Legacy 8
by Redkage
Alron looked at the verses written down neatly in front of him. Although he had a good memory, he didn’t take any chances and wrote it all down. However, it did him little good, because he had been toiling over it without much to show for his efforts.
So far, he had more or less identified the key figures. The Hope of Tomorrow was most likely Tyrune, and the Pupeeteer was obviously Zoster. And if he were reading it correctly, he would have to assume that the Keeper of Truths was himself. Everything he managed to memorize before the spell erased the prophecy was either depicting something that happened in the past or had already come true. What bothered him was the last verse. From the sounds of it, a very important event was quickly approaching. If only he had been quicker and read two or three more verses…but reading seven verses in the few short moments that he had would have been quite the feat for any normal person.
Alron still hadn’t discerned the reason why Nirvan would collect all of the prophecies and virtually destroyed them. As a fellow scholar, that act would be considered sacrilegious, but was even more serious was the subject Alron had been trying to hide.
At that exact moment Alron felt a familiar aura enter the library. Speak of the devil. Alron rolled up the piece of parchment and looked up to watch Nirvan approach his table.
“Shouldn’t you be spending more time working with that buffoon?” Nirvan asked snidely, looking down at Alron past his overly large nose.
“He’s practicing by himself. And the boy is a lot quicker than you think.” Alron defended his pupil. “He has already cleared the next level of his training and is swiftly nearing mastery.”
“Nearing and mastering are two completely different things and you know it.” Nirvan snapped. “And I highly doubt that anyone could master it by tonight, much less that muscle-bound oaf.”
“Believe me, he has more potential than either of us could have guessed.” Alron put on a ghost of a smile.
“A lot of good that potential will be if he blows us all into oblivion.” Nirvan snorted. “I suggest you take a lot of care to prepare yourself in the event something happens.”
Something about Nirvan’s tone of voice made Alron pay attention to the warning a bit more closely. “Is there anything in particular you believe that will happen?”
“With a boy like that one, anything can happen.” Nirvan told him. “You are being far too relaxed over this, tonight is the deadline and if he doesn’t produce, he will be locked up, and that’s only if there is anything left of him afterwards. I would think that the person called the Enlightened One would know that.”
“Yet the name Nirvan the Fussy suits you so well.” Alron teased.
Nirvan’s eye ticked. “We’ll see who is laughing when the final toll of the bell of the New Year comes and-”
“M-Master Nirvan!” The both of them turned their attention to Nirvan’s assistant Silas, who half stumbled into view. “Master Nirvan, I found the…” He paused, taking notice of the tension in the air surrounding the two wizards and involuntarily cringed back. “I-I’m sorry, did I come at a bad time?”
“No, you’ve come at the perfect time, as always.” Nirvan gave Alron one last look before turning around with a sweep of his robes. “Come Silas, we have some more important business to attend to.”
Always a stickler for the dramatics Alron thought. However, he did agree with him on some points. Anything can happen with Tyrune.
* * *
Meanwhile, in the privacy of his room Tyrune was meditating by himself. He wanted to be out in the courtyard practicing his spells, but Alron gave him strict orders to meditate. Before he would always argue with his teacher’s orders, mostly just out of spite. However, he found that Alron always had some reason for what he does. The elf probably wanted him to meditate to calm himself since it was almost time for the big test.
Inhale...
One, two, three… Tyrune slowly counted to seven, then swung his sword down.
…Exhale.
Tyrune kept his breathing steady and measured, his mind cleared and his focus sharp like the blade in his hand.
He had to give it to Alron, thinking up a form of meditation he could get into. In fact, he had to give a lot of things to Alron. As much as he hated to admit…well, maybe not hate as much as he used to, but either way Alron somehow made magic easy for a big muscle-head oaf like him, despite all the odds and Tyrune’s initial reluctance. Plus there must be something to those baths and lighter diet, because his body never felt better!
As soon as he thought this, he suddenly doubled over as another one of his episodes hit him. Letting out a muffled grunt of pain, he dropped his sword and fell on his hands and knees as his body was overcome with pain and nausea. It almost felt as if…as if his magic was flowing somewhere, no, as if something was ripping it out of him. However, he was in so much pain and his head so dizzy that he was unable to focus on that feeling and just tried to withstand the pain.
Get it together Tyrune! He told himself. Without knowing why, he tried to use the same breathing exercise from his meditation to get him through. He sucked in a deep breath, counted to seven, then exhaled, trying to bring some focus to this pain. To his amazement, he felt it dissipate somewhat, and tried it again.
Two...three...fo-
Before he could finish counting the pain vanished completely. Tyrune let out a deep breath and collapsed onto the ground, exhausted. It felt like he had been fighting with orcs for three days straight. His body ached so much, and he was drained of energy. But even though the pain had gotten stronger, the fact that he was able to resist and surpress some of it drew his interest. If he used the same meditation techniques during one of his episodes, could he make it go away completely? It was certainly a thought to look into.
“I guess there’s some use for all that stuff outside of magic after all.” Tyrune said with a slight smile. Of course he’d never admit that to that bastard elf…well, not out loud. He rather enjoyed their little banter and arguments. Lately they were less about being angry at each other and more like friendly debates. Even when arguing, Alron still had measures of composure and grace that fascinated Tyrune.
But again, Tyrune would never tell that to Alron directly.
***
It was a half hour before midnight. Normally during this time were would be a huge ball and all of the nobility would celebrate the new year in the castle, but this year the castle was all but deserted. With a sharp tongue and short temper Nirvan had driven almost everyone out of the castle in preparation for Tyrune's final exam. The only ones left were Alron, Tyrune, Nirvan, his assistant Silas and despite being told to leave, Jasper.
"I am duty bound to look after his Highness." Alron heared Jasper tell Nirvan. "Also, who else would be able to organize a celebration party afterwards in a short amount of time?"
"You're endangering your life here boy." Nirvan said with a stern tone.
"I've done many things people would not approve, and I have survived them all."
Alron chuckled as he left the two of them to their own little conversation and went over to where Tyrune was standing. The big lad was leaning against the wall of the courtyard. Although Tyrune had learned how to block out his mind reading, Alron could tell what the boy was feeling. “How do you feel? Nervous?”
Immediately Tyrune straightened his back.“Nah, this will be a piece of cake.” Tyrune said cockily. “Say, when this is all over, I’m going to head over to the ballroom and grab a big slice.”
“I believe ever since your stunt during your Birthday Ball, the chefs have decided to withhold the cakes.” Alron told him with a smile.
“Hey, what’s a party without cake?”
“If you want cake, you can always conjure an illusion of it over a nice piece of fruit.”
“It’s not the same.” Tyrune pouted.
The two of them looked at each other then started to laugh. “Well then, I must be off and pester your examiner.” Alron began to leave, but he was stopped when Tyrune suddenly grabbed his hand.
“What will happen if I fail?” Tyrune spoke in a soft, yet serious tone. “What will happen to me? To everyone around me?”
“I don’t think you need to concern yourself. There’s a reason Nirvan over there is called the Fastidious. He’ll no doubt set up more safeguards than necessary. We’ll all be safer than a baby in a nursery pen.”
That eased some of Tyrune’s tension, but not completely. “What’s the Tower like? The one I’ll be shipped off to if I mess things up.”
“Why would you bring that up now?” Alron looked over quizzically. “After all, it is very unlikely that you will fail this test.”
“But you haven’t let me cast the spell even once yet! All you’ve let me do is memorize the incantation and meditate.”
“That is because I wanted you to be completely focused and have a clear mind for this moment. Even the simplest spell would go awry if the caster does not have control of himself.”
“You mean like that Silas fellow?” Tyrune pointed in the direction of Nirvan’s assistant, who was enduring another berating from his master.
“Something like that, yes.” Alron nodded. “Do not worry; I have the utmost faith in you and your abilities, so there is no need to be nervous.”
“I told you I’m not nervous.” Tyrune snapped.
“Then you should have no problems with this test.” Alron patted him on the broad shoulder. “Just remember to keep calm and focused, and then we’ll be at the ball in no time.”
“I know, I know, just leave me so I can concentrate already.” Tyrune playfully shooed the elf away, but already he was feeling much better.
Feeling that Tyrune had received the support he needed, Alron headed over to where Nirvan was. Jasper had apparently finished his conversation with him and had left to take care of some business elsewhere. “What’s taking you so long? I would have figured that you would have already set things up already in advance.”
“I did, I am merely rechecking the groundwork before I activate it.” Nirvan said, frowning as he scraped the bottom of his staff on the cold stone floor.
“And this is why they call you Nirvan the Fussy.”
“Fastidious.” The other wizard corrected as he tapped another spot. “Alright, I believe everything is in order. You! The musclebound oaf!” He pointed at Tyrune.
“It’s Tyrune!” The big lad said.
“I don’t care if your name is Lord Fluffykins, stand over there so we can begin this failure of a test!” He pointed towards a marked spot in the courtyard.
Tyrune held his tongue and did as he was told, showing a level of self restraint that surprised Alron.
With one barely audible word Nirvan tapped on the ground with his staff three times. Glyphs and runes appeared on the ground, followed by at least sixty-one barriers, encasing them almost air tight. Forty-seven of the barriers were behind Alron and the others, while the rest were formed with Tyrune in the center, virtually cutting him off from the rest of the world.
“Someone has the need to show off tonight.” Alron muttered loud enough for Nirvan to hear him. “Are all those really necessary?”
“Just being cautious,” Nirvan said, “anything can happen tonight, and if he goes out of control, the damage could be catastrophic.”
“So you’ve said before.” Alron said with a resigned sigh.
Nirvan ignored that last comment and raised his voice. “We will now commence the trail of Prince Tyrune. You have until the twelfth ring of the midnight to complete your task and decide your fate.”
“But no pressure.” Alron rolled his eyes.
Tyrune took several deep breaths, cleansing breaths, clearing his mind and body of his nervous energy. Then, he chanted the words while channeling his powers.
From the sidelines Alron watched as the muscular prince begin to cast the spell flawlessly. Every word was perfectly in tune with the flow of magic. Every breath perfectly synched, every word spoken at the right pitch. The deciding factor left was Tyrune’s will.
At the last word of the incantation, Tyrune activated the spell. A pale, silvery flame began to form from Tyrune’s hands. He was casting the spell!
Then before their eyes, the flames died out. Tyrune’s arm was shaking as he tried to cast it again, but this time not even a spark came forth. Tyrune tried again and again, but with no result. And then all of a sudden, he let out a cry.
“Something is wrong.” Alron said, grasping his staff.
“What?” Nirvan whirled on him. “Is he using too much magic?”
“No, he’s not using enough! Something is absorbing his magic!” Sure enough, Tyrune’s aura began to shrink and diminish, the magic draining out of him. Physically Tyrune wasn’t looking well either, his skin turning pale and his entire body now shaking.
“Impossible, there are fourteen barriers around the boy, nothing from the outside has touched him!” Nirvan said.
“Not unless he already had it on him and is transferring it to another plane.” Alron swore. How come he didn’t see it before? “Take the barrier down, right now!”
“I’m afraid I can’t let you do that.”
Zoster suddenly appeared out of thin air, and before Alron could react, he shot out his magic wires everywhere, completely surrounding the two wizards. Alron instinctively tried to move to counterattack, but stopped himself as a nearly invisible wire cut the end of his sleeve off like a heated knife through butter. “I’ll send your head flying before you can wiggle a finger, so don’t even try it.” Zoster warned him.
“Where did you come from? I didn’t sense you at all!” Nirvan said. “There was no way a common invisibility spell could have eluded my senses!”
“That’s because he isn’t using any ordinary invisibility spell.” Alron said, his hand gripping his staff firmly. “I was beginning to wonder when you would show up.”
“Shut up!” Zoster snapped. “I should-“
He was cut off by a sudden howl of pain. While they had been talking, Jasper had crept up behind Zoster, but before he could do anything he was hit by a spell from behind himself.
“JASPER!” Nirvan tried to move forward, but stopped just in time to avoid getting cut by Zoster’s wire.
“I said don’t move!” Zoster barked. Helpless, the two wizards watched as green bands of energy wrapped around Jasper, lifting him up into the air.
“Now now Zoster, let’s not get careless just because we have the upper hand.” Silas said, calmly stepping up next to the tiefling. All traces of the nervous man from before was completely gone, his posture now straight and his voice losing its stutter.
“So you’ve finally shown your true colors Silas.” Nirvan said coldly.
“My, you’re acting as if you already suspected of us.” Silas gave Nirvan a broad, cold smirk.
“I’ve suspected you from the very beginning. I went along with your little act so I could keep my eye on you Silas...or should I say, the old souls of the Coalition?”
“We’re impressed, someone has done their homework.” Silas chuckled. “But then again, I already knew that you had discovered my little secret. After all, the one who kept on getting in my way of corrupting the entire Council was none other than you.”
“As if you were subtle about it.” Nirvan said. “The attack during Tyrune’s tournament, as well as the vanishing assailant were quite obvious. Anyone with half a wit could see your plot.”
“Yes, well we can argue all night about who was keeping an eye on who, but we’re afraid you won’t be lasting that long. In a few minutes that play king will be completely drained and we’ll have enough magic to obtain our goals.”
“What could a bunch of dead men possibly do with that much magic?”
“They seek to revive themselves wholly, in this plane.” Alron said. “The shared body they possess cannot sustain them for too long, and I would imagine they’re not too happy about their current situation.”
“And we have another clever one here. We’ve expected nothing less from a man who bears the title of the Enlightened.” Silas spread his arms out wide. “Ever since we were banished from this realm, we have been steadily growing in power in order to return. However, thanks to those damn half-breed bastards that defeated us all those centuries ago, we have been unable to do more than use a temporary body.”
“Which is why you plan to drain Tyrune’s magic from him.”
“On point once more." Silas nodded. "We have been draining his magic for a number of years now. It was easy since the boy had absolutely no control over it. In another year we would have amassed enough power to break through the rift…but then the two of you had to meddle in our affairs.”
“That’s what we do best.” Alron stated.
“Yes, you two have been an annoyance ever since you both arrived.” Silas sneered. “The more control Tyrune gained, the harder it is for us to drain him unnoticed. You forced us to drain more magic from him, but eventually he would have realized what was happening and would have resisted. We were forced to speed up our plans at the risk of exposing it. But I suppose now we no longer need to move discretely. In a few more minutes, the boy will be completely drained, and we will-“
A loud blast detonated as the spell holding Jasper was torn apart. Zoster and Silas both turned around in reflex, a moment that Alron seized. A brilliant blue flame shot out along the wires, melting them into droplets of liquid metal in an instant. Before Alron could do anything else, Jasper lunged at Silas drawing his sword, but Silas was faster. A green sphere of magic shot out from Silas’s palm and struck Jasper in the chest, sending him flying through the air and crash against the wall of the barrier.
“JASPER!” With a shout, Nirvan shot a tongue of flame at Silas. Silas barely managed to extinguish it before it struck him, but Nirvan was already firing his next spell. Bolts of lightning and beams of energy filled the air as Nirvan and Silas unleashed one spell after another, both men locked in an intense battle.
Knowing better than to interrupt a battle between two other wizards, Alron focused his attention to getting to Tyrune. Before he could start on the barriers separating them, however, Zoster jumped in front of him.
“Step aside tiefling!” Alron ordered.
“As if I’d let you reach him!” Zoster said, his fingers twitching, throwing more nearly invisible wires at him. This time Alron had anticipated it and had already finished casting a gale of wind around him, blowing them away. Zoster barely batted an eye as he reached into the folds of his clothes and threw out small knifes. These Alron didn't even bother using magic to counter and merely dodged them one after another, knocking several out of the air with his staff.
“Tyrune trusted you!” Alron said as a knife whizzed by his head. “Despite everything I told him, he put his utmost faith in you! And this is how you repay him?”
“That fool doesn’t have the ability to even handle all that power!” Zoster said as he threw another knife, which was immediately dodged.
“And you think killing him would be any better?” Alron swiped his staff, parrying the knife. “Look at him, they’re killing him by taking away all the magic he possess.” Inside the barrier Tyrune had collapsed onto his hands and knees, his arms shaking violently to try and keep him up. His face was twisted in intense agony as his essence was ripped out of him forcibly. “Once he’s been completely drained he won’t even have any energy left to keep his heart beating!”
“If his magic gets out of control and he blows up, he’d be dead anyway!” Zoster threw three knife at once, but Alron merely struck them down with his staff like the others.
"You're running out of tricks." Alron said a knife whizzed by his ear.
"Oh I've got plenty." Zoster withdrew two more knives before lunging forward, the grey steel flashing as he slashed at the wizard with great speed. Alron jumped back, the tip of the knives narrowly sliced in front of his robes. The tiefling didn't let up and continued his assault.
“If you don’t stop now, I will be forced to end you where you stand.” Alron warned him.
“As if you wouldn’t take any pleasure in it!” Zoster yelled.
“Do you think I would take pleasure in destroying the one in Tyrune’s friend?” Alron's hand tightened around his staff. “Even now I know he trusts in you and values your friendship. Even so, if it means saving him, I shall do whatever it takes, even if it causes him to hate me for eternity.”
“You won’t even last until the new year!” Zoster yelled as he lunged forward.
As fast as Zoster was, however, Alron was faster. The tall elf continued to dodge Zoster's slashes and stabs. Then, Zoster swung the slightest too hard. Instantly Alron's staff swung down, knocking the knife out of one hand before snapping up and hitting Zoster in the face. The tiefling staggered back, surprised, just long enough for Alron to blast him with a fireball in the center of the chest. Zoster flew through the air and crashed into the ground in a crumbled heap, his limbs twisted in an unnatural manner.
Alron looked at the body sharply. It wasn't Zoster! In his place a life sized wooden puppet laid, grinning blankly up at him. The wizard started swearing. He had been fooled! Zoster had used his master puppetry and illusion magic to manipulate not only the puppet, but everyone else as well! But if this was only a puppet, then where was the real Zoster?
Right away Alron's eyes drew towards the center of the courtyard. Seemingly out of nowhere Zoster stepped out and to Tyrune's side.
Faintly a bell rung once.
There was no time to break through each individual barrier, and Nirvan was occupied with Silas. Even so, Alron had to get to Tyrune! Mustering every ounce of magic he could gather, he began blasting through the barriers one by one. With every barrier he took down, the bell rang seemingly in unison. It was almost as if the two were synchronized somehow. But this was no time to ponder about it, lives were at stake! Grimly Alron blasted down the barriers in a desperate attempt to get to his student.
Inside the barrier Tyrune was barely able to stay conscious. The pain that tore through him was unlike anything he had ever felt before. It was like a hook had grabbed onto every fiber of his being and torn out of him. In his pain fogged mind he could barely make out the ringing of a bell, and suddenly realized someone was with him.
“Who- ARGH!” The moment he tried to speak the pain intensified and he crashed onto the cold stone floor. By speaking he was distracted from putting up with what little resistance he had subconsciously been doing, and now he felt his power being drained at full force.
“It’s alright Tyrune, it’ll be over all over soon.” Zoster told him, withdrawing a knife. The bell rang once more.
“No!” When Alron saw the knife, he began to tear down the barriers more frantically. He called forth his strongest spells, tearing through three to five barriers down at once.
Zoster knelt down next to Tyrune, his knife held high as the bell rang for the 11th time.
“TYRUNE!” Alron screamed.
The knife fell down and struck, just as the final bell of the New Year tolled.
A massive wave of light and magic exploded outwards, destroying the last of the barriers and knocking everyone in the vicinity off their feet. When Alron struck the ground, he blacked out for merely half a second, but forced himself to recover immediately. He sprang to his feet, ignoring all pain or worry for himself or others and rushed to Tyrune’s side.
“Tyrune!” Alron said, kneeling down next to him and searched for the wound, but found none at all. “But…I saw…” And then Alron spotted something near Tyrune’s hand. Peering closer, he found an ornate looking ring that had been cut neatly in half, though Tyrune’s finger was still whole. From it Alron could sense the remains of dark magic that was already vanishing away.
“You absolute fool!” Alron turned around to see Silas kicked Zoster in the side, causing the tiefling to roll over in pain. Being closest to the blast, Zoster had been sent flying the farthest away. Nirvan had already also recovered and stood between them and Tyrune, though the blast disoriented him slightly and he would need a few more moments to completely recover enough to cast spells.
“Why did you do that!? We needed him dead, not the link severed!” Silas gave another kick to Zoster, this time they could hear the sound of a rib breaking from the impact. Zoster gave a grunt but did not cry out in pain.
“Sorry, but I decided that your so called plan doesn’t meet my liking.” Zoster gave a weak smirk. Then Zoster’s eyes made contact with Alron, and for a brief moment the elf saw into the other’s mind, a flood of thoughts, emotions and memories flooding into his at once.
I will never forgive you if you harm him. The thought came, then was cut off.
Silas looked down at him in pure rage. “You shall regret what you’ve done…I hope you’ll enjoy spending an eternity in hell with us, all for the sake of one muscle-headed oaf.”
“You’re not going anywhere!” Nirvan said, finally recovered and pointing his staff at his former aide.
Silas gave a broad, wicked smile. “Oh I like to see you try and stop me. After all, like you said before we do not belong to this world in the first place, and we are merely going home.”
Silas and Zoster were suddenly engulfed in black flames. Both Alron and NIrvan shot a spell at them, but it simply went through and caused the flames to vanish, leaving not a trace behind.
“Zoster.”
Alron turned around. Tyrune had opened his eyes and was already struggling to get up.
“Tyrune, are you alright?” Alron immediately went to help him up. The muscular lad was extremely heavy, but soon they got him standing again.
“Where…where is Zoster? Where did that bastard take him!?” Tyrune was quickly regaining strength, which surprised Alron. Someone who had their magic ripped out of them would normally be in an almost comatose state, but Tyrune seemed even more vigorous than ever.
Alron shook his head. “He’s gone, Tyrune. They took him back to hell.”
Tyrune shut his eyes tightly. “Dammit…if only I were stronger, I could have…I could have…”
“You were in no position to protect anyone, not with that ring on you.” Alron said.
“The ring…” Tyrune’s eyes gazed down at the remains of it on the ground. “Zoster gave it to me, said it would protect me.”
“He lied to you. That ring was enchanted to drain your magic.” Alron told him.
“That’s impossible, he would have never done that to me.” Tyrune said defiantly.
“Have you ever experienced spells of dizziness? Or had sudden bouts of weakness?”
Tyrune hesitated. “Y-yes.” He admitted.
“And when you begun gaining control of your abilities, have you found yourself feeling your magic was being siphoned off, and that you had managed to somehow resist it?”
“Yes, in fact I have recently.” Tyrune nodded unhappily.
“That was the work of the Coalition. They were using that ring as a focal point to tap into your power.” Alron said.
“Then…Zoster betrayed me?” The pain in his voice almost broke Alron’s heart.
“Not necessarily…” Alron said. “For a moment I saw into Zoster’s mind, but it was enough. What he did tonight ruined the Coalition’s plan for immediate revival. They still have obtained quite a bit of power from you, but not all of it, and not your life. Being a tiefliing he was subjected to discrimination and mistreatment everywhere, and when the Coalition promised him power, he gladly took the deal. His duty was to ensure you never learned how to control your magic and that they were able to drain it. When he approached you, he became your friend, gave you that ring and filled your minds with lies and hate for the magical arts, allowing the Coalition to freely take your power. But, then something happened that no one had predicted. Slowly, but surely, you changed him.”
“I did?” He looked at Alron.
Alron nodded. “Your loyalty and care towards him changed him, and within time he began to see you as a true friend. However, he was bound by the contract he made. He had many sleepless nights, torn by the choices of either your life, or his immortal soul.”
“We have to go after him!” Tyrune said. “We have to bring Zoster back! He…he doesn’t deserve this!”
“That he does not.” Alron agreed. “I admit, I have misjudged him completely, and have become a bigot.” He sighed. “It goes to show even someone who lived hundreds of years and named The Enlightened One isn’t immune to making mistakes.”
Tyrune reached out and placed his hands on Alron’s shoulders. “It’s okay Alron, you were only trying to protect me. In a way you were right to be suspicious of him…though I rather you trusted him like I did.”
“Jasper!” Nirvan’s voice drew their attention. The other wizard had gone to Jasper’s side, holding him in his arms to try and wake him.
“Jasper! Jasper, speak to me!” Nirvan gripped the other man tightly.
Weakly the other man opened his eyes. “You don’t need to yell, I was going to wake up in a few minutes anyway.”
Nirvan gave and cry and hugged Jasper close. “My dear boy, I had thought I had lost you! What could have possessed you to do such a foolish act!?”
“I suppose I have been hanging around his Highness and Master Alron too long. They both have a rebellious streak that tends to rub off on people.”
“Oh yes, those two are nothing but trouble!” Nirvan turned his head and glared at the two of them, but it lacked the same stern impact of his usual demeanor.
“Why is Nirvan coddling over Jasper?” Tyrune asked his teacher.
“Because Jasper is Nirvan’s son of course.”
“His…wait, what?” Tyrune looked at Alron, then at Jasper and Nirvan in surprise.
“What, you didn’t know?”
“But they’re nothing alike!” Tyrune said, regaining some of his voice.
“I beg to differ. Notice how they both have the same nose?” Alron pointed out.
Tyrune took a double take. Now that it was mentioned, the both of them did have some distinctly shaped noses, and some minor resemblances began to show themselves now that he knew they were related. Even so, how could a stuffy shirt like Nirvan be related to the charismatic Jasper?
“We should get you to a healer.” Nirvan said, helping his son to his feet.
“I’m fine father. Please stop treating me like a child.” Jasper took a step forward and winced, his legs starting to buckle.
“For once I agree with him, you need a healer.” Alron waved his staff and a comfortable looking bed appeared, complete with plush cushions and sheets made out of silk.
“Why do you have something like THAT prepared?” Nirvan asked.
“Because you never know when you might need a bed.” Alron said. “Although there is a rustic charm to sleeping in barns and haystacks, it tends to become rather messy at some point.”
“And you wonder why I was against you becoming a teacher.”
“But I am teaching them, Nirvan, about various things.”
Nirvan’s face turned bright red, though whether it was from rage or embarrassment, no one could tell.
“So…what now” Tyrune asked. His eyes were solemn and full of worry. “What’s going to happen to Zoster? And what about those…what were they called? The Coal Stones?”
“The Coalition.” Alron corrected.
“Who are they and what do they want with me and Zoster?”
“The Coalition is a group of wizards from many centuries ago. They had plotted to steal the world of it’s magic from it’s source and rule the world. However, they were foiled by a pair of half-breed heroes who managed to banish them to the otherworld and became the new source of magic in this world.”
“But what does that have to do with me?”
Alron opened his mouth, but stopped. Even now Zoster’s confounded hex on him was in effect!
Nirvan gave a broad smirk. “What’s wrong oh Enlightened One? The cat had stolen your tongue?”
Alron gave Nirvan a dark look. “Then would you be so kind as to do something?”
“Oh I wouldn’t dream of it.” Nirvan’s smirk grew broader. “But even if I did, it is not my place to tell this lad of his destiny. My role is simply to keep the prophecy on schedule and keep it protected from prying eyes.”
“So THAT’S why you were collecting all of those prophecies!” Alron said.
“Of course, I know my duties.” Nirvan said.
“What in the world are you two babbling about?”
“Why won’t you tell him about it?”
“Because he is meant to learn of it from someone other than I,” Nirvan said. “You and I both know who that is to be.”
Alron looked at Nirvan, then nodded. “I understand. The two of us must be on our way immediately. Even if they did not completely drain Tyrune of his magic, they still have enough to weaken the seal. It’s only a matter of time before they slip through the cracks and invade our world.”
“Then I suppose you both should start right away.”
A loud clang cut them both off. Tyrune had swung his massive sword onto the ground, splitting the stone and making a cut a foot and a half deep. “Would someone PLEASE tell me what you two are talking about before I start punching the both of you?”
“Of course.” Alron said calmly. “The two of us are going on a trip. This is not up for debate, and there will be no delay. What is about to be revealed to you will not only change your life, but the lives of every single living being that walks on this world. So hurry up and get your things ready, because we leave at dawn.”
To be continued