Kile of Zumada

4. Kile's Quest

Too much chaos had happened the previous day, and it had occurred too late in the day, for the matter to be addressed immediately. But the first thing next morning, Kile, his mother, Kabafi and Lesati gathered into the makeshift yurt that had been constructed to take these sorts of things until the town hall could be fixed. They sat around a table, with random objects Lesati found important or useful decorating the room.

"I saw him do it," Kabafi said. "I have no idea however, he isn't Nature Bound, but he summoned plants all over my house!"

Lesati, as the village elder, was of course old. But she carried herself with all the honor she had earned, and all the vigor of a younger politician. Her white hair was braided with her beadstring, and she had many, many beads. More than Kile could count. She was dressed in brown robes, and had pulled a wool blanket colored in brilliant blues and red over herself as she listened.

"Do you deny this?" She asked.

"No," Kile said. "I don't."

Kile had decided that honesty was the best policy. He had no idea what the hell had happened to him. Nature Bound were taken as children, if he had been one he wouldn't be here. He also checked and he didn't have the Mark of Nature on him. But he did have some kind of mark. It was unlike any of the other marks he had ever seen or heard about.

"Did you intend to do this?" She asked.

"No," Kile said flatly. "I...I was so upset, I just wanted our field back. I wanted our home back. The next thing I knew, the flowers were growing. By the time I realized they were growing through Kabafi's house, it was already over."

Lesati nodded. "Will you remove your shirt?" She asked.

"No." Kile said immediately.

Lesati's eyes went wide for a moment before she gave a gentle smile. "Ah, forgive me. I didn't mean it like that. I want to see if you have a bound mark."

"Oh," Kile said, relieved.

Instead of removing his shirt, he pulled down the lip of it to show his heart, where the strange symbol had appeared.

"What does this have to do with anything?" Kabafi snapped.

Lesati frowned. "It's what I feared. Wild Magic."

"What magic?" His mother asked.

"There have been rumors amongst the other Elders of a strange phenomenon. A new kind of magic. A magic that is without control or precedent. As such we have called it Wild Magic."

"And I have this...?" Kile asked.

"Yes. No doubt about it, the mark you bare is that of Wild."

Kabafi leaned back and put his hands on his knees. "So you're saying this kid really has no idea?"

Lesati nodded, "the first time someone awakens to their power is always a surprise. I've never heard of anything quite like this, admittedly, but the stories are similar enough. Someone desperately wanting something, and then getting it, regardless of whatever other trouble that might cause."

"I was very desperate." Kile assured.

"That much is clear."

"I apologize then," Kabafi said. "If you didn't mean it then you weren't acting maliciously and I'm sorry for assuming such of you. You're a good boy, I should've known better."

Kile nodded in thanks.

"But that doesn't change the fact that my house has a giant hole in it and, intentionally or not, Kile is responsible."

"As I understand it, the young man created a large amount of grains?" Lesati asjed

"Yes."

Young man. It felt good to be called that, especially by her. He was 16, old enough to be on the precipice of adulthood, old enough to be quested. But still not old enough to be a man. Last night showed that.

"Then I don't see any reason why to take what is on your property from you," she began, "out of season grains will sell well, and you may use those funds to cover repairs."

She took in a breath as she reached over to a pipe on her table.

"Further, as the storm caused the distress that made Kile react as he did, your damages will be considered as part of the recovery process from the storm."

His mom breathed a sigh of relief. That was one very big weight off both of their shoulders.

"Thank you, Elder." Kabafi said.

"You may go. I would like to speak to these two in private."

Kabafi, as polite as he was, immediately got up and left the yurt.

"So my son will always have this...issue?"

Lesati nodded, "there does not seem to be a way to Unbound yourself, as with all magics. But..." she took a puff from the pipe and let it out, the curling smoke reminding Kile of a Cayut tail, "that does not mean it cannot be controlled."

She pulled herself up straight, tapped some ashes from her pipe. Her brown eyes fixed directly on Kile's own gentle blue as she said, "Kile, this is your Quest. You are to leave the village. You are to find another Wildbound. You are to learn how to control your powers."

His mother sat up straight, her eyes flickering with pride.

"Elder! Are you sure?"

"Yes. This is clearer than any other quest I've given. Your son has been given a wondrous gift, but also a very dangerous one. As long as he lacks control of this power, he is as much a threat to this village as a help."

"That's harsh." Kile said.

"It's true. You wrecked your neighbor's house. He is right - you may not have meant to, but it still happened, and you must still make amends. This is how you can do that - by making sure it never happens again."

Her voice was kind, but firm.

"I understand, Elder." Kile winced.

Lesati gave a gentle smile and stood up, walking over to a desk and opening a drawer. She pulled out a black circular container and reached into it, grabbing a handful of clay dust. Kile sat up straight, and stuck out his chest proudly.

"Kile, Son of Satude and Kazafa, you have been Quested. You must go to Vashingdon, where a man who shares your power can be found, and ask him how to control your powers. If he cannot help you, you must continue until you find a way."

Kile remained still, and spoke clearly. "I accept this quest."

"Then go forth," she said as she spread the dust over his face and neck with a waving motion, "and see your quest completed."

She then whipped some of it off his face, and began to roll it together with some of the other dust into a small sphere. Once done, she handed it to him.

Tradition held that he give this to someone special. That he chose someone he loved, and they would turn it into the very first bead of his bead string. It could be a teacher, a friend, even a lover. But for Kile, there was only one choice in the world.

He turned around and handed it to his mom.

"Mom," he said "I wouldn't trust anyone else."

Her eyes were tearing with joy and pride as she hugged her son tight in her arms. He hugged her back.