————

Back at the village Mercy looked at me, obviously remembering my face, and I could see the fear in his eyes when he said: „Run, Milord!"

Max and Moritz seemed quite frightened as well while telling the story but we couldn't leave the village just because there were two wizard apprentices coming. I thought about the one that I had killed on hunters creek. He didn't appear to be very strong.