Chapter 9: Of Fire and Lightning
The practice room was impossible. They walked through a door and were now in a large and sunny field, filled with flowers of all kind. Roses, lilies, sunflowers, and every other beautiful plant imaginable was floating through the field in one place or another. The sun was bright and warm, yet not hot. The air seemed cool and refreshing. A warm and soft breeze ran through Michael's hair. In the midst of winter he knew this place was of magic.
"I have never seen beauty like this Alexander." Elias said, his jaw barely able to stay closed.
"Yes, it is both a practice room and a memory. There was a time when this was the field behind my house. The flowers that grew there were both exotic and beautiful. I miss that place. And so when I need to relax or to work on spells, this is where I go. And if we succeed in this war, this beauty will not compare to what our magic will bring to the world."
The men came together now and began training. Alexander showed them how to conjure the magical elements through their voice and hands alone. It was rough going. Michael kept setting his shirts on fire, unable to control the blasts of fire that soon began emanating from his hands. Elias was having difficulty too. Electricity was easier to conjure than fire, but much harder to aim. Elias could conjure up electrical bolts very quickly, but could not aim them well at all. It was a matter of timing, one that the boy had never felt before. His hands shook as blasts of light flew from his fingertips and into the field at the targets in front of them. He couldn't even hit the closest and largest target, often missing by five to ten feet.
For hours they did this, trying to gain a grasp on the art of magic. Alexander often stopped them, showing them the proper form to keep their hands in, allowing them to tighten their aiming down. Soon both Michael and Elias could hit a large target at ten paces. However, Alexander was able to hit everything. From over two hundred paces he hit a flying bird, setting it on fire. He could make his magic dance and move. Bolts of lightning he shot from his hands could curve, twist, and wrap around a tree without touching it. He was extremely talented as a wizard.
"Good, you are both doing very well. That will be enough for today, the two of you. We return now to rest." And with those words the three now found themselves sitting in Alexander's house, once again around a table, tea set, and a fire burning at the hearth. Michael and Elias were both exhausted, having felt like it was days since they had slept. And so after a short supper and tea, they did.
* * *
Michael was warm under a blanket as sleep started to lose its hold on him. He could hear sounds in the kitchen. Dishes were being washed and tended to. The smell of warm bacon and eggs could be sniffed in the air. Elias was singing a sweet and pretty song to himself, somewhere in the background.
Hear my voice,
I came out of the woods by choice,
Shelter also gave their shade,
And in the dark I have no name,
So leave that click in my head,
And I will remember the words that you said,
Left a clouded mind and a heavy heart,
But I am sure we'll see a new start,
So when your hopes on fire,
But you know your desire,
Don't hold a glass over the flame,
Don't let your heart grow cold,
I will call you by name,
I will share your road,
I wrestled long with my youth,
I tried so hard to live in the truth,
But do not tell me what is right,
When I lose my head, I lose my spine,
So leave that click in my head,
And I won't remember the words that you said,
You brought me out from the cold,
Now, how I long, how I long to grow old,
So when your hopes are on fire,
But you know your desire,
Don't hold a glass over the flame,
Don't let your heart grow cold,
I will call you by name,
I will share your road,
Hold me fast, Hold me fast,
Cuz I'm a hopeless wanderer,
Hold me fast, Hold me fast,
Cuz I'm a hopeless wanderer,
I will learn, I will learn to love the sky I wander,
I will learn, I will learn to love the sky I wander,
The sky I wander.
Alexander's voice broke the song and he spoke with a happy and excited voice.
"Very good Elias. That was one of my favorite songs from the last age."
"I heard a man singing it in the tavern when I was a boy. I made sure to learn it. It sounds sweet, but it's sad too. By a band called Mumford and Sons. They sang many of my father's favorites. I often wonder if we'll live in a time when we can make new songs again. A place where this death and sadness isn't all we know."
"Yes, yes it's sad. But there is always hope, my boy. There is always hope hmm? Magic has been reborn into the world. And with that magic, beauty can return to this scorched planet. Where ash and death now live we will return the gardens. Flowers and fruit trees will sweeten the air again. Waterfalls will fall from the rock again. Rainbows will shine in the sky once more. There is always hope, my boy; always hope."
Michael walked into the room now, wiping the sleep from his eyes. He sat in the chair around the table and scratched the beard that was growing now around his face. He had no idea what time it was. In this place there was no light from the sky. For all he knew they had been in Alexander's home for three to four days. Meals seemed to be the only thing that kept an accurate sense of time.
"You say that I am to be King, Alexander?" Michael asked the question, still not able to comprehend that he could ever do such a thing.
The wizard, now dressed as an old man, shook his head quietly, taking a sip from the tea that was in a small porcelain cup in front of him. "You were born to lead. Your being alive right here, and right now is no accident. Both of you have a place in this world. Both of you have a destiny to fulfill."
"I'm no leader Alexander. I'm a hunter. We don't lead armies. My kind is the solitary type. I have no voice to lead men. And no men that would lead me, even if I was a king."
"That's exactly why it has to be you Michael. The folly of man is the choice it takes in leadership. As a species you choose the wrong leaders for your people. If men like you had led the world for the past thousand years, we would be in a different place right now. Men would have no armies. The world would be at peace. The fact that you don't want to lead is all the proof I need, Michael. You need to lead this world."
With that Alexander stood up and walked slowly into the kitchen. He returned in minutes with plates hovering all around him. In front of them all was laid plate after plate of eggs, bacon, toast, and tea. The breakfast was delicious, and soon, both Elias and Michael sat back, sliding the plates away from themselves. It was a meal fit for a king, even if Michael didn't feel the part. It was practice time.
* * *
It had been a week now. Michael and Elias continued to hone their skills, learning how to aim and manipulate flame and lightning. Both were learning very quickly.
Michael fired a ball of flame from his hands and watched it fly. It went forty paces before striking the middle of a small target. He had learned that most of controlling the magic was mental. If he picked his target, took aim in his mind at the target, and made sure to form the fire correctly, it hit his mark almost every time. Alexander had also taught him how to form a shield with flames in his hand. The shield was stronger than any Michael could have made from steel. Blades and arrows bounced off of it, sending flames dancing to the ground. Michael worked the magic into his fighting style as much as he could, aware now that dodging was not his only option for escape. He could block steel now.
Elias had taken to the magic much faster than Michael had, even. He had learned not only how to create shields and fire bolts of electricity, but how to conjure storms. The lightning he used was elemental in a way that the flames weren't. If Elias conjure for long enough, and had enough focus, the lightning danced in the clouds, turning them dark and dangerous. He could call bolts down to the ground if he was given enough time to conjure the spell.
Michael was sick of target practice. He wanted to truly test his magic. Both Elias and himself had gained high tolerance to spells in their short time with Alexander. Heat could no longer hurt Michael's skin, and electricity couldn't hurt Elias. Both knew that other elements would still hurt them, but much less than they had before. Electricity would hurt Michael, but it would take a lot to kill him.
And so Michael and Elias squared off against each other now, practice swords and knives equipped. They both circled, not sure what to do first. They were fifty feet apart, moving like cats, circling the prey. Michael felt like his entire repertoire of moves had now tripled in size. Magic could be used anywhere. And so he struck first. Michael threw down his practice blade and drew a practice throwing dagger from his chest curling his arm. He released the blade into the air, setting it ablaze as it flew. He also fired three quick bolts of fire at Elias, each of them aimed at different dodge points he knew the man would take.
Elias laughed as Michael had curled the dagger. When he released the blade, along with the three balls of fire, Elias was surprised. He hadn't expected so much offense so quickly. His first reaction was to dodge, but in seeing how the fire was moving, he realized he couldn't. At the last second he dropped his sword, threw his hands to the ground, and yanked them both up hard and fast. A large wall of electricity quickly formed in front of him, blocking the fire, which exploded and danced as it made contact. The knife stuck hard into the electrical wall, quickly finding a stray bolt to make contact with. The blade flew away from the wall and landed off to the side of the men.
Elias had his turn to strike now. He ran at Michael, tucking his right arm to his chest. As he neared, a strong and electrical shield formed around the arm at his chest. His other arm flew behind him and conjured a strong and powerful electrical ball of energy.
Michael was surprised and quickly formed a shield of fire on his left arm. He dropped his legs and prepared for impact. His right arm went above his head and formed balls of fire, each of them leaving his hand as quickly as they had formed. The shots of fire his Elias' shield as he charged ahead. He dodged the last one and the two slammed their shields now into each other.
Sparks and flames shot into the air as the two men and their magic made contact. The sky above them began to darken now, as rain clouds formed in the beautiful practice meadow sky. Elias was conjuring a lightning storm with the hand he wasn't using for a shield. Michael knew that once bolts started falling from the ground, he would lose the duel, having to yield for his own safety. He couldn't let that happen.
Michael threw pulled his right arm down and pressed it against the flame shield on his left arm. It was all fire. It could pass through itself. With that thought, Michael fired a continuous stream of fire as strongly as he could. The blast was enormous, and Elias felt the two shields disconnect as the force of the fire drove the two apart. Heat quickly started to overtake Elias, and he dropped his arm from the sky and let the lightning storm go.
Elias turned quickly, getting out of the way of the stream of fire that was flowing towards him. Michael had driven the two of them nearly twenty feet apart again. Elias charged at him now, throwing blades and bolts of electricity as he went, hoping to stop Michael from burning him to the ground with the streams of fire that flowed from his hands.
Michael was dodging and blocking Elias' magic and weapons as the younger man closed the gap down between them. He stopped his stream of fire and lowered his shield now. He ran to the side and picked up the practice blade he had thrown down earlier in the fight. Raising his shield of flame, he charged at Elias, who was now just a few strides away from him. The two made contact again, clashing shields. This time however, Michael spun off the first blow and swung the sword low at Elias, taking a leg out from under him. Michael kicked the boy's hand as he fell, dispersing his shield of electricity.
With that Michael brought his shield down, smashing it into Elias' chest as hard as he could. The flames hit him hard, and he yielded instantly. Michael lowered his magic, along with a hand to help him to his feet.
"It changes everything, Michael," Elias said, as he stood from the ground, breathing heavy now.
"Every move we have. All of our speed and agility. It's all amplified tenfold with magic. I can feel the moves before they happen. Things seem like they slow down. The world isn't as chaotic when I can control and use these forces." Michael said again, excited about his new skills.
"I couldn't agree more. Even though you surprised me with the first attack you sent back at me, I knew what to do and when to do it. It's different than a sword."
Alexander walked over to them now, in his young form, a smile on his face.
"Magic is a part of you two now. It's as much you as any other limb or thought you have. In time, how you fight will not be determined by your weapons. It will be determined by who you are. Your strength and style with this skill not only comes from practice, but from the character you hold. Your magic will be as unique as your personality." The wizard spoke the words with a smile, obviously remembering his own days with the craft, when he first learned how it was shaped around the man himself.
"Well, at least nobody will be able to say we all fight the same when we go to war." Michael said, laughing.
"It's very interesting to watch the two of you fight. You have a similar style in how you move. Both of you are like cats, flipping through the air, fast and quiet. And you've incorporated magic into that style. It's beautiful to watch, really. I have never seen a man fight with magic like that. Most of our battles in the past were pure magical fights. Men fought below, and the mages of the world fought above."
"You've mentioned that to me before Alexander. When exactly do we get to learn how to fly?" Elias said, hope and joy in his voice.
"You, learn to fly? Well that can be done for sure. However, it's very, very difficult to learn. It took me four hundred years to do so, and even now I cannot control it as precisely as I'd like to. No, we did not fly to war ourselves. We rode on the backs of the Northern Dragons."
"What's a dragon?" Elias asked, having never heard the word before.
Michael could only stare. His father had told him tales of dragons. They were one of the many creatures he had heard about growing up. His father had told him later that they weren't real however, and had been a part of his bedtime stories only.
"They can't exist Alexander. I heard the fairytales when I was young. And magic, while real, is still not dragons. They have never been known to truly exist."
"Truly exist? Son, dragons are as real as magic. They live in the earth, even now. Where did you think you were going next? Just to the north to recruit an army? And how would you win their allegiance? A man with a dragon is a strong ally against any army. A man with a dragon commands the respect of all those he meets. Men bow their knee to a dragon lord." Alexander said.
"Even if I could find a dragon, which I'm sure now that you can do, how would I ever command it? They're not exactly small creatures. The stories I was told they were massive, as large as whole three story buildings. I could never defeat a creature like that in battle."
"You won't be flying any dragon Michael. You will fly Draco, the king of their race. He's quite a bit larger than most of his kind. And his flames are blue, hotter than any fire man can create here and now on this planet. He will be your steed and ally in this fight."
"And how exactly do I get him on my side?"
"Well, that's the tricky part. You'll have to make him submit to you. You will have to defeat him in battle. Until he yields."
"Great. Best news I've heard all week." Michael said, sighing to himself. He wouldn't be fighting a dragon. He would be fighting the strongest dragon of their kind.
* * *
Their final days with Alexander were filled with training. Michael and Elias learned as much as they could. At night the three of them sang soulful, beautiful songs from the last age. While in Akron, the hunters had learned songs of joy, sadness, and peace. Mumford and Sons was a band that the locals loved. They sang their songs regularly, as they were both sad and sweet. One night in particular would always be stuck in their memories.
Elias and Michael sat around the hearth, watching Alexander smoke a long and curved pipe. The wizard was deep in thought, having not said anything in hours. With a final exhale, he smiled and spoke softly.
"I'm in the mood for music tonight. Would the two of you like to join me in song this evening? I promise it will be a night to remember."
Both Elias and Michael smiled and nodded. They loved sitting around the fire and singing softly. It was a peaceful time for them to reflect and relax. More emotion and soul came from the voice than anything else. It was expression in their truest form.
"Elias, I believe you know how to play a guitar. Fairly well too?"
Elias was shocked. He had never mentioned his musical abilities to either Michael or Alexander. Nobody but his family back home knew that he could play. His father had taught him. For that reason, he hadn't played since he died. It didn't seem right.
"He would want you to play, Elias." Alexander said, speaking the words softly. He knew the struggle in the boy's mind.
"Yeah. I can play. But I have no guitar here. Mine's been lost." Elias' words trailed off as he spoke the words.
"I think we can remedy that." Alexander said, standing now and walking into his room. He appeared moments later with a beautiful guitar. It was made from Solid rosewood. The body was spruce. There was a white lining on the body, the fingerboard made from beautiful striped ebony. The instrument read the name on the headstock; Martin.
"This is a Martin D28 Elias. In the last age, music was truly advanced. This guitar was one of the finest ever made by men. I think you'll find it plays like nothing else you've ever felt in your hands. Take it." The wizard handed the guitar gently to Elias, who held it carefully.
He placed his fingers on the neck, feeling the beautifully oiled ebony and wood grain at his fingertips. He started picking quietly and softly. As he began, instruments started appearing, coming out of cabinets, drawers, and little corners of the house that seemed to not exist. They played along with him, dancing and moving from side to side. Trumpets, banjos, guitars, and even a piano rang clear and loud in front of the fireplace. The song was one that all three men knew. They sang it quietly, letting their voices grow with each new verse.
As the winter winds litter London with lonely hearts,
Oh the warmth in your eyes swept me into your arms,
Was it love or fear of the cold that led us through the night?
For every kiss your beauty trumped my doubt,
And my head told my heart
"Let love grow"
But my heart told my head
"This time no
This time no"
We'll be washed and buried one day my girl,
And the time we were given will be left for the world,
The flesh that lived and loved will be eaten by plague,
So let the memories be good for those who stay,
And my head told my heart
"Let love grow"
But my heart told my head
"This time no"
Yes, my heart told my head
"This time no
This time no"
Oh the shame that sent me off from the God that I once loved,
Was the same that sent me into your arms,
Oh and pestilence is won when you are lost and I am gone,
And no hope, no hope will overcome,
And if your strife strikes at your sleep,
Remember spring swaps snow for leaves,
You'll be happy and wholesome again,
When the city clears and sun ascends,
And my head told my heart
"Let love grow"
But my heart told my head
"This time no"
And my head told my heart
"Let love grow"
But my heart told my head
"This time no
This time no"
As they sang the song, Elias' voice rose above the others, loud and clear. A tear slowly ran down his cheek as he sang. The song was one of his father's favorites, both beautiful and sad. The song felt more true now than it ever had before. Elias had to let go of his past. He had to embrace the journey ahead, or he would never live to see the world become what it once was.
The three men sang throughout the night, each song becoming more and more happy. By the time morning came they were all smiling, glad to find a happiness amidst the gloom and darkness of the world.
Soon weariness overcame the three, and they slept. They wouldn't wake until late in the day.
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