The Young Wizard

The Lessons

Josh got up early in the morning. He yawned and sat up on his bed. There was a knock on the door and Will said, "I'm up."

"Breakfast is ready, let's get an early start and begin lessons," said Will as they walked into the dinning room. There were pans on the stove and a cauldron on the fire. The smell of frying food filled the air.

Josh started as two mittens served them fried bacon, sausages, eggs and toast bread.

"Is it magic?" asked Josh, as the pair of mittens served Will a fried egg.

"Yes, they were made from Star Silk," said Will as the mittens settled down on the pantry table.

"Star Silk?" asked Josh, eyeing the mittens. "Is it what gives the mittens its magic?"

"Yes, that's right," said Will, munching on a slice of toast bread. "Unlike back in your world, here in Spelldom, we don't harm any creature when we produce silk. Star silk is spun from starlight."

"How can you spin starlight?" asked Josh, wanting to know more.

"Well, using Star Spinners, which are magical spinning wheels made from the wood of terrestrial trees that grow in the wish woods."

"Wow, that's so cool," said Josh, taking a sausage from his plate.

After breakfast, Will said, "now that we are fed and watered, let's start our lessons. Follow me."

Jost followed Will into a room filled with strange things.There were crystal balls, mirrors candles, glass bottles filled with liquids of every imaginable colour and books of all shapes, shades and sizes.

Jost saw the pile of books they had bought on a table.

"Let's begin," said Will, beaming.

Will adjusted his spectacles and turned the book to a page and said, "today we will learn a bit about the history of spelldom, some manipulation and marble magic."

Josh leaned forward. His eyes fixed on the book that Will was holding.

"Spelldom is a secret kingdom established by Merlin, who was a renowned magician from the world you left behind. He founded this kingdom so that those who were different because they had magic in them and were persecuted could come here an live in peace without being hunted."

"How old is Spelldom," asked Josh, as Will turned a page of the book he held in his hands.

"It's nearly a thousand years old," said Will, adjusting his spectacles. "Merlin had help, all the magical beings helped him build the kingdom."

"Magical beings? Like fairies?" asked Josh, remembering Lady Esmeralda.

"Yes, not just fairies, there were pixies, giants, mermaids, and kelpies involved. "

"What about the goblins?"

"They helped too, but goblins as always wanted to rule spelldom. But when a fairy won the contest to elect the ruler of spelldom they declared war against the fairies. Ever since then there have been more of less wars all the time with brief periods of peace."

"That sounds awful," said Josh, who had heard about how bad wars could be from where he came from.

"The storms, floods, tsunamis and all the disasters your old world experiences are a direct result of the wars and the battles being fought in different parts of Spelldom. What happens is Spelldom directly affects your old world."

"That sounds scary," said Josh.

"It is scary, but nevertheless it is true," said Will tapping his fingers on the table.