Axel Light Trilogy: Wands and Shield

Chapter 23-C

Silence filled the air as Axel tried to let the information sink in. The air could be still as Axel could not feel himself breathing.

'You said that my wand – it overtook me?' asked Axel in disbelief; he found it terrifying, 'does it mean that it had controlled me?'

Linden looked at the wand that was floating in the blue mists. Axel thought he saw a glimpse of longing look in Linden's face for a moment.

'A wand is the most mysterious Magical item. No one could say that they know how a wand really works. Not even Mr. Krow. But I don't think that your wand had controlled you,' Linden seemed to be choosing his words carefully, 'I think that your wand understood you well and just did what your heart had desired.'

Axel stared at his wand fearfully. He did want to hurt Linden the other day when he took his key. But how could a wand act on its own?

'Is the wand... like... alive?' asked Axel; he felt stupid after he asked that.

But Linden did not laugh.

'Not really, no,' said Linden, his fingers playing with the blue mists that was surrounding the wand, 'It can't act on its own. It still needs your Magical Quotient to cast a spell. A wand must work with a Magical.'

'Mr. Krow said,' Axel hesitated, 'he said that I have a fine wand...'

'Isn't it the best?' said Linden teasingly, 'I thought Mr. Krow said that it was, hmmm...'

'If it is so good then why didn't he keep it,' asked Axel unsurely, 'or give it to someone powerful, like you...'

Linden sighed deeply, 'I thought I had explained it before, or maybe not... A wand chooses the Magical. Even if I am to use your wand, it will not work proper for me. It will not listen to me or follow my heart. I think this Ebony wand had proven itself; this wand had worked with you.'

'Then why did you keep it from me!' asked Axel fiercely, his mood was still in a roller-coaster ride.

Linden sighed again, but this time he smiled weakly at Axel, 'I thought that I was protecting you by keeping this wand away from you. You seemed to be not ready to wield it yet. You could not control your powers and the wand, which could hurt you, like it did. I thought I would keep it until you are well recovered and could control your anger, at least, before I give this back to you.'

Axel felt betrayed, cheated, confused. He was convinced that Linden had tricked him, made used of him. Why did Linden make it sound like he was being nice to him instead, and had wanted him well instead of ill?

Did he get everything wrong? thought Axel, in a daze, did Elliot's lose his leg because he was wrong?

His erratic mood was befuddling his reasonings. Axel slapped his forehead annoyingly, trying to think straight.

'But you know that I would go and get a new wand, I heard you at Million Wands!' shouted Axel angrily, trying to make his case.

'So, it was you outside the shop the other day,' said Linden, pleasantly surprised, 'Well, it was Mr. Krow who said that you will want to get a wand since I kept your Ebony wand...' he paused and took a sip of water from his cup. 'I think it was quite clever of you and Elliot to be able to evade us for about two days – one day actually. We did not know that you had escaped until late on the first day. Margaret nearly broke down. She is only twelve, you shouldn't give her such big a burden.'

'It wasn't me! It was...' Axel let his voice trailed.

Elliot came up with the plan alright, but the plan was made all because of Axel.