Spellcaster series #4: The Virtuoso

The Plan

TRISTAN

The tree stump in the middle of the Gardens was removed during the reconstruction of the South wing which Heidi and an army of djinns almost destroyed months ago. Jessie restored the Gardens to its original state and added more variety of flowers. He thought it should represent more than it was; a sign of resistance through its stubborn beauty.

A knock on my office door before it opened.

"Hey," Wynona greeted with a calm demeanour, "you disappeared from the meeting with the council this morning."

I counted the number of trees that were newly planted. Twenty.

"Lady Bernadette wanted to make sure you're okay."

Twenty poplar trees arranged in a circle around the portal. Heidi used that portal to sneak into the Worldly realm, some four years ago.

"Anyway," she continued despite my silence, "we're expecting you tonight in Jessie's office. I know you don't need a reminder but we haven't seen you in months. We thought we'd give you the space before...you know."

Perhaps I should leave some food for Butters. I had not seen that rotund ginger feline all morning.

Wynona took a few steps nearer but checked herself and stopped at a distance. She spoke in a low and melancholic voice, "For what it's worth, Tristan, we're not giving up on her. We'll make sure that your sacrifice won't happen in vain. I know I made you promise ending her life for the sake of protecting the realms but I understand now that it feels impossible. I can't imagine doing that to my husband."

The bench beside the tree stump was removed too. Heidi and I shared our first kiss there. She would have joked that if we were in a romance film, she would scoff at us.

How come? I would ask.

Because you're the serious, responsible Sage and I'm the fool, she would say.

"Well," Wynona spoke and cleared her throat, "I'll be off to the Worldly realm now. I'll see you around, Tristan."

When she left and shut the door, a portal was summoned not too long after. Vicky stepped out of it, curious eyes searching the room and landed on me.

"You called?"

I turned to her. "I have a plan and I need you in it."

~

The mention of my parents urged me to see them as soon as possible.

I arrived at their humble suburban abode with a suitcase in hand. It was in the middle of winter and snow had caked its landscaping and roof. My boots crunched the gravel and snow as I made my way to the front porch. A soft, warm glow of light emitted from the living area through the window. It was four in the afternoon but the skies were obscuring. I rang the doorbell.

My father opened the door. The second his gaze met mine, we exchanged the tightest hug I had ever received from him. Afterwards, he pulled away and beckoned me in.

"Your mother is in my office," he spoke softly as he shut the door, "she's been writing a book."

"That's wonderful." I cleared my throat and grinned before handing him my suitcase. "I'm returning this to you. I don't need it anymore."

He eyed me with utter confusion and disbelief. The suitcase was gifted to me on my first day as a Sage. My old man studied my face like he needed more convincing that I was really me.

My father and I were of the same height but he was a big-built man with thick brown arms. He wore a pair of suspenders that held up a pair of grey trousers with a white t-shirt tucked into them. His hair was always combed back and facial hair that defines a masculine exterior. He was also a man of intellect, like my grandfather, although they looked and behaved nothing alike.

The frown on his face soon disappeared and there was a look of understanding and underlying sadness. Perhaps a slight disappointment.

"You know, son," he spoke, "when I gave up the title of a Sage, your grandfather did not speak to me for many weeks. I never blamed him; we only have three chances until the title goes to another family. He did not want our birth right to end with him."

I didn't think my father had ever told me this. "Did he ever forgive you?"

"Eventually. Many, many years later. After I had you."

A brief pause before I spoke, "I didn't give the title up. It is to be revoked."

His green eyes darted back and forth as he read me. The lines on his forehead creased as he raised his eyebrows, finally comprehending my words.

"I just want you to know that I'm proud of you, son. The responsibilities of a Sage is heavy, not just on our shoulders but on our hearts," he continued in his baritone as he squeezed my shoulder. "Your grandfather is proud too, I'm sure of it."

The only physical attribute that I shared with my father was my voice. Heidi always said that I was definitely my mother's son but now I was beginning to think that he and I were more similar than I thought.

"Father," I began, "there is also something else that I need to speak to you and Mama about."

His green eyes darted back and forth. "This seems serious."

I nodded.

He pursed his lips and his moustache twitched. "Let's have a seat and wait for your mother."

It was not long till her footsteps were heard tapping on the wooden floor as she descended the the staircase. My mother had tears in her eyes as soon as she saw me and we embraced. The mood since I entered was sombre—they knew what happened but they didn't know why I was there.

In the last few months, the trial had everyone on the edge. Wynona was frantic and high-strung during every meeting we held while Jessie kept everyone afloat as much as he could. My title revocation was delayed due to us fighting to keep Heidi alive while she served her time in prison. Lady Bernadette tried to persuade the Commissioner while Dr. Pierce did all he could to contact civilians in signing a petition against Heidi's execution.

I, on the other hand, might have accidentally threatened the Commissioner's life. That pushed the consideration back by a lot.

Vicky visited Heidi the most when I wasn't allowed to. They said it could be bad for my mental health. They had me checked out by a doctor but I was deemed healthy.

"Are you all right, my dear?" My mother asked with one hand on my face.

I could not answer truthfully. So I went with a smile.

"Do not give up on her," she added. "We're all rooting for her."

I sat her down next to my father. "This might be the last time I see get to you."

They blinked at me with wide eyes. My mother was visibly confused but my father held a look of sympathy on his face.

"Tristan, I don't understand." My mother glanced at my father and then back at me.

"I'll be all right," I said and knelt before them. "I love you both so much."

We embraced again, all three of us, in the middle of winter in the suburbs of Orchidville.

~

Back at the office, I left a note for the two Sages each and pocketed each letter into a white envelope next to my wand. I removed my ruby from the cuff of my coat and placed it on one of the envelopes as well. I shrugged out of my red coat and draped it on the back of my office chair.

I glanced around me one last time. I pulled out my black coat from my wardrobe and put it on. It had been a while.

More than ten years ago, I became a newly-appointed Sage. I did not anticipate that one person can change my life so much within the course of ten years.