Dark Lord Saga : The Blood Mage

Chapter 4 : The Wizard Path

In the forest there is a man wielding a broadsword as large as himself. He swings and the air moves aside. A single strike and a tree splits apart. His muscles ripple through his shirt and the sweat drips from his hands. He grabs a fist-sized rock with his fingers and crushes it into dust. A moment later, a shadowy figure arrives by a tree. His face shrouded by shadows.

"Training in the woods again? You warrior types are too diligent. Why not take a break in the morning."

The man turned to face the shadowy figured and smiled.

"You are back? It's barely morning."

"We ran into some trouble. Clifton entered the dungeon ."

"Eh?"

The large man looked at him astonishingly.

"Why did he do that?"

"He went too close to the boundary. I am guessing 'it' sucked him in. It is a variant dungeon, one with a deep chasm for an entrance instead of a cave."

The man paused for a moment to think about the implications. Variant Dungeon. In truth, there were special kinds of dungeons.  Ones that had a cave for an entrance were the normal ones. You went down a long winding path, but as long as you kept going forward you'd eventually reach the end and get whatever treasure lay inside. Variant Dungeons, however, had all sorts of different shapes for their entrances. These dungeons would often have several forking paths that went off to who knows where. One could get lost in a Variant Dungeon for hours or even days.

"Well, it happens," the man shrugged. Adventurers ended up dying one way or another. Once you lost a friend you eventually ended up caring less about the next one.

"Is our mage up to the task?"

The man scratches his head.

"Maybe? I don't know. You know how eccentric she is. You say one thing about this or one thing about that and she goes crazy. What's up with these wizard types these days?"

"Well, she better be ready. I got my escape plan in the worst case. Not my fault if your head goes rolling when we go in."

The shadowy figure moves his hand across his throat.

"Well if that's all you want to know I am going to go back see if any of our other comrades have arrived. It might be funny to watch some of them fall into the hole."

The shadowy figure motioned back to the forest.

"Don't go too far Vernon," said the man, waving his hand. "You know how some of us get testy when we fail? You might get an axe to the face if you laugh too loud."

"Me?" grinned Vernon, "What's not to like about seeing people fail? Hehe."

In a blink of an eye, a small gust of wind blasted from the soles of Vernon's boots, and then the man was gone, back into the forest.

The warrior shook his head and sighed.

~~~

In a village far away from the new dungeon, on the second floor of the library, Grey looked out the window. A whole week! He had to wait a whole week before he could go outside. Already, travelers had made their way to his village and were asking directions to the new dungeon. A plump merchant with a tall hat spoke to his father outside about setting shop in front the library.

"I am telling you I need! No, require! This location. It is absolutely necessary," spoke the chubby man. His cheeks jiggled every time he finished a sentence.

"These products are the finest of goods! Herbal tonics, poison antidotes, bandages! Where better to put a shop than in front of a library where mages and priests can easily find them? Just think! They come to a village and see a library with a shop in front of it. They can get a book and buy a potion. It's good for me. Good for you!"

Grey's father looked unconvinced. "A library is not only a place for mages and priests. We take care of a lot of paperwork including the villages finances and letters of importance. If a messenger came here. I don't want to be wading through hordes of people to pick up my letter. Never mind pick up things. I don't want to be anywhere near any disputes you may have with your customers."

While the merchant's deal might be good for any of the other villagers Grey's father naturally thought of his family. Usually, the first shops that set up near dungeons tended to be scammers who sold poor quality goods and left the area before their customers found out they had been swindled. The last thing Grey's father wanted was to have some angry adventurer in front of his home. He turned to leave.

"Ah, sir, please wait," coaxed the plump merchant. His face sweating. "Perhaps, I was being too forceful? Here come let's talk over some tea. Let me address your concerns. If I answer your questions? It should be fine? What do you say?"

Grey's father paused for a moment and saw Grey by the window. Letting the merchant sells his goods here would attract more adventurers to the library. Wouldn't that make his son happy? Perhaps, he should consider this matter more deeply.

"Fine," said Grey's father. "but if you don't agree to all my terms. You have to leave me alone, agreed?"

"Certainly. Certainly," smiled the merchant. While there was conversation there was a chance! How could this chubby man, a crafty salesman, not be glad to trade words with a common librarian. He would have this spot no matter what.

Grey watched his father leave with the merchant to a shop that sprung up near the front of the village. It was only the morning, but the village was vibrant with activity. Every few minutes a new face would arrive near the entrance, dressed in foreign clothes, looking for a place to stay. Many of the new travelers mingled in the village center, discussing their day to day activities, and news they had heard while traveling to the village. In a couple of hours, Grey's village grew from 22 inhabitants to 57. Already, it was feeling very crowded.  In a week, perhaps, it would no longer be called a village, but a town.

But even so! Grey was not allowed outside. With all these happenings no one was interested in a library as they were in a blacksmith or tailor. When going into a dungeon the first priority is equipment! Not books. It was natural for folks who had traveled several miles to check their gear before they tried anything serious. A second set of clothes? Steel tipped boots? Leather gloves? You would never know when the smallest of things could cost you, your life.  

Grey sat on the second floor and sighed. Now what would he do? If nothing will happen, then he should train! Grey sat cross legged and closed his eyes. From breathe there is life. From life there is motion. From motion is direction. Magic is motion. Magic is imitation. Magic is imagination. Grey recited the words from the Vol. I Magic Theory book. The mind gives direction. The body provides protection. Two in one. Together forms a base. An image swirls in Grey's mind. The power of the wind, light and soft, brushing against gentle blades of grass.

Grey exhales and vapors rise out from his body, tenderly scattering papers around him before coming to a rest.

"Ho, ho, ho." said voice.

Startled, Grey opened his eyes. There was a young woman, dressed in long overflowing robes, and a tall pointy hat standing in the corridor. In her hand was a staff with an emerald jewel at its tip.

"I came here to see if they had any books about the plant life in this area, but instead I find a young adept? How curious."

The woman tilts her head playfully.

"Little boy, you wouldn't happen to know where I would find that book would you? It seems the bookkeeper is not here."

Grey's heart jumped out of his chest. It was a mage! A real life mage!

"I-I know! It's over here on the second shelf next to forest survival guides."

Grey quickly ran up and brought the book to her in a flash. His eyes beaming with anticipation. The woman took the book with amusingly and opened its contents. She flipped through the pages and paused every now and then to write down a note on a small slip of paper. When she finished, she looked down, and Grey was still ogling her enviously. She smiled and laughed inwardly to herself. What's up with this fellow? Why does he look like he is about to eat a piece of meat?

"Little boy, why are you looking at me like that? Could it be you want my body?"

"What! What no!" though Grey was a little child he had read enough books to know where babies had come from.  

The young woman grinned. "Oh? So you know what that means? Perhaps, you are not such a little boy after all."

Grey's face turned scarlet red! What is this woman saying!

"So if not my body then why do you look at me like that?"

"It's just since I was even younger I set a goal to be a powerful mage, but I have not been able to get very far. To see the real thing. I am really happy."

The woman laughed. "What is so special about being a mage? You only do a few tricks and people think you are all powerful. Always, asking you if you can do this or that. It is really a bother."

"I-It can't be!" said Grey upset. How can this woman say that about herself. "Magic is a powerful force. The strongest mage can topple mountains. They tell the earth the move it moves. They shout at the sky and even the clouds would obey."

The young woman smiled. "Little boy, you read too much books. Besides mages don't you know all the paths use magic? Even those hard headed brutes called warriors use it in their training."

Grey looked astonished. Though he had read lots of books about mages he did not read much about the other heroic paths. Everyone used magic?
"I thought warriors used something called inner rage?"

The woman scoffed. "It is the same thing. Those idiots just don't know what to call it."

Grey thought to himself. "Miss, I have not asked for your name."

"It is Baylee. Just Baylee. Though if you become my husband than perhaps I'll tell you my last name."

"Miss, don't joke with me!"

"Haha."

Grey fidgeted nervously. His thoughts returned to his original goal. There was now a real life mage in front of him! Was this his chance to leave the village?

"Miss, can I ask a question and perhaps a favor?"

"Ask away," smiled Baylee. "Though if you ask a favor it's only right I know your name mysterious boy."

Grey nodded.

"My name is Grey. I am reading books to train my aura, but I am progressing quite slow. I also don't know much about how to cast spells and I would like to ask if you know how I would pass the Ritual of Awakening."

"You haven't passed your Ritual of Awakening?" Baylee said, astonishingly. "Just now didn't you meld magic?"

"Yes, but only because I have read a Vol. I Magic Theory book. I have my basics down, but as for what the Ritual Awakening is, I really have no clue."

Baylee pondered to herself. It was unheard for a mage to be able to utilize magic before they underwent their awakening. Could this boy be a genius? In her heart she had begun to grow fond of this boy. Now this thought made her want him more.

"I could explain it to you, but it really is a bit complicated. How about I promise to help you with your awakening on a later day? I still have things to do today and I don't think my friends will be very happy if I suddenly disappear."

"Thank you!" Grey's heart was fluttering with excitement.

"So if that was your question what was your favor?" said Baylee.

"I ask that you take me in as your apprentice!"
"Ho~"

Baylee smiled. This little boy.

"You know it is only polite to offer something to receive something? If I teach you what will I get in return?"

"Hmmm," thought Grey, carefully. " If you teach me, I will be grateful for the rest of my life! Fire or cold. I'll definitely help you no matter what."

The woman giggled. "Haha, you really read too many books. You are starting to sound silly too. That's fine. I don't dislike that sort of person. From this point on, you are my apprentice. Come, let's go I have much to see in this village before I go back to my friends."

"B-But?" Grey interjected. How could he forget his promise to his father? He was not to go outside for another week.

"What? Are you unwilling? Aren't you my apprentice?"

"I promised my father I would stay inside till the knights arrive. Could we wait for week before I leave?"

Hearing this. The woman grinned mischievously.

"Where the master goes, the apprentice follows."

She picks up Grey and out of the library they went! He had been kidnapped!