Crest of Power: Kevin and the Magician

25 Your power lies in Dreams

"I thought the water healed," Krevik said, confused.

Kierra looked at him with a piercing gaze.

"If you drink too much it could kill you." When Kierra looked at him like that, it reminded Krevik of the magician. He looked down knowing what that gaze meant. It meant he had revealed too much. He was never good at keeping secrets. The Enchantress would know that he had dreamed about the well.

"It's okay Krevik," the Enchantress smiled. "I know you dream. It is good for you to dream." It will help you in what is to come."

"And what is that?" Krevik looked at her blankly. He knew what she was implying. He knew everyone in the village disliked, maybe even hated the Magician, but was unsure why. The Magician had always treated him well. He had raised him like his own son.

"I won't beat around the bush Krevik," Kierra looked at him openly; her features softened, hardened and softened once more. "You have to stop the Magician. Japeth, infected him. I gather you know who he used to be... How I felt...about him. Emir was the love of my life. In a way he always will be. I still love him and I always will. I don't know what possessed him to go seek out Japeth, but the fact remains he did. Now like Japeth did in the past, the Magician feeds off the fear that people have for him. If there were any bit of Emir left, he never would have allowed the Magician to do half of the things he has done. He knows the only way he can be defeated is the Crest. It's why he stole you from us. I truly wish I could have protected you back then." Her voice cracked with regret. "But your mother had told me you had a dream something was going to happen, and that I must go with Jesse."

"I believe you." He did. He didn't know why, but her admission of the love she still had for Emir, made him trust her. He didn't understand it, but he knew he could trust in her love for Emir. "I do want to help everyone, but I don't know how!"

"Dream," Kierra said. "Your power lies in dreams. The more you dream, the stronger your dreams will make you. The stronger you are, the stronger the chance of the Crest working against the dark forces in this world. You drank the healing water. I can see a difference in you."

"I guess it's a good thing I didn't drink too much," he grinned.

Kierra playfully smacked his arm. "Go to bed boy."

Krevik looked troubled for a moment before saying, "I'm not tired."

Kierra laughed. "Well then go wear yourself out."

"How?" Krevik said.

Kierra stood and went to a cabinet in the corner. She took out a pole and tackle-box. "Go catch our supper."

Krevik smiled. He hadn't been fishing in years. He didn't know if he knew how anymore. This was going to be a challenge.

*=*=*

Kierra looked down at Krevik as he slept. He didn't catch any fish, but she could tell he had really tried. Krevik had looked so refreshed, so much younger. The fullness of his youth was in his face for the first time since she had seen him. He was a strong guy after all, to be able to fight off the magician's influence. Especially after being his captive for all that time. She wondered what he could have gone through. He had seen the magician kill his mother right in front of him. But then when they saw him next he was sitting happily by the magician's side. The magician must have taken all the bad memories of everything away from the boy; otherwise, no one could have sat by his side after seeing their mother die that way. And if he did that each time, it was no wonder why the boy's brain seemed to be shattered. As Krevik lay there sleeping, Kierra stayed watching him. He seemed to be very healthy. There were no outward signs of abuse on him. It seems he was well looked after. She remembered the raven. The way it felt different from the crows. It seemed to be guarding him somehow. It was almost as if some part of the magician cared about what happened to Krevik.

The feeling of hope began to bud so small in Kierra, it was merely a whisper. Dare she to hope that some part of Emir was still there? She quickly turned away from Krevik wincing. Tears stung her eyes as she bashed away at that whispering hope. The thought was too painful to bear. If there was some small part of Emir left inside, she would never be able to defeat the Magician. Her love for Emir would never let her. Anger suddenly blazed within her.

How Dare. He.

He didn't have any of Emir in him! He was cruel. What he had done to Krevik's family... to Krevik's mind was too cruel. Emir would never let that happen. No the Magician had far too much of Japeth in him.

She was right to have shut him out of the forest. Out of her life. Had the Magician stayed in her life it would have destroyed her. She never could have survived being near Emir, and having him be completely gone. It was hard to believe she still loved him, No It was better this way. She only hoped Krevik was strong enough to fight the Magicians hold over him.

*=*=*

Jesse was very mad. She sat arms folded staring angrily at the table. It had only been a day since Krevik had gone. She couldn't be angrier at him for leaving her behind. She was angry at her father for letting Krevik go. She was angry at the villagers for not understanding her brother was not the Magician. She was angry at herself for being angry.

She knew why Krevik had to go. She understood it even. He had to get stronger. He had to get away from all the confusion, the stares the villagers would surely give him. But it didn't explain why she couldn't go with him and it didn't stop her from being angry.

She had to get out of the house. She needed to calm down, and the only way to do this, was a walk in the meadow. The meadow was always calming.

*=*=*

Krevik lay asleep. In his dream he stepped out of his body and saw the Enchantress watching him. He looked toward the village and saw Jesse walking back into the village from a small crack in the forest. She looked angry. He should have brought her with him. He had a bad feeling about her being alone – well without him there to look after her. He had a flash of memory of Jesse being attacked by wolves. No, this wouldn't happen yet. Right? It made no sense for that moment to be now. She looked fine. He scanned the forest around her. There were no wolves. Good. He wondered if this was his power. It must be. It felt so real.