Wizard's Apprentice [#Wattys2015]

Arrival

My name is Carter. My mom died when I was born, and then 10 years ago my dad just vanished. Finally, I'm traveling home to Dagrun to find out what has happened to him. My father is Dianite's right hand man, and I can't believe Dianite would let him vanish. Maybe Mianite took him, but whatever the cost I will get my dad back. His name is Mot.

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My ship arrives in the port town of Dagrun just before sunrise. Disembarking, I run into the town to find the king or prince so that I may ask if they have heard anything. I travel through the streets, noticing the damaged roads and homes. But pay no mind to them. As I round a bed in the road, I let out a gasp of dismay. The castle was in shambles.

"Hello!! Is anyone here!!" I call out, hoping someone hears me.

"I am here, but who might you be?" A lady with purple hair appears in front of me.

"My name is Carter. I'm looking for my father who disappeared 10 years ago." I state.

"Oh? And who is your father?" She asks me, and a group of other people show up. I look them over and I see-

"Dad!!" I shout and run over to him. The others look around bewildered.

"Dad where have you been! You vanished for 10 years...why didn't you come home to get me...." Tears spring to my eyes. The fellow with the red sunglasses looks from me to my father then to the purple haired lady.

"Um....is your dad Mot by any chance?" He asks. I nod warily.

"Well my name is Tom, not Mot....sorry." The guy I thought to be my dad says.

"B-but....you look just like him....." I murmur. The purple haired lady puts her hand on my shoulder.

"I understand how you feel Carter. These people come from a separate world...and its quite possible that they switched places with the versions of them from our world." She explains. I shake my head.

"Um...why don't you come stay with me until we can get you settled in your own place?" Another girl offers. Too numb to think, I nod my head. She takes my hand and walks with me out of the town.

"My name is Sonja, but you can call me Foxx." She tries to make conversation.

"I'm Carter." I reply and we walk the rest of the way in silence. We pass a large oriental looking structure.

"What's that?" I gesture to the buildings.

"That's the Dojo. Tucker lives there." Sonja tells me. Just a little farther along, we reach a small pink house.

"Well here we are." She smiles at me. I take a few moments to look at the surroundings.

"Who lives there?" I point to the tower on the mountain beside the house.

"Oh that's Waglington's house. He's a wizard." Sonja explains. She takes me inside and we settle down.

"Tomorrow we will try to explain all the stuff that happened...sleep well Carter." She tells me and then disappears downstairs. Sighing, I turn out the lights and go to sleep.

When I wake up the next morning, it's still a little bit before dawn. I decide to take a look at the wizard's house. Climbing up the mountain, I look around to see a tainted landscape nearby. Shuddering with memories of the disastrous effect taint had on my home, I continue my climb.

I reach the top of the mountain and sit to watch the sunrise. The beautiful colors remind me of how long it's been since I had watched a sunrise. The last time had been with my father.

"Hello there." A voice says from behind me. I squeak in surprise and flinch. Suddenly there is nothing below me. I'm falling! Is all I can think in my panic. I squeeze my eyes shut, but I never hit the ground. Slowly, I open my eyes to see a man had caught me.

"I-I um....th-thanks..." I stammer. He sets me down up at the top and kisses my hand.

"Not a problem miss. My name is Waglington. You can just call me Wag." He smiles at me. I can feel my cheeks burn.

"O-oh! I'm Carter." I reply and smile.

"Why were you up here by my house, if I might ask?" Wag inquires.

"I wanted to meet this wizard everyone kept talking about, and when I got up here to your house I stopped to watch the sunrise.....I had forgotten how beautiful sunrises are." I explain.

"I'm so sorry I startled you." He murmurs softly.

"Don't worry about it. I'm alright." I tell him and smile again. We trek down the mountain together back to Sonja's house.

"Well Carter, I'll see you soon." Wag hugs me and then flies off. Sonja walks outside and I feel my face begin to heat up with embarrassment.

"Come on. I'll take you to meet Tucker, Jordan, Martha, and Steve." She says and starts walking. We get to a place with tables and chairs set up, almost like a party area.

"Ah Foxxy! I see you've brought the new girl along." A woman with silvery hair shouts. She's standing next to a guy who looks just like a farmer, and on another side with the purple haired woman stood Tom, and two other guys. The guys walk over to me.

"I'm Tucker." The one with the freaky armor introduces himself, "the other one here is Jordan." Tucker gestures to the guy in the red glasses.

"Well I'm Carter....and I'm sure purple hair over there told you my story." I reply.

"That's no way to speak to a goddess." Jordan comments. I give him a quizzical look.

"I am Lady Ianite, sister to Dianite and Mianite." The purple hair lady explains.

"You're.....Ianite." I put the pieces together.

"If you don't mind me asking Carter, but which God do you follow?" Tom questions. I'm sure if he's an alternate version of my father, that he's on Team Dianite.

"I follow none of the Gods. My father was Dianite's right hand man and now he's gone. I suspect Mianite of this treachery. And YOU." I turn to look at Ianite, "did nothing." I hiss. Jordan pulls out a rapier and stands between me and Ianite. I roll my eyes and storm off, not letting them see the tears rolling down my face. I grab my meager possessions and leave Sonja's house. If I was going to live here in Dagrun, it wouldn't be near followers of Mianite or Ianite. My feet take me past Wag's house and to the land beyond. I get to work building my home. Oh dad.....where are you?