Legacy
by Redkage
In the woods surrounding the Lake of Crystal Dreams, a small band of men made their stop for a midday meal. There were nine of them in total, eight members of an elite guard and one man dressed in green robes. They were all tired and weary, but their quest was to track down a very evasive wizard, and if they were to stop and rest for too long, they could lose the trail entirely.
“The scouts report that there’s nothing but trees up ahead,” the sergeant of the guard reported to the man in robes. “This is probably another false lead, sir. We should head back to the village and regroup.”
The leader of the group had a regal bearing. He was tall and seemed very well built. With his hood drawn up, his face was concealed, but even it could not hide his large hook-shaped nose. “Tell your men that there is no need to return to the village,” he spoke. “The one we seek is already among us.”
At his words there was a rustling of the trees and bushes. All of the guards jumped to their feet and drew their swords, their eyes wary.
The man in robes stood calm and ready. “I know you are there, wizard. Show yourself.”
From all around them a man’s voice chuckled. “I’ve been here since the Dawn of Mankind, you burly brutes... but I will do as you ask...”
The invisible wind picked up, threatening to tear the armor off the guards. Suddenly, one of the trees shimmered and disappeared, and everything fell silent. Stepping out of the illusion was a tall and elegant man, taller than any of the men in the band. His beautiful golden hair with soft gentle curls was so long it reached his waist. His blue, almond-shaped eyes contained an ancient wisdom behind their sapphire gaze as he gave each and every one of them a look that could pierce their souls. Last but not least, his delicate features and his long ears signified his Eladrin heritage.
“Who dares trespass on the Path of the Enlightened?” he spoke, his voice crystal clear.
The leader stepped forward towards the wizard, unafraid. Then, throwing off his hood, he revealed himself to him. The man had somewhat handsome features, with his dark hair tied back in a tail with a touch of gray. The hooked nose only served to accentuate his features. “It is I, Jasper, who seeks you out.”
The two men stood as tall as they could. It was a dramatic sight, seeing the two men facing each other with such seriousness. The standoff lasted perhaps a few mere moments when the two of them burst out laughing.
Jasper moved up to the man and, unable to control his laughter, clapped his hand on the man’s shoulder “It has been too long, Master Alron. The years have been very kind to you, considering your age.”
The Eladrin Wizard laughed as well. “The years are always kind to my people, Jasper. However, they have a great impact on yours. I remember when you were once a small, scrawny boy when I first took you under my wing, and now look at you! A few passing of the seasons, and you’ve become a big, strong man.” Opening his arms, Alron hugged the shorter, yet bulkier man. “And you need not call me ‘master’, Jasper. You may not be my pupil any longer, but you are still my friend. And besides, I am not that much older than your great grandfather, which is pretty young for my people.” Breaking the hug, Alron ran his hand around Jasper’s features somewhat affectionately. “So how have you been, little Jasper? Still playing the flute I gave you?”
“I always carry it with me, master.” Jasper smiled broadly. “And I play every chance that I can, for it gives me much peace of mind and heart. However, I am not here for myself, but for another. I need your aid, my friend. There is a... boy who requires much careful magical training. His innate power is immense, and if not controlled before he reaches of age, it will be disastrous. We had other Master Wizards attempt to teach him the ways, but all ended in failure.”
The wizard retreated as the man spoke. “I don't care for this. You know that you were the first human I’ve ever taught, and I’ve managed to scare you away from the magic. I am no good with tutoring humans; they need to be taught by their own kind...”
“Master, you know as well as I that I was unsuited for magic,” Jasper reassured him. “And believe me, he desperately needs someone as strict as you to set him straight. You are the only one who has the capabilities of teaching such a child. I have full confidence in your talents. And not only that... the one you will be teaching is not a full human. He has elven blood within him as well.”
The Wizard seemed suspicious. “I don't want to invade your mind to search for the truth, Jasper, so you better come clean with me. Who exactly is this child that he needs to be taught by an Arcane Master?”
“He is... the king of great kingdom of Elterra,” he reluctantly admitted.
Alron’s eyebrows went up. “The King of Elterra? I’m impressed. How did you fall in with such an important figure?”
“I’m his Royal Advisor,” Jasper said proudly.
“I see you have done well since the last time I saw you.” Alron nodded in approval. “However, I had thought the current King of Elterra was a full grown man, not a boy.”
Jasper shook his head. “You have been out of circulation for too many years, my friend. The last king had died some years back. The one you need to teach is his son who is the current king. And, as you know, the magic within the royal line is one of the most powerful in the realm, possibly on level with a titan. If he does not learn to control the power by the time it comes to full strength... we do not even wish to think of such a horror...” He gave an involuntary shudder.
The master nodded his head. “So your ‘child’ is basically a force of nature, nearly an omnipotent bomb ready to explode, a savage wild power that cannot be tamed, yet you want me to train him...” The wizard just laughed and kissed the right cheek of Jasper with sweetness. “Now there’s something interesting to kill some time, don’t you think, Jasper my sweet man?”
“Oh yes, it is.” Jasper nodded. “And I can assure you that your time with him will be very... eventful.”
“Very well, Jasper, take me to this powerful child, and we shall see what challenges he has to offer to the Enlightened One.”
“Right away, master.” Jasper bowed.
* * *
In a few days they arrived at the capital city of Elterra, a grand and beautifully magnificent city. The economy was booming, the people busy and happy, and everything seemed so peaceful. The two of them rode in a luxurious carriage to the Palace, where they were met with a contingent of royal guards as they walked up the steps into the Palace. Inside the entrance hall, servants were lined up along the wall to greet the return of the Royal Advisor. One servant walked up to them and gave his own fluid bow. “My Lord, the king wishes to see you immediately.”
“Tell him to wait,” Jasper told him. “I need to show our guest to his quarters.”
The servant, however, fidgeted. “The king says it is of the utmost importance.”
“Everything from the king seems to be of the utmost importance.” Jasper actually rolled his eyes. He turned towards Alron. “I’m afraid the grand tour will have to wait. I’ll have one of the servants direct you to your quarters.”
“No need. I’ll just wander around the castle and familiarize myself with my new surroundings.” Looking up, he admired the architecture, and then he laughed. “Truth be told, I have always wanted to see the fabled Palace of Elterra, as well as the Library of the Ancients. There is much history and knowledge to be found here, and even a master of the arcane arts such as myself can still learn something new.”
“Shall I have someone guide you?”
“No thank you, young Jasper, but I can handle myself,” Alron chuckled.
“Very well, Master Alron. I’ll see you in several hours. If you need any help, ask any of the castle staff.” Jasper gave a respectable bow before he headed down the hall.
The Palace was much more luxurious and incredible than Alron had anticipated. The foundation was solidly built and though it had its fortifications like any other castle, in addition to wartime functions, the castle was decorative and stunningly beautiful. There were pillars of marble, garden grounds, tiny tinkling fountains in the middle of airy sunlit reading rooms and many other signs of grandeur. An entire wing of the Palace was dedicated to the arts, with pictures of landscapes and murals depicting legendary tales of valor and romance. After viewing the fine art, Alron continued his tour.
Although the Palace was large, it wasn’t hard for Alron to keep track of where he was going. The layout was made for artistic simplicity, so he was able to easily go to wherever he wanted without getting lost. The only thing that marred his observation was that someone was constantly bellowing somewhere. It sounded as if it were coming from one of the courtyards, but since it was a large castle the noise could be echoing from just about anywhere. Pushing it past his mind, he moved onto the work areas.
The first place he entered was the forge, where a brawny blacksmith was busy hammering out a breastplate. As he watched, Alron noted that the man was one of rare talent, with skill equal to that of a dwarven smith, but he had to question the man’s decision-making skills though. The breastplate that he was making was far too big for a normal person. If Alron donned it, it would appear as if he were a child wearing his father’s armor.
Next he went to the kitchen, which was a very busy place, with men and women rushing around, hurrying to prepare the next meal. As a natural consequence of having such a large staff for a large castle, there was a large abundance of food. Loaves were set aside to rise to the proper level, pots of stews were being simmered over a carefully controlled heat, and a whole ox was turning on the roasting spit. Personally, Alron grimaced at such a large amount of greasy, fatty foods. He preferred only the freshest ingredients such as fruits and vegetables. What struck Alron odd was the fact that the midday meal had already past, and yet they were still busy cooking. Also, even though it was a lot of food, there was no way it would feed the entire castle. Perhaps around twenty full grown men, but not everyone.
“Pardon me, but is this food to be served at dinner for the entire castle?” he asked a passing assistant carrying several de-feathered chickens.
“What are you, blind?” the assistant snapped, obviously not recognizing a Master Arcane Wizard. “This is all for the king’s afternoon meal. Now move it, I have to take these chickens over to the chopping block.”
All this food was for the king’s afternoon meal? Alron just couldn’t imagine it. No person could possibly eat so much food. It was probably for some sort of private meal with some important guests. Perhaps it was to welcome him and Jasper; that was far more logical.
Try as he might, he could not hide his excitement when he found the Library of the Ancients. Because all of the kings of the royal family were deeply rooted in magic, the Library had the realm’s largest archive of magical texts, tomes and other fonts of knowledge. The bookcases extended several stories high, and there were shelves for every subject imaginable. Even if he were to spend every day of the rest of his very long life in this wonderful place, he would only barely manage to finish reading every book.
It took Alron an enormous amount of effort to not take a thick volume and read it right away. Once he started, he doubted even an army of hellish fiends invading the realm could pull him away from it.
As he was leaving the Library, he bumped into Jasper.
“Ah, there you are,” Jasper said. “Somehow I knew I’d find you here.”
“Is it wrong to have a desire to learn?” Alron arched an eyebrow at him.
Jasper laughed. “Not at all, master. Now, let me show you your quarters.”
Alron’s room was a serviceable place. As he walked in, the Arcane Wizard noted that Jasper had renovated the room to fit his likings. There was a firm bed with clean sheets in the corner, a connecting room containing a large comfy tub and a work area stocked with spell components and reference books.
“This will do very nicely,” Alron said as he scanned the room. He went to the window and looked outside. The view was simply spectacular! From where he stood, he could see much of the city below, but he also could see all the way out into the peaceful countryside. “This will do very nicely.”
“I thought you would be comfortable here,” Jasper went to his master’s side and smiled. “I remember how much you loved high places with splendid views.”
Alron was about to reply when a knock on his door interrupted him. “Yes?”
Another servant entered the room and bowed. “Excuse me Lord Jasper, but his majesty is requesting your presence.”
“Again?” Jasper groaned. “I just left him to eat his midday meal!”
“He has already finished, my lord,” the servant informed him. “He wishes to see you in the practice yard right away.”
“He probably wishes to show off another silly sword maneuver no doubt.” Turning towards his former mentor, he sighed. “I suppose there’s no helping in delaying it any further. Come, and I'll show you your new pupil.”
“You’re hiding something from me Jasper.” Alron accused him. “Just what is it about this kid that you cannot tell me?”
“I’m afraid nothing I can say or do can really prepare you for him.” Jasper sighed deeply. “You’ll just have to see him with your own two eyes. Hopefully, he won’t cause you to run the moment you meet him.”
“He cannot be that bad, is he?”
“I didn’t have a single strand of white hair before I met him.” He pointed at his graying head.
“Let’s meet him at last,” the wizard said, clapping his hands.
The servant took the two men through the halls of the impressive castle until finally they reach the training grounds. As they came nearer, Alron noticed that the ground seemed to be vibrating and shaking a bit, as if a giant was prancing around nearby. It wasn’t until they came out into the open when he realized why.
There, a huge man, standing over 7 ½ feet in height and engorged with oversized muscles, was practicing with a sword as long as a man is tall. He had somewhat long crimson hair and a short beard on his chin. His pointed ears signified his elven ancestry as Jasper had mentioned before. Even though the man wore a mail shirt and leggings, there was no denying the incredible muscles of his torso and legs. His neck was as thick as a minotaur’s, and he had shoulders as wide as a portico. The man’s arms bulged with every movement as he swung the great sword with ease, his biceps reaching the size of a melon whenever he flexed them. With every breath the giant’s chest expanded and pushed the mail shirt outwards to the point where Alron though it would actually break. His leather pants were nearly skintight against his thick legs and creaked from strain with every step and jump he took. However, the most shocking thing to Alron was the face on top of that mighty figure as it belonged to but a young man.
The boy was so focused into his practice that he didn’t notice them approaching. The way he moved was strong and dominating, but there were plenty of unnecessary movements and power. It wasn’t until they were nearing him when he noticed he had company. As soon as he saw them, he stopped swinging his sword and rushed to them.
“Jasper, where have you been? I’ve been waiting forever for you to come!” he said. For the first time in many years, Alron found himself having to tilt his head back to look someone in the eye.
“Your Majesty,” Jasper bowed towards the man.
Archons be praised! This is the true mark of the sons of the titans... Alron could sense the powerful magical aura emanating from the young man’s burly physique. Up close, it was revealed that his eyes were a stunning shade of gold; however, what Alron’s nose noticed next was that sharp smell of someone who bathed irregularly. “However, I am somewhat confused. I thought he was just a little boy.”
“Hey, who are you calling a boy?” the man protested. “I’ll be seventeen in just a week and two days!”
“The men of the royal line have always grown quickly,” Jasper informed Alron.
“Quick or no, it doesn’t change the fact that he is the size of a young giant,” he told him, eyeing the bulging globes underneath the boy’s armor and skin. Not even full grown men could achieve this huge stature. “Was his father also this large?”
“Actually, I heard he was roughly my size,” Jasper said before turning his attention back towards the king. “Your Majesty, I have brought you your new magic tutor.”
The young man looked down at the wizard. Even though the Eladrin was already tall, the king was much taller and had several hundred pounds of pure muscle mass on him. Everything on the boy seemed to bulge outwards towards Alron and crowd the space between them.“Hey there, welcome to the castle. I’m King Tyrune.”
The blond Eladrin raised his head to meet Tyrune’s eyes. “Greetings, young Majesty. I am Alron, the Enlightened One, Leader of the Eladrin Houses of Magic, and I came all the way here because Jasper, who was once my apprentice, had asked me to guide you through the Path of Magic, which I look forward to teaching to especially one as uniquely powerful like yourself, your Majesty.”
“Er…yeah…” Tyrune looked away and rubbed the back of his neck, which caused his bicep to balloon. “Sorry, but that was too damn long. I mean, was that really all one sentence? I didn’t get a word out of it.”
Jasper suddenly broke out laughing, and Alron cast a gaze towards him. “Do you find something amusing?”
“Oh, no, not at all master.” Jasper did his best to stifle his laughter.
“Yeah, anyways, no offense lady, but I don’t think magic is for me,” Tyrune said. “I mean, Jasper here found out that he wasn’t suited to be some almighty wizard, and neither am I. So save yourself the trouble unpacking and go along your way.”
Alron gave a tired sigh, as if he had heard that joke far too many times already. “I’m sorry to disappoint you, but I am a man, not a woman.”
Tyrune gawked at him. “You’re a guy!? No way! Not even any of the wenches around here looks half as dolled up as you are!”
“Your Majesty!” Jasper said, shocked. “You do not speak to a Master Arcane Wizard in such a manner, especially not the Leader of the Eladrin Houses of Magic!”
“Frankly, I don’t care if he’s the Great Titan himself. I’d rather practice with my sword than be taught how to wave some silly wand by a girl who thinks she’s a man.” Before Jasper could say anything else, Tyrune turned around and started to swing his sword once more.
“Oh it’s alright Jasper.” Alron suddenly smiled mysteriously. “It’s only natural that a man raised by humans who live and die by the sword would think magic is useless or cheating. However…” Suddenly steel rang as Alron’s own sword seemed to leap out of its scabbard towards Tyrune. Surprised, the king barely managed to block it with his huge blade. In a brilliant, yet graceful flash Alron struck him three more times before knocking him down. Before Tyrune could slam into the ground, however, Alron threw out a levitation spell to counter the king’s fall and keep him hovering three inches from the ground.
Still smiling, Alron put away his sword as he looked down at Tyrune. “Even though you do not think much of magic, it still runs through your veins. Magic is a part of you as much as those mighty muscles of yours. And like those muscles, they ache to be used and exercised.”
The huge boy, however, was more interested in other things. “Wow, incredible! Where did you learn how to use your sword like that? No one in the kingdom has ever been able to defeat me before, and with such ease.” He seemed more impressed with the Alron’s sword skills than his magic.
Alron chuckled. “If you agree to learn the magic I came here to teach, I will, in return, teach all the great sword skills of the Eladrin people to your Majesty. You will see that combining spells with swords is the most lethal and powerful combination that will make you the champion in any battlefield.”
Tyrune scowled at him a bit, seeing right into the heart of the bribe. However, the offer was just too tempting for him to pass off. “I will try, but you will find that I am a difficult pupil in the ways of magic.”
“To be honest, your Majesty, I am very excited to take you as my student. Your power is great, yet also raw and unharnessed. It is the chance of a lifetime to watch you develop your magic and see what direction it goes. So even though I am your teacher, I will also be learning during our journey together.”
“Yeah, well, I must warn you... the last tutor I had said something completely different than you after I accidentally turned his ear into a frog’s leg,” Tyrune told him. “So unless you’re not so fond of your limbs, now’s the chance to run before it is too late.”
“Really? Oh well, I would say it’s not that hard to teach you. After all, I’ve lifted the levitation spell some time ago, and since you’re still floating, that means you’re the one sustaining the spell, Tyrune.”
“Really?” Tyrune looked down and blinked. “Wow, so I’m really the one doing thi-AH!” Suddenly he was launched into the air like a stone shot from a catapult.
“Your Majesty!” Jasper cried out in horror as he watched the figure of the king flying through the air and dropping like a rock back towards the earth.
Alron did not get even the slightest bit worried. He knew Tyrune’s spell was flooded with a surge of power when the king had turned his attention towards it. “Just think of this as another sword match! Imagine obtaining higher ground to gain leverage in combat!” he yelled hoping that if Tyrune focused on something he was familiar with, his magic will naturally flow out and save him, but he silently cast his own spell, creating an invisible net to catch the boy in case things went awry. After all, he wouldn’t want to be responsible for killing the king.
Tyrune flailed his arms as he plummeted towards the ground. He took in the words Alron spoke but was unable to concentrate. Right before he struck the ground, he released his power to try to levitate himself once more; however, the force he unleashed was so intense and strong that it blasted straight through Alron’s net and the ground and knocked both Jasper and Alron off their feet. When the dust had cleared, it revealed Tyrune coughing and pushing himself out from the center of a large crater.
Alron blinked in amazement. The blast that Tyrune made had been strong enough to soften his fall, but Alron was amazed that the boy’s spell had enough energy to break through his net that should have been strong enough to catch a falling star. Just how much power did this boy have? That question burned inside his mind as he walked casually to the boy and helped him out of the crater.
“There’s a lesson to be learned here, young man. You don't have to think about magic. Unlike all the rest of us spellcasters, magic lives within your veins. It is a part of your being, just like your muscles and your blood. Therefore, in the same way you learn how to properly wield your sword, it will be necessary for you to fully control your magic. If not, the magic will cause chaos and destruction. I am not saying you are a menace; I am telling you that you need to focus more than ever because your powers are far beyond human comprehension. And remember, you are the King, and you need to watch over your people. If you can’t control your magic, you will end up hurting innocents. So, what did you learn from all this?”
“That I need control?” Tyrune asked somewhat unconfidently. He gave a soft sigh. “Very well, I’ll do my best. But I can’t promise that I won’t turn you into a giant blob of marmalade jelly by accident or whatever.”
Alron grinned. “Don’t worry, I’m more than capable of handling myself. In fact, I doubt you’ll find a more suitable teacher than I for your very…special, case.”
“Even if the world came to an end, Alron would absolutely survive and live on.” Jasper joked.
“Oh, I don’t know about that. I’d say my odds are one to five,” he joked back. He then looked at Jasper and clapped his hands together. “The boy will need new clothes. Armor hinders magic, maybe that’s why he is so clumsy. Make him bracers and robes so he will have mobility and more space to move those muscles of his, and make sure he only eats fresh food. No meat, sweets or preserved items; none of those fatty stews and roasts he likes. He needs internal balance if he wants to channel magic. And he needs to bathe in warm water and leaves of sages to cleanse his aura every night.”
“Yes Master.” Jasper bowed deeply and then went off to make preparations.
Tyrune groaned. “No meat? And a bath? I’m already not looking forward to the next few weeks...”