The Beginning (F.S.K. Series)

Previous Past

Dust accumulates on the edges of a pine desk, and my pinky brushes the fine fuzzy particles as I lay my hand on my journal. The brisk pages scratched my dehydrated skin as I lay my right palm against its grainy texture. My quill in hand, the smooth, delicate pen, relaxed as I scribbled notes. Notes in which I documented my thoughts on a peculiar matter, potions. My thoughts danced around in my head, wandering over which ingredients would be best for the next potion I would be making. Also, I pondered on the duties that I had as a Royal Warlock. This applied to my already bundling potion stress.

I sauntered over to the beakers and flasks filled with potions I had been working on. Lightly, I tapped one of the flasks, contemplating to myself what I needed to do to improve the brew. All my potions had different shades of color, which indicated what they were used for. Currently, the one I am pestered about is a green potion. It is supposed to help with healing and reviving, but it is very tricky trying to figure out the chemistry behind this type of potion. If I do not handle this one carefully, I could easily turn this batch into a poison. Which would be the opposite effect of what I want.

An idea came to mind about what ingredient I should use, and I meandered my way around my room in search of this ingredient. When I found it, I grasped it in my hand and hurried over to my potion. Carefully, I set the ingredients inside the potion, and when I did, nothing happened. Until a few seconds later, the potion turned black, and a skull lightly appeared on the surface. Somehow, I managed to turn the brew into a poison for the hundredth time I've tried.

I stormed over to my desk, and frustratingly, I pushed my journal away from me and laid my quill down. I had no clue as to what potion I was to create next, I had a duty to do, to defend the people of Cloud Kingdom. There is a darkness that shrouds this kingdom, a nothingness that makes one's bones stiffen and heart stop in fear. It's as if something or someone is staring at you, but all you can see is the darkness. Every citizen here knows that there is something off about the space that surrounds us. Many have even reported seeing shadowy figures amidst this strange dark matter. This is why the king, Henry, and queen, Renata, tasked me, the other Mages, and Warlocks, to protect and defend the borders. It is my duty as the Royal Warlock to document my findings on what the darkness is made out of and create possible weapons to defend from what may come out of it. Even though all the other citizens, including the king and queen, are fairies, the uncertainty of what may come brings tension to the atmosphere. I can feel everyone's anticipation building and their trust fading. As a Warlock, I get premonitions about what is to come and how everyone feels. This is why I can sense fear circling the Kingdom, and I have to come up with a new potion soon to douse their fear with some hope. Bringing all families some closure so that everyone will be safe from the unknown dangers.

Living five hundred years of life, which is still young for a Warlock, I have not faced any difficulties thus far, nor have I encountered anything strange that came from the darkness. Studying the void of nothingness hasn't brought any clue as to what it is made out of and what lies inside. Yet, it still haunts my mind every time I think or get close to it. A feeling of dread and unwanted weight sits on my chest as I imagine what would come from the space. As I did this, I heard a crackling sound. Peeking to my right, a pen was rolling on the desk. It crawled toward my hand as I gently rested my palm on my desk. Slowly, it cursed my skin, and as it made contact, everything turned still. It was quiet, too quiet. A chill ran up and down my spine, the type of chill that brings fear into your veins. Every hair on the back of my neck stood up, my heart clenched as I felt an unwelcoming presence. I swallowed my saliva down my throat, as I took the courage to stand up and adventure from my office. Slowly, I walked toward the door, and my hand gently scraped the desk as I made my way. With every step I took, my breath hitched in my throat. Touching the soft oak doors, I gently pushed the door outwards. Peeking into the outside world, I noticed every fairy, witch, and warlock gathered around the darkness. Squinting to see what everyone was looking at, I pushed the door open in shock when I saw something unbelievable. The darkness swirled as if it were about to present something. The grainy texture of the void could be seen, almost as if it was like sand. This sand traveled in a circular motion, protruding from the space that surrounds us.