One month writing challenge!

Annoying Answers and Ancient Anecdotes (Day 4)

Note: I hate this, I had to use a prompt but it was weird and hard and I don't like this but I don't wanna write another story today so this is it for today. 

 The hot-headed boy stared back at his map and then up at the building in front of him. While the drawing on the map looked fortified and grand, the one he needed to go to looked ancient, a shell of what it might've been. Or the map is a massive exaggeration and this whole trip is a scam, he thought but quickly shook his head. That can't be. I need to save her.

He walked into the building, ducking his head to avoid the loose plank barely holding on to the door frame. Inside he saw an old man with a bald head and a long white beard. A small smile could be seen on his face. For a second, the smile seemed to shift into a smirk but when the boy looked again it was back to what it was before, sweet and innocent. The boy wanted to get in and out, he had better things to do. Before the old man even turned his way he started talking.

"Are you the special old man that's supposed to help me?" The boy leaned on the desk between the two of them, despite a chair being right beside him.

"No greeting? I don't get many customers around these parts, it'd be nice to at least get a hello," The man replied, a mischievous glint in his pale blue eyes. The boy could feel his annoyance growing.

"I don't have time for greetings, just answer the question old man,"

"That's not very respectful, is it? Has your sister never never taught you manners?"

Sister? I never- I made sure I never mentioned her at all. How? Several thoughts ran through his head. The old man quirked his brow, still smiling, the boy's confusion and frustration must've been evident on his face. He slammed his fist on the table, his voice low with anger.

"Are you the 'special' old man who's supposed to help me? Answer. My. Question!"

"I don't believe I'm any more special than anyone else, everyone is special in their own way. And how exactly should I help you, I don't even know your name?"

"Yet you know I have-!," He covered his mouth, and took a deep breath, he wasn't going to tell the man anything more than he had to, "You know what I mean by special, don't play dumb with me!"

"I've never heard of a game by the name of dumb and I've lived quite some time young man. What exactly does it entail?"

"You're a magic man or something, you're supposed to tell me how to do what I need!"

"Maybe you should calm down and take a seat, what exactly do you need?" The man asked calmly but the boy didn't sit down, he kept standing, his heart beating faster with every word the old man said. If he doesn't tell me what I need, I might as well leave.

"If you're actually magic, you should already know and let me go on my way."

"If you value your sister's life, you'd stop keeping secrets and answer this old man's question." He stated plainly, now the boy could clearly tell the man was smirking. He was enjoying this. The boy couldn't take this anymore. He smacked the items off the desk, many of them shattering with a loud clang, the boy didn't care. He slammed both his hands on the table, leaning in, he was seeing red.

"How dare you say something like that! I've been doing all I can for the longest time, you don't know anything about me, what I've been through, what I've had to deal with! Give me my answers, I don't care if your special, I don't care if your senile! For saying something like that I don't think you value your own life, old man. If it wasn't for- I'll give you one one more chance, tell me how to fix this!" He yelled, but the old man didn't even look at him, not one. Instead it was on the mess on the ground, specifically the shattered teapot.

"That was my favorite tea set. It's almost as old as I am. The man who gave it to me had a short temper just like yours. Oh that brings to the years of my youth, oh how the time has passed, seems like it was only yesterday." He said wistfully, and then looked at the boy, gazing into his eyes and through his soul, "That man's eyes turned red as well, he knew how to control it though."

The boy's eyes widened and he stared at his reflection in one of the several broken glass shards. His eyes did turn red. It happened again. Then the shards rose, as well as the tea pot and all the other fallen items, they came together and landed back on the desk, right where they were previously .

"He was special in his own way, like you. His temper made him lose the control he so desperately tried to gain, his attempt to save others hurt them more than it ever should've. His temper was his downfall. I did try to teach him, but he seemed to forget what I had said. I think I still have those scrolls somewhere, it would be nice to take a trip down memory lane. Maybe they would help you as well, though you are leaving since I haven't told you the answers, no?" He asked, the smile still on his lips. Like he was having a pleasant conversation and not speaking of a tragedy. Then before the boy could answer he stood up, about to leave.

"Wait! where are you going? These scrolls, what are they? Where are they? Can they help with what's happening? Don't go, I'm not leaving yet, old man!,"

"I'm just going on a small trip, you could follow if you so choose."

"I'll go but where are you taking me? I'm not supposed to stay here, I need to go,"

"I'm not taking you anywhere, you're the one following me,"

"Fine, just show me what I need," The boy said, following the old man. He didn't know what the future would hold, but if it meant saving her, he'd do it.

(1042 words)