Ability Awakening- 1

"The voice in my head was that wizard's voice."

[How did I hear Ling?], Seth didn't understand what was happening at all but he knew what he heard... he had heard it loud and clear.

[Who could I meet to explain this to?]

Sek had already told Seth to find the wizard... ['in a cave', could that be where he was? Maybe this was a call for help].

Seth's head was reeling with millions of thoughts. [Why was the wizard in distress? If at all that call was real?

"Okay then. Let me check the caves around the Kingdom"

Seth was disgusted because it seemed like he was about to help the man that he hated since his childhood but remembering that Sek had asked him to look for Ling... Seth shrugged.

Seth closed his eyes... seeing the landscape in his mind's eye. He saw three caves that could occupy a human being. With purpose, he began running.

Suddenly he noticed that his speed was increasing with time and velocity, with shock, he took a second to look at his legs to find out what was going on with them.

[What is happening?]

Seth was at the first cave in minutes which usually took him about 1 hour to walk to because he had never needed to run anywhere.

[What was that speed?]

It was like his feet had wings and his sight had adjusted to the speed he was running at. Seth felt terrific and a surge of power swam through his veins. He took a deep, long breath in and let it out with a maniacal smile on his lips.

Stepping into the cave, Seth was greeted with darkness and bats. He immediately covered his face..."I didn't bring fire to help me see inside these caves and keep these blind birds away. Oh, Seth!"

But that concern was useless, as his vision became a bright green in the darkness.

He stumbled when the switch happened and his hand flew to his face in confusion, trying to feel what must have come over his eyes.

[It appears that my life is full of changes. Can I get a tip-off at least?]

But now, Seth walked freely in the thick darkness and saw that nothing but bones of animals were in this cave.

The second cave was close to this one, near the river.

[Yes, that river that my red-headed friend usually took her bath]. His heart began to beat faster than usual. [Why was I nervous?]. Warning his body to behave, Seth focused on the task at hand -- finding Ling.

This one wasn't as deep as the previous cave. As Prince Seth entered, he noticed it had several bodies of water that gathered from the droplets above...[it is close to the special river].

(The river with the high waterfall had become a special location to Seth because that was where he had met Ruby).

No one was here. "Maybe I hadn't heard correctly or it was all in my head", Seth said to himself.

Just for the sake of it, Seth decided to go to the last cave.

He sprinted again, breezing past the animals in the woods... he was having fun with this newly found skill. [What would Sek say when he finds out? I would plan training for both of us and surprise him], Seth laughed mischievously.

* * *

Ling could hardly keep his eyes open. It was like a deep, and eternal sleep wanted to take over. The hallucinations were the worst, happening almost every hour now.

He knew Seth was coming...the strength he had used to summon the prince gave the wizard assurance. [If he possessed the kind of power I think he possesses, he will get my message but if not... I would die here].

[It had to be soon... he had to be here soon. I don't think I can survive any more days]

Ling had lost count of the days... he didn't know how many days more till his sentence would be complete. [If Seth arrived here today, I would have to defy the queen's order and leave this torment], Ling thought.

[May the spirits help me. Guide the prince here]. Silent prayers had been my companion for a few days now.

That was the last thought he had as he felt his consciousness slipping away for the nth time that day.

* * *

This particular one was at the base of a mountain deep within the forest.

[Definitely, the wizard wouldn't be here], Seth thought. It didn't look like where someone would come to for anything talk more of being stranded here.

"Like whatever did you come to do in the first place"

[If I don't see him, I wouldn't even both...]

Seth's thoughts were interrupted by the sight in front of him. He didn't need to go deep into the cave, the location was deep enough.

Just at the mouth, Ling was there... chained with heavy metals attached to both sides of the entrance. Even with how he felt about Ling, he pitied him.

[How long had he been here like this? Above all, who must have done this to the so-called warlock?]

He got closer... "Why are you here? Why couldn't you free yourself, 'Warlock'?", he mocked.

When he saw that the person he was talking to wasn't even conscious to have heard him, hence, couldn't reply, he brought out the waterskin he carried on him.

"Drink"... taking Ling's jaw, he put a little amount first into his mouth.

Ling coughed and woke up disoriented. It took some minutes before he knew what was happening.

[His brain is all scrambled up], Seth thought.

"Prince Seth. You got my summon"

"Oh. That is what you did... but... anyway, later you will have to tell me how I heard your voice in my head. Can you do that for just anyone?"

"No. It is because of what lies within you"

Seth was still confused but first things first... "How do I get you out of these chains? How did you, the Wizard of the Red Kingdom, get here?"

"The Queen"

For some reason, Seth wasn't surprised. The queen seemed unhinged lately.

[It was a cause of concern for my half-brother but I couldn't care any less], Seth thought.

He studied the chains...

"They were crafted with magic. I can't even tell you how to break them. I need my hands to try out options... if only we could get one hand free", Ling said, his voice void of hope.

"Close your eyes", Seth said to Ling. An idea coming to his mind.