Chapter 2

Framed paintings between the wall sconces were illuminated as the ball of fire passed by them. The hallway behind the blast remained lit as the intensity of the magical blast put flame to wick as it passed each sconce. The heat of the summoned fire warmed the small hallway and turned some of the paint to liquid as it rushed on its path, burning with blue intensity and ill will. It was an impressive display of wizardry, but it also betrayed a weakness within the caster. This magic wielder could not see in the dark. It was almost as if this initial attack was a powerful distraction meant to hide this disadvantage. The blast erupted and fizzled as it slammed into the thin wall of ice his intended victim managed to raise just in time. The heat of the attacker’s spell was evident even through the temporary wall of frozen water as the smell of singed hair quickly overtook the mold and mildew lingering in the air. Cayden leaped forward through the drift of steam in order to see his attacker. In an instant, lightning crackled from his hand, its course and intent meant to end this threat quickly. The form that attacked the young wizard brushed off the magical lightning with a flip of its wrist and in an instant drew back for another assault on his prey. Once again it seemed as though all the heat from the building left, Cayden could see his breath as he calmly anticipated the attack. Fire spouted from the mysterious wizard’s hand. It was more concentrated than his attack before. This spell hid no ulterior agenda. The ball of fire grew as it approached the young elven wizard, its caster still focusing his energy into it as it raged down its course. The magical fire only covered half the distance before it was struck with a large ball of ice that matched its intensity. Darkness consumed the two wielders of magic as the opposite forces filled the hallway with steam and the moisture was enough to douse the flames burning within the sconces. Cayden’s quickly designed plan worked into reality as a group of frozen blades burst from his fingertips. In the damp darkness, the hooded assailant didn’t see all five threats racing toward him, but he could sense something heading his way. He managed to defend himself from only one of the deadly shards of ice. Cayden watched cautiously, with another offensive spell prepared, as the sharp edges of the shards pierced cleanly through the cloth robes, opening a path for the larger back end. He could hear cloth and flesh tearing, bones popping, and an excruciating scream echo down the hallway. He knew the immediate threat was ended. His appreciation for that spell had nothing to do with the fact it was incredibly painful to the victim, but from the fact it brought a quick death, a quick end to battle.

The hallway was suddenly draped in an unsettling quiet. Nothing could be heard except for the quickened breaths of the victorious wizard. Cayden covered the remaining portion of the hallway that separated them. He attempted to summon flame to the sconces once again but the moisture in the area resisted his attempt. Once again, he tried, this time putting more energy into his spell and the wicks flickered ever so slightly before taking to flame. With his wooden staff, he prodded the pile that attacked him only a few moments ago. There was no movement, no resistance to the persistent poking. The elven wizard scanned the area as he went to one knee, trying his best to avoid the continuously spilling blood that stained the hardwood floor. He had no idea what had brought on the unexpected attack, but he knew he had to eliminate it and quickly. His hand cautiously stretched out toward the lifeless body. His intentions focused on seeing who wished him dead. He gripped a handful of the wizard’s robes and pulled it back, the sight of the mangled corpse causing him to gasp in disgust. There would be no way of identifying this man through a physical description. Cayden felt the warm liquid that coursed through the grains of the wooden floor seep into his robes where it met his flesh. He stood quickly, still slightly queasy from the lifeless body lying in front of him.

His focus snapped from the departed wizard. Cayden could sense someone with magical powers, someone very close. Goose flesh raced through his body as he quickly made a list of defensive spells. He questioned whether any spell he could cast would be enough. He had never sensed this much power before, not even sitting in front of the magic council on the Island of Orionii in the City of Magic. Fear rushed through him. His ability to sense those with the power of magic was common among wizards, but this level was inconceivable. Cold words cut through a darkness that even the eyes of an elven wizard could not penetrate, “Cayden Validus, my master summons you to join him as his apprentice where he will teach you to wield your magic with such ferocity and skill that none shall stand before you and question your word. I have been searching for you for a long time now. The effort I’ve needed to put forth has honestly impressed me and I admit I appreciated the challenge. I have found you at last and now I am close to completing the will of my master which brings me great relief.”

The recent battle resurfaced in Cayden’s mind. Did he just kill this man’s friend? He did not know the intentions of this inconceivably powerful….apprentice. How could one that gave off such power hold only the rank of apprentice? Cayden’s mind raced; he knew what direction the voice came from, but he also knew he could not contend with the amount of power he sensed. He intently searched the dark hallway for reasoning. For some hint of understanding as he replied in an attempt to stall the mage as he tried to process everything running through his mind, “I have not been hiding; therefore, I do not know why your search was so exhaustive. You know my name. May I ask for yours and the reasons you search for me?” He knew what caused his inability to see the powerful apprentice who probably stood mere feet from him; a spell of darkness encompassed the magic wielder. It was easy to see the boundaries of the magical darkness as it seemed to absorb any of the moon’s light that seeped in through the heavily draped windows. The wall sconces he had managed to relight sizzled as the globe of darkness surpassed the flame. Cayden had an initial thought of leaping past the boundaries of the darkness, landing inside of it. This would block anything within the blackness from normal sight; Cayden wouldn’t be able to see the wizard, and the wizard wouldn’t be able to see him. When he heard the flame of the sconce extinguished, he realized the lightless area was linked to at least one other spell. That spell was a cold spell that carried enough power to snuff a well-burning flame. The elven wizard thrust his staff onto the blood-stained floor and called his counter spell to life. A blinding white light burst from the floor and encompassed the elven wizard. He had momentarily blinded himself, but he hoped the magic would do the same to the other wizard.

The man standing before him seemed to chuckle, possibly because of the defensive techniques Cayden used, possibly because he knew whatever the elven wizard did, he could counter. He cleared his throat before speaking calmly without a hint of humor, “My name is of no importance, only the task my master has assigned me. If you request formalities though, I will humor you. I am Thaleous. I’m here to extend my master’s offer. If you accept, it will provide you with more power than you can possibly imagine. Power greater than mine, I have been told. My master wishes to take you on as an apprentice. It is a rare opportunity as he is a great wielder of magic with powers beyond comprehension. I have learned under his tutelage for many years now. I have no doubt that you can sense my strength in the arcane. You can most likely sense something else as well. My master wishes to wake the rare power within you so you can also serve him in his struggle.”

“What is your master’s name? I’ve lived a long time and been to the Island of Magic many times. I may know of this wizard,” Cayden replied as he began a slow retreat, growing his light spell with every movement he made in order to prevent the mysterious wizard from knowing his intentions.

“You have not heard of him, I assure you. He makes it a habit of keeping himself unknown to others. Even for an elven wizard, you cannot comprehend his age. He has seen the ascendance and the decline of the last three emperors of your homeland. I have heard of no one older nor any with more power than he. The elders you wish to appease here on the Island of Orionii are frail and weak compared to my master. His vast knowledge of the arts is incomparable to any you may know.

“The offer I make must be accepted in blind trust.” Cayden could tell the intent of the wizard’s words had changed though the tone of his voice remained the same. The man continued, “My master sent me to recruit you because he senses a rare and powerful gift within you, something he has not seen for thousands of years. He offers you an apprenticeship with him. What is your answer?”

The length of the conversation brought Cayden’s sight back from the temporary blindness and he was able to see clearly within the radius of his light spell, which he realized was better than being...