The Custodian Chronicles: The Rising (Finished)

Chapter 6: Bitter Truths

The next morning, Jarbo woke with a pained groan. It woke Cedrick up. He went over to check on Jarbo. Jarbo opened his eyes and looked around, as if trying to remind himself where he was.

"Hello, how are you feeling?" Cedrick asked.

"Uh... still weak but apparently alive." Jarbo sighed.

"Good." Cedrick smiled. "Ready to try to eat?"

Jarbo nodded. Cedrick got him some food but then had to go out to handle crops, animals, and the like. While he was gone, Jarbo pondered what he'd learned about the boy. He was very curious.

When Cedrick returned, Jarbo pressed for more information about Cedrick's magic. "You... you don't want to see it. It's... not worth much. I can only move objects and throw energy around. I have... little control over it."

"Still, I want to see. You said you also think you can heal. Show me what else you can do." Jarbo requested. "I don't have much time, so use it well."

"Why so little time?" Cedrick frowned. "You need to heal."

"I have information our people need." Jarbo said. "It could be life and death for our whole cause."

"What—"

"Don't. I can't tell you." Jarbo said at once. "I don't want to put you more at risk."

"Well... alright." Cedrick sighed.

"Maybe I'll tell you if you show me." Jarbo hinted.

Cedrick sighed. "Alright." He shrugged. "Well, it's all about knowing how to use the laws of magic to get it to do what you want." Cedrick demonstrated by having a bowl float over to him. "I know the laws of gravity and how they work." Cedrick said having the bowl spin in front of his hand. "So, I concentrate and have the magic bend the energy in a way that allows me to use those laws to lift the bowl up." Cedrick made the bowl rise slightly, "or gently back down." He lowered the bowl down onto the side table.

"So, you study all of these laws and rules and then try to find a way to manipulate the magic to control the energy needed to complete the task?" Jarbo asked gazing hard at the bowl.

"Yeah," Cedrick said shrugging. "It's not that hard."

"If you say so." Jarbo smiled a little. "But for most... that is tricky."

"Really? The book I have said... it was simple." Cedrick frowned.

"It is for those truly gifted. I can hardly do it, but my brothers and other family can fairly well. I am not as gifted." Jarbo explained. "But it seems you are."

"Guess," Cedrick lifted the bowl up and down again, lost in his thoughts. Him? Gifted? He couldn't quite believe it. He was good at magic, but only that. He sucked at everything else.

"You... you really had no one teach you?" Jarbo asked with a sympathetic smile. He saw Cedrick's lack of confidence.

"Well, who around here would have helped me?" Cedrick laughed.

"Well, I would have, for one." Jarbo said, studying Cedrick carefully.

"You're being nice." Cedrick looked down.

"No, I'm not." Jarbo said firmly.

Cedrick looked up at him, surprised by his sincerity. Jarbo met his powerful blue eyes. "I've seen enough of what you've done to see you have talent. I've rarely, if ever, seen such talent in a man, most of all one not on this side of the darkness." Jarbo said, "I would have taken you on as an apprentice in a heartbeat."