Wizard Town

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

The first thing I noticed ng gumising ako are my back pains. The cold floor of the cave is hard and unforgiving. But the pain are much lesser than the pain of losing both my parents, so I easily disregarded it by stretching my limbs. It was already bright but I know it's still early. Bumangon ako mula sa pagkakahiga at agad napansin na natutulog pa din si Kuya Zan. I know he's tired so I just let him sleep some more. Nang mapansing wala nang apoy yung bonfire na ginawa ni Kuya, I collect some dried twigs around the cave to start a new fire. After successfully making a new bonfire, tinahak ko ang daan palabas ng kweba.

The smell of wet Earth welcomed me as I approach the mouth of the cave. It's honestly one of my favorite smells. And with another glance to Kuya Zan's sleeping form, I found myself traveling back to the river I found last night. We need food so I tried to catch some fish we can roast in the fire. Dahil nga sa mataas na magical property ng forest na ito, pati ang ilog nito ay masagana sa isda at halaman. So it was not that hard to catch some fish. Bumalik din naman agad ako sa kweba ng makahuli ng apat na pirasong isda.

Kuya Zan is already awake when I get back. He was just sitting in front of the fire and when he saw me, agad nyang kinuha ang isda na nahuli ko para lutuin. I'm not much of a cook. Even as a child Kuya Zan is always the one who help our mother in the kitchen. Habang ako naman ang katuwang ni Tatay sa farm. Suddenly remembering my parents, especially the old times still hurts like hell. So with a heavy heart and a sigh I once again sat in the front of the fire. But instead of relaxing a little as I watched my brother cook, a pained whimper got my attention.

"Kuya Zan narinig mo ba yun?" Agad kong tanong kay Kuya na busy pa din sa paglilinis nung isda.

"Huh? What are you talking about Spring?" He asked back confused stopping for a short while.

"I heard a whimper. It sounded pained." I informed him but he just gave me a questioning look.

"Kuya I'm going to look for whoever made that sound." Kuya Zan look contemplating for a minute but he immediately let me go outside after he told me to keep myself safe.

Jumping fast from tree after tree, it was not that hard to found the source of the pained sound. My magic is flaring in my veins. For some reason it's telling me I need to help whoever it is. Nang marating ang lugar kung saan nanggaling ang tunog, hindi ko inasahan na makita ang isang nakahandusay na lobo. The wolf's fur is matted with red crimson blood and still whimpering but softly this time. I slowly and carefully approached the hurt wolf.

"Hey." I unhelpfully said to make my presence known which immediately got the wolf's attention. And just as expected the wolf snarled at me so I stopped approaching the threatened animal.

"I'm not here to hurt you. I actually heared your pained whimper so I search for the source to help." The wolf stopped its snarling but it's eyes still look at me suspiciously. And that's when it dawned on me.

"Uh.. I know you can understand me so I'm going to ask if I can help. Kailangan kong lumapit and then touch you. Can you please not hurt me? I just really want to help." The wolf is not actually just a wolf, it's a magical one. And that means that it's much more intelligent than its non-magical counterpart that is completely driven by insticts.

The wolf tried to be stubborn and not let me help. And for a while we were just staring at each other. But I can see clearly the pain in its eyes. Minutes passed before the wolf admitted defeat and slightly tilted its head. That's when I know the wolf given me a permission. I immediately go to work to heal it. Lumuhod ako sa nakahigang pigura nito and inspected the state of the wound. There's a wooden spear piercing its stomach. Remembering the things na itinuro sa amin noon sa community school sa East Earth, I applied whatever I need to do in order to get the spear out of the wolf's stomach. After removing the spear, big flow of blood comes so I put pressure on it. The wound is too big and deep for me to just bandaged it. So with a deep breath, I feel and concentrate on my magic. Its still flaring in my veins. I manipulated my magic to help and restore the damaged cell and organs of the wolf. Another thing that I discover about my own ability is that I can also heal not only myself but also other living creature. Raw magic is not enough though, so I tried to think and remember some of the healing sigil I learned. Usually sigils are drawn and used with help of herbs and charm. But my raw magic are powerful enough for me to draw sigils and invoke it.

With my right hand putting pressure on the big wound on the wolf's stomach, I used my other hand to draw a healing sigil. I immediately invoked it as soon as I made sure it was the right one. Magic is a wild thing and with the help of a sigil you can much easily make your intention come true. Ilang minuto pa ang lumipas af unti-unti ko nang nakita ang improvement ng sugat. But not before I gasp because of the sudden dizziness I felt. Healing magic is very taxing especially using raw magic katulad ng ginagawa ko. There's only a limited instances that history was able to record someone healing out of raw magic.

Before I really passed out, I vanished the sigil I made. Hindi pa tuluyang gumagaling yung sugat ng lobo but it's enough for the wolf to live and recover. Because of exhaustion ay humiga ako sa tabi ng sugatang lobo.

'Young wizard. Thank you.' I heared a voice inside my head. It was deep and sounds dangerous and I can't help but to look at the wolf. It's intelligent eyes staring back at me.

"Huh?" is the only thing I was able to say. Hindi posibleng marinig ko ang boses ng isang nilalang sa utak ko. Not unless it is my familiar or a creature thats soul is bound to me. Not really understanding what is currently happening I just stare at the wolf's eyes.

'I never thought I would be bounded again, especially not to a wizard.' the wolf's voice played inside my head again.

"Anong sinasabi mo? Bound?" gulantang na tanong ko dito. I still don't understand anything.

'I know you're confused young wizard. But one thing is obvious to me and that is the fact that you save my life. So I, Alistir Snow, an alpha wolf bound my soul to you young wizard.' Those words beamed loudly inside my swirling mind.

"Eh?" I know kanina pa ko nagmumukhang tanga pero lutang pa din ako mula sa paggamit ng malaking reserve ng magic ko  so my mind seem can't accept the fact that a magical wolf bound its soul to me.

'What's your name young wizard?' the wolf ask me.

"Spring. My name is Vraijel Spring Askara." I answered back still confused.

'Well Vraijel Spring Askara, a young wizard that lives in Wizard Town, do you accept my soul to be bonded to yours and will offer you service until the day I die?'

After the wolf said those words in my head his eyes shifted to a red color that honestly take my breath away. Hindi ko talaga alam kung papaano magkaroon ng bounded animal o familiar. Ang mga taong parte ng noble family ang tanging may access sa ganitong bagay so I just nod my head at the wolf. But he just stare at me still waiting.

"Yes." I said in basically a whisper. But then the wolf tilted its head towards the sky and howled. It was loud and powerful. And for some reason, I know I was the only one who heared it. Like the sound of it are made only for my ears.

The wolf tried to stand but he still have a big wound on its stomach so I immediately help him. Doon ko lang narealize kung gaano ito kalaki. Its sitting figure towered over me and for once I willingly admit my lacking in height.

"Goodness! You're massive. But anyway can I just call you Snow?" I asked the wolf as I help him and walk towards the direction of the cave where my brother is.

'I am now your familiar so you can call me whatever you please.' was its only reply.

"You know, I hate the over respectful speech or language or whatever that you keep on using. I'm going to call you Snow and you will address me as Spring. Even if you are my familiar, you are not lesser than me. Ok?" I rambled to the wolf. He just gave me a toothy smile. It was honestly so cute but I didn't voice it out and instead just sighed and walk back to where my brother is.

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