Axel Light Trilogy: Wands and Shield

Chapter 08-A

When Axel came around, he was back at Stirling and in Stirling Hospital – in the same room and on the same bed. Together with a solemn Robert, a sobbing Jane and a worried Elliot by his bedside. Axel did not have the courage to look at them.

'I'm sorry...' muttered Axel.

Jane burst into tears.

'Axel,' said Robert solemnly 'we know that you are worried that you will put us in danger when you are with us, and you feel that you are a burden to us. Don't be silly.'

'I don't want the same thing that had happened to my parents to happen to any of you,' said Axel softly.

Jane sobbed even louder.

'It will be different this time,' explained Robert, 'We are prepared. We have the protection of the MaxPol. Do you think that you would have survived on your own?'

'The better if I did not...' said Axel quietly.

'OH, SHUT IT, AX!' cried Elliot suddenly, 'I have enough of this! Your parents are dead, and you are not! Now technically, my parents are your parents, Margie is your sister, and I am your brother! We are bounded legally and magically! So, like it or not, we are FAMILY! And family should stick together and NOT RUN AWAY FROM IT!'

Elliot was breathless from the outburst and his face was fuming red. He paced up and down the room a few times and then he came crashing onto Axel and hugged him tightly. Axel could feel Elliot trembling and sobbing in his arms.

He had known Elliot since they were five years old. They had sat next to each other in a playgroup, not that they could remember much, but they had stuck with each other ever since. Elliot did feel like a brother to him, even without the legal and Magical bonds. Elliot would be the first person whom Axel would go to when he would feel happy or sad or when he had any problems.

If there was one person left in this world who would care for him, it would be Elliot – Axel did not doubt it at all.

Jane and Robert had joined them in their embrace. With their hugs, Axel crumbled emotionally, and he had surrendered himself to fate.

Fate that had brought them together as a family.

His new family.

'I'm sorry...' muttered Axel remorsefully, 'I understand, Elliot. I understand.'

Magic had worked in mysterious ways for Axel. Since young, it had been calling at him, but his parents had shut it out from his life. But Elliot – he was the lone string that had connected Axel with the Magical world. Axel had been watching magic as a by-stander – each time hoping that he could do magic. For sixteen years, that hope was just – a hope, and nothing else.

And now, Magic had suddenly come to him. That 'hope' had become reality. No one would understand his feelings more than Elliot. The Greens had willingly accepted him into the family. Willing to traverse the mysteries and dangers that this sudden Magical had brought with him. Axel should be thankful and not ashamed.

Once a family, always a family.

That was the Magical bond that was written in the scroll between the Greens and Axel Light, tucked safely in the vault of the Ministry of Magical.

And Axel could never change that.

*

'What happened in Million Wands, was....'

Stanley had waited patiently as Linden dug his brain for a word, but Linden had paused for a long time.

'Erm, unprecedented?' suggested Stanley warily.

Monsford shifted uneasily in the seat next to Stanley.

Linden did not nod or shake his head, he just stared blankly at Stanley in a frown.

Stanley had known Linden for a long time, ever since he had joined MaxPol about twenty years ago. He had been under Linden's wings, and he had never seen Linden as disturbed and worried as he was now.

'Unusual,' said Linden finally, 'Do you remember the very first spell that you had casted with your wand?'

Monsford shook his head and Stanley followed suit.

First spell? That was so many years ago and he was only five at that time. Stanley remembered going to Million Wands with his father and choosing a wand. But the first spell and what had happened when he had casted it, he could not remember.

'I did,' said Linden curtly, 'I remembered the feeling. But it was just... normal.'

'But Mr. Krow said that it was because of the wand,' said Stanley edgily, 'It is a good wood and combined with Axel's Magical Quotient which should be a lot more than a child, that had nearly destroyed his shop. The magnitude was just enormous, and Axel could not handle the force.'

'What was that feeling again, Monsford?' asked Linden curtly.

'Hmmm... like I was floating,' said Monsford dreamily, as he recalled, 'It's like, you are on a broom but weightless. You feel glad and... just happy. At peace.'

At peace. That was what Axel was not when he chose his wand. Linden had insisted that Axel could not choose his wand yet, because he was not at peace.

Linden drummed his fingers on his desk thoughtfully, 'Maybe he is ready.'

'The better if he is,' nodded Stanley agreeably, 'The Elites are making movements, aren't they? It is better for Axel to have a wand and learn defensive spells as soon as he can. Johnson and I can teach him while we are on our duty while we are at the Greens.'

'He should get proper training,' said Linden, 'Don't forget, he knows nothing about Magic. He does not even know how to hold the wand the right way. I'll get Mintridge from the Academy to be his trainer.'

Stanley and Monsford nodded agreeably. Lieutenant Amanda Mintridge was an excellent trainer at MaxPol Academy. Monsford himself was trained under her and he was one of the finest MaxPol in the current batch. If Monsford did not have a young child at home, he would be Stanley's partner as Axel's guards.

Johnson was good too, but sometimes, she could be affected by emotions. When Axel had tricked them, she was deeply affected by it. But as a MaxPol, she should set aside any guilt or differences and focused on the next task.

'The tips that we had received about the Elites had said that they are planning to overtake the Ministry. Is that true?' asked Stanley nervously, 'The attack at Stirling...'

'We all know that Axel Light becoming a Magical is just the tip of the iceberg,' said Linden, 'The Elites did not kill his parents by chance. They did not discover or uncover them by chance. Axel was not suppressed from his Magical Quotient by chance. Axel did not become a Magical by chance.'

'Well, he did own his wand by chance...' started Monsford, but he stopped when Linden glared at him.

'Just as Axel is at the tip, someone else is at the root,' said Linden.

'Cyrus Veldor,' whispered Stanley.

Linden nodded grimly, 'Monsford, get ready to have a cup of tea at Veldor's Mansion. It had been a long time since we had one there.'