This was my first 30-minute story!
Eons ago, in a land whose name has been lost to time, lived a powerful mage. Their sorcery was unmatched amongst the known world, and kings and peasants flocked alike to beg for magical help. One day a little peasant boy named Kulan wanted to know how the mage became so wise and mighty. Late at night, when his sisters and parents were asleep, Kulan crept out of their small house and walked to the home of the mage. Just as he passed the fence, the mage walked out. Kulan stumbled and hid, but the mage quickly saw the young boy hiding amongst the bushes. "Who is there?" The mage asked, and Kulan, shamefaced, came out to apologize. "Why are you here?" The mage inquired, and the child once again begged forgiveness, explaining he wished to know how the mage was so powerful. The mage thought for a moment, then beckoned Kulan to follow them.
The little boy hesitantly walked behind the cloaked mage, who paid no heed to the child's fear and continued walking. Soon they reached a river, of which seemed impassable, until the mage strode forth and, waving their staff, conjured a bridge, which Kulan was quite delighted by. The pair kept walking until they reached a nearby mountain, with steep edges all around. Kulan started to turn around, thinking the walk was over, but the mage, clutching an amulet and whispering words of magic, started floating, along with the disoriented Kulan. When the two were at the top of the mountain, they gently landed on the ground. While Kulan looked below at his village, the mage looked up at the dark night.
Kulan watched cautiously as the mage walked to the center of an odd symbol burnt into the mountain top. Suddenly, the mage pulled off their cloak and revealed themselves as Belenus, god of the sun. He raised his staff high and the sun rose and sky lightened. Kulan, shocked at the sight of this deity, bowed down. Belenus looked kindly upon him and with a whispered incantation, Kulan was whisked home by the winds, where his parents soon brought him out to work. As the day went on, Kulan's pocket seemed to grow heavier and hotter every passing minute. At last, he looked inside, and saw the amulet that had brought him up the mountain with Belenus. And even when Kulan grew old and grey, and was surrounded by his own children and grandchildren, he kept the amulet, and told them the story of how he went on a walk with a god.
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30 Minute Stories
Short StoryI get 30 minutes to write a story that can be about anything. Sound interesting? Read about mages and beaches, ice-cream and anime. Happy reading!
