Creators Guild: A Wizard's Beginning (15 page)

             
Marcl was a few cycles older than Roland or so it appeared. He too had grown up on a small farm, taken in by the wizards when his family was killed by the Crioltians.  They had not only become student and mentor, but friends. They shared their secrets with one another.  Marcl allowed him to work harder than most mentors allowed.

             
Through all the training he had grown to trust Roland, he also knew of the prophecies of the bringer of light. With as much power as he could hold Marcl had himself convinced that Roland was the one.

             
“Pull it back in,” Marcl yelled at him.

             
At that instant the pig skin that Roland was trying to cauterize started to boil, the layer of fat just under the skin pushing it out causing the skin to bulge. Within a few seconds the stomach exploded throwing entrails around the room.  He had been focusing his ability at the healing arts, or trying to, knowing his mother was a great healer so he should be able to master that skill pretty easily.  This however was proving very difficult; he had already completely disintegrated three pigs, burned up half a cow and nearly burned himself to ashes as well.

             
Roland continued to study under Marcl for the next several months, preparing for the final tests he would have to pass with Ylian. The basics would cover things such as creating a light, heating water, closing and cleansing a wound.  What he was finding that the more he connected with the power the stronger he was becoming. He found the more complex the spells were the more draining they would be.  There were times he would come out of the void dripping with sweat.

             
"Wizard Ylian, Apprentice Roland has achieved all the necessary discipline and skill for an apprentice of fire.  He is now ready to be moved into a new discipline. We seek your knowledge and approval on this matter," said Marcl, giving the speakers’ floor to the Ylian.

             
"I thank you for your assistance with this young apprentice, now let him be brought forth to be tested and tried, let us see what he has learned."

             
He was brought before the fire council, a small group of wizards that belonged to the order of fire.  They tested his knowledge and skills, recognizing all that he had accomplished during his training.  As a council they agreed that he had sufficient knowledge and control over the element to be allowed to pass onto another order. He was then presented with a brilliant red ruby.

             
Ylian waved his hand over the staff causing the ruby to burn bright and melt into the staff.  Ylian walked with him to the hall of joining. This was a large room where all four of the elemental wings met. 

             
The room was spacious with a high domed ceiling. Looking up you could see a giant gold inlay of the sun, the natural lights making it shine. The walls were a white marble; they were plainly decorated with a few chairs and tables along the walls.  The floor was a brick inlay with a large mural on it; he only caught a glimpse of it as he was presented to Wizard Alren, the water master who was waiting across the hall.

             
"Wizard Alrien of the Order of Water, I present to you Apprentice Roland der Causland," said Wizard Ylian.

             
"I will receive the apprentice; let him now be joined with us."

             
Following the change ceremony they walked in silence down the long corridor. The walls in this area seemed to flow as though nothing was truly solid; the stone had the appearance as though it was covered in water.  There were paintings and tapestries covering the walls. Something he noticed that the fire in the wall sconces looked more blue than red or orange that he was used to seeing.

             
He didn’t feel comfortable enough to ask why he only figured it had something to do with the use of water and its incompatibility with fire. He was shown to his room which like his previous one was small and unassuming. The bare essentials were there, a bed, table, and chair as well as the small wardrobe.  There were not any windows of course, so he figured he would be in complete isolation as he was before.

             
The following morning he was escorted down to the training room. It was large and arranged in a like manner to that of the fire, although the testing stations were a little different.

             
"Apprentice, please be seated, this is Patlin Germai, he will be the one that will be instructing you throughout this training.  But first I will be the one to instruct you on what you will need to know to be able to control this element," he said, "before we start let me see your staff please."

             
He gave him the staff and Alrien placed the water crystal in it, once again giving him the ability to control more of the elemental power.  While Alrien was setting the crystal, he took the opportunity to visit with Germai.  He seemed to be cast in stone, the best that he could see he had no facial expressions and whenever he would answer a question it was short and to the point.

             
"Water like fire is one of the life essences that we have, all living creatures have the need for water.  Without it nothing would grow, like the heat of the sun each living thing takes something from this element.  In your training you will eventually be able to learn to control the rain, as well as learn the hidden possibilities of this element."

             
Germai took him down onto the training grounds to show him around and explain the types of tests he would be given. He explained the many different uses of the water element.

             
"You have been trained using fire, that is the most difficult to control. From what I hear you are a fast learner, so we will not start you out with something to easy," said Germai, sounding very resentful that he had to be the one to train the new apprentice.  "When you first came you had to fill a jug with water; that was easy.  One of the most important functions of water is using it as a mask.  You know what a mirage is, don't you?"

             
"Yes, on a hot day when it looks like there is some water but it’s only an illusion."

             
"Very good, well by controlling the many thousands of water droplets around you, you can create an illusion that you are not really there.  Watch how I do it," with that he disappeared from sight.

             
Roland quickly took hold of the power to join him in the alternate reality. There he was able to see how he was able to mask himself.  He pulled a small layer of mist, so small that it was invisible to the naked eye. Each particle of mist would refract the light in a different way, creating the illusion that there was nothing there.

             
"That is amazing, can I try it?" he asked enthusiastically.

             
"This will be your first lesson. Remember to call on the water is unlike fire, water will become your friend. You will not have to show this element that you are strong enough to control it."

             
He took hold of the element and concentrated on gathering the cloak of mist around him. The only problem he had was in his excitement he pulled too much power and as a result was knocked down by what felt like a huge tidal wave.  He stood back up soaked to the bone, with Germai actually laughing at what had happened.

             
"Now, you will try it again, but control yourself. This will be your greatest challenge in every element.  Without proper control you can seriously harm yourself. As you can see, you can be a danger to someone around you," he said, still smiling. 

             
"Let me give you an example of how you can endanger those around you.  Say you are out on the sea for some reason, let's say to save a trapped ship.  You can use the power to raise the water level enough to lift it off the reef. If you are not careful you can create too large a wave and destroy the ship and possibly those on it. Do you now understand the importance of control?"

             
"Yes, I believe I do," he replied, ashamed that he let his emotions take over once again.

             
Roland tried a few more times before he was able to get the mist to form as it needed to. It was a great deal harder than he first thought it would be, but he did discover that if he could see something being performed a few times, it became easier for him to do.

             
Throughout his training he was able to learn most of the limitations of the water element.  Until that time he was unaware that even the most powerful of things, still have their own limitations.  Aside from using water to hide yourself he learned how it could be used to reveal someone that is hidden with magic.

             
This was done almost the same way that you hide yourself or the object that you do not wish to be seen. By changing the flow of the mist you can see behind the shield, almost revealing the intents of the person’s heart.

             
Aside from this, he found that like fire, it is one of the elements used in healing. Fire cleanses by burning the infection; however you still need to use the water to clean it away from the wound.

             
Germai was a quiet person, when the lessons were being conducted he was very stern and rigid in how he explained things. When they were at meals or during the study times he would sit by himself rarely socializing.  Every time Roland attempted to make conversation he would close off.  He would then force him to focus on his studies or simply tell him he didn’t have time for small talk.

             
Roland started to tell him about his father and the friends he had left behind in Kirchwin. He told him about growing up never knowing his mother because she had died when he was so young. Then coming here and finding out that she had been a powerful sorceress. During all this he did start to get him to open up. The small comments that he would make finally broke through when he started to explain what had happened when he was young.

             
As a young boy his father was very cruel to him and his siblings. He would squander the families’ money at the town inn with drinks and gambling.  The worst part was when he returned home, drunk and angry that he had lost his money. Then he would take it out on the children.  He being the eldest of the family received the worst of it.

             
It all ended one day though when he found his father dead, hanging from the rafters in the barn. He could only imagine what had happened the night before.  His mother fell apart at that point and left the children. He took care of them as long as he could before being selected to come to the house of learning.

             
He could not bear to marry, afraid that he would turn out to be like his father. He found that only through the training to become a wizard could he discipline himself enough to re-enter society.  To be someone that could do some good.  And for that he found that he gave him much more respect.

             
He was wondering why he was being summoned to the training room at such an odd hour. It had only been three hours since he had left and was about to retire to bed.  When he arrived there didn’t seem to be anyone around. He walked into the middle and called out; there was no reply so he tried again. This time he heard a low moan coming from a dark corner of the room.

             
He walked over and found Germai lying on the ground curled up in a ball, with what appeared to be blood on his face and the ground around him.  He ran over to his side, bending down to see better.  He was surprised he was able to hear the footsteps behind him with the sound of blood pumping through his ears.

             
He turned just in enough time to see a ball of fire being released from someone, flying straight at him. At that moment only his reflexes saved him. He quickly called on the water element and formed a shield to protect both Germai and himself.  The ball of fire hit the shield with a strong enough force to knock him back. He was afraid that if whoever had done that tried again he wouldn’t be able to stop it.

             
Germai turned laughing, standing up he helped Roland to his feet. He was still in shock over what had happened. He was now looking at his teacher with a face of confusion, wondering if he had been so badly injured that he had gone crazy.  He began to back away from him when another person behind him stopped him.  He spun around, fist clenched, ready to take out whoever was there and make a run for it.

             
"I told you he was ready, did I not?" said Germai, "he does learn quickly and has the reflexes of a cat."

             
"Yes, he did do well. I give you credit for preparing him so thoroughly that he was able to save himself. Now we must prepare him for his next assignment," said Alrien.  "I will notify Wizard Brekon that he is ready to join him. Please help him to gather his items, and let him know what has just happened, he looks as white as a ghost," he said leaving the training room.

             
"You did very well apprentice, you have made me proud this night. Let’s return to your room and get you taken care of shall we?" he said, taking Roland by the arm and leading him back to his room.