Crest of Power: Kevin and the Magician

13 The Green Monster

The Magician sat in a small dark room. It was apparent that he was brooding over something. He was sitting on the edge of a bed, in his cloak. He had worn it for so long that it seemed a part of him. The bed was not a plain one. In fact it was quite elaborate. It had many pillows, one of which looked as though someone very small had used it as a prop between themselves and the wall. The sheets and blankets were rumpled and unmade. Everywhere you looked there was dust and candles. The dust was a grey film that clung to everything. It was like looking through a grey filter that made everything seem dull.

He slowly swept off his hood with both hands, as if the slightest movement would cause a dust storm. Then he mussed his silver hair. It glimmered in the candle light. He let out a small sigh and smiled slightly.

He stood from where he sat and began to pace the room. Somehow none of the dust stirred. He knew the room well. He went over to the grey dust covered dresser in the corner. He picked up an object. It was one he had examined before. He dusted off what little dust was on it. It was a wooden knight, with moveable arms and legs. He put it back almost lovingly; the way she had back then. He smiled proudly to himself. The boy had been hers then. Now the boy belonged to him. Krevik would always belong to him. He walked out of the dismal room. There was nothing here. It revealed nothing. The Crest of Power wasn't here.

*=*=*

Phineas sat on his bed, eagerly awaiting the master's return. He didn't like it when the master was gone for too long it made him nervous. Who knows what kind of monsters would try to take advantage of his absence!? He had nearly had a heart attack a few hours earlier when the young king had knocked on his door just an hour ago. He knew he was being illogical. The master had tons of protective spells on the castle. But he simply couldn't help it, he just felt... safer, when the master was there. He would never get to sleep at this rate.

He got up and took an old chest out from under his bed. He opened it to reveal a glass ball. He tried peering into it. It revealed nothing. He sighed as he put it back. It was still no use. It revealed none of its secrets to him. He sighed as he put it back. He knew that if he went back to bed now sleep would just elude him. He went to the corner of the lab and made a potion. He put it in a jar and then proceeded to make a second potion. The first one he placed under his pillow; the second he drank and went to bed.

*=*=*

Krevik leaned against the wall with his arm and looked out his window. The first rays of sun shone brightly on the scenery in front of him. He could see the forest expanding out before him. It was so... Huge! No huge wasn't the right word for it. It was so big that words escaped him. He thought it was a lost cause. He would never find it. The forest had swallowed the crest; there was no way he would ever be able to get it for the Magician. The green monster before him had hidden it well.

Green monster... He liked that. That was what he would call the forest looming darkly before him. It didn't deserve a beautiful name like Ern. He had read about Ern. She was a beautiful fairy who had made the forest grow and bloom all around her. She had used up all her power to make it pure and good. Before she died from weakness, she chose a young lonely girl and gave her a magical tiara. She told the girl that she would know what to do. Then she died. Ern had made the forest to hide all the good creatures from the monster that haunted nightmares. Goblins and monsters would never be able to enter that place.

Krevik had watched the magician conjure up an image of a goblin to see what would happen if it tried to enter the forest. It faded into nothing the moment it reached the tree line. It was just... gone. That had been the first time that he had witnessed the green monster's power. He had convinced himself afterward that one day he would enter into the forest and just disappear, just like a goblin.

From his window he imagined the forest begin to rise up and open a gaping mouth with razor sharp teeth. His eyes opened wide. He really needed to stop daydreaming, before he made himself too scared to go in there. Instead he thought of a beautiful meadow, it seemed familiar to him. He imagined a beautiful wedding would have taken place there at one time. If there was a place like that in the green monster, then he would call it Ern.

The door clicking behind him roused him from his reverie. He looked to see who had entered.

"Good morning Phineas," Krevik said as the old man brought in a golden tray of food. The old man set it down on a small table.

"My king," he began, "Why don't you move out of the plain little room and move to one more... suited for one of your status. One that's more fitting of a king."

"Besides," he continued when Krevik didn't answer. "Your things would look much better in a larger room."

"I like it here," said Krevik.

"But... Why, my king? Why do you like this tiny room?

Krevik smiled. "I just do," he replied. It reminded him of a comfortable room locked somewhere in his memory. That was why he liked it. It reminded him of home. That was also why he hated it. He tortured himself with the thought that he had once had a home other than this one. His memories of a time before living in this castle were all gone.

"Well, the master wouldn't tell you this," began Phineas, "but he doesn't like the way you favor this room."

"Really?" said Krevik in an uninterested voice. He hadn't been listening. His mind was far away. In his mind he was on his horse riding through a plain. Suddenly, he came upon a village plagued by a terrible dragon; a beautiful maiden had promised to marry him if he would only rid them of the evil thing.

Phineas saw the blank expression on the young kings' face, and knew he was stuck in a daydream again. He slammed his hand on the table. Krevik jumped back to reality, and looked at Phineas in shock.

"That's a nasty habit sire," he said. "You really need to start focusing on your own life. Focus on the here and now."

"You're not at all how you appear to be Phineas," said Krevik. "You're so outspoken."

"When you're as old as I am," he grumbled. "You get to be that way from time to time. By the way," he added, "The master wants to see you when you finish that. So, stop daydreaming and get a move on."