Author Raul F. O.

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JACK - ANTHOLOGY OF A YOUNG WIZARD 7: HISTORY AND HIS STORY

You do not listen to me anymore. I am your friend, Stephen. You can't let his ilk be seen here. What are people going to think? How are you ever going to have people staying here when there's the devil's child here? asks Arcus. But we need the money, says Stephen. Yes, but not his money. You are just going to bring even more hate on you if they found out you are harboring a wizard, says Arcus. Fine, please keep your voice low. He'll hear you, Stephen replies. Ah, let him hear me. I'm not afraid of his devilish tricks. So please, Stephen, listen to me. I am your friend and want your best. It's why I come here to help you, says Arcus. I thought you came here for backgammon and booze, says Stephen jokingly. I thought you knew me better, says Arcus. I was just jesting. You don't have to leave, says Stephen. See you next time, says Arcus. Excuse me, says someone. Welcome, father. How can I help? asks Stephen. Father? A priest, here? I ask myself as I change into my night gown. I need a room for the night. I'll be leaving in the morning. I won't be bothering you too much, says the Priest. Of course. We do have a room free for you, says Stephen. Here, this should be enough for the night, says the Priest. You're too kind. As just it happened we also have a wizard staying here tonight. Who knew God would bring you here tonight, says Stephen. Funny. Very funny, says the Priest. It was not a joke, says Stephen. I understand. Good night, says the Priest in a hurry. Such a weird fellow, says Stephen. Weird indeed, I think to myself as I put myself to bed.

Go to London, my boy. It is the most populated place and you'll see all sorts of people. You'll learn a lot, says Master. But how will that help with my magic? I ask him. Oh dear, do not worry. You're a wizard after all. You can do a little bit of everything, says the Master. Why aren't we wizards specialized like the others? I ask. Because someone has to pass the knowledge down throughout history. If sorcerers die out in flames, we'll have to preach the magic of fire to the next generation and grow a new batch of sorcerers. That's why we learn a bit of magic from witches, a bit from druids, magicians, mages, warlocks, necromancers, sorcerers, witches and enchantresses. If one is hunted down and burnt to the ground, we can rebuild it. And I taught you everything I knew to teach. If you want to learn more, you'll have to get out there and find them and learn from them. But to do that, you must learn to live in reality, boy. You've lived an easy life until today and there's much more out there than what you just witnessed here, says Master. But it does not have any sense for me to do that. We are persecuted, hunted in some places and burned at stake. Why would I want to adventure out there? I ask. Because that's how you'll learn. It is our punishment for the greed we had in our hearts brought us here, boy. If we want that to change we need to atone for our greed and learn to be responsible for our powers and judgement. Now sleep, tomorrow you'll have a long journey ahead of you, says Master.

What a weird dream to have a part of yesterday replay in my head like that. It seems London did get under my skin, I tell myself as I wake up with a hunger in my belly. What will I have for breakfast today? I'll have some of that sausage I made before I left, some bread and an apple for some sweetness. Good thing I can travel light and conjure these things up from Master's home, I tell myself as I get dressed. Ah, it seems I was in time to have them cooked, hope Master won't be too annoyed with me for doing this, I once more tell myself proudly. Already leaving? Stephen asks. Yes. Thank you for letting me stay here, says the Priest. Won't you stay for breakfast? Stephen asks. I'm afraid I have to leave quite urgently, says the Priest. I hear footsteps nearing my door. I hear Stephen knocking. Morning, would you like some breakfast? asks Stephen. No, thank you. I am already in the middle of it, I respond. Oh, enjoy. Sorry to bother. Maybe Arcus will join me, says Stephen as he leaves. What is with people here? They seems all to be so miserable, I think to myself as I finish eating. The door to the inn opens. Morning Stephen, did you hear? asks Arcus. Just in time. Come join me for breakfast and tell me what should I have heard, says Stephen. Do you know your friend, Thomas Scot? He rents rooms by the tower, says Arcus. Yes? What happened? asks Stephen. Well, a servant to a priest was found dead in one of his rooms, says Arcus. Really? Do we know him? asks Stephen. We do, know who he was servant to, Richard de Tonge, the Priest that used to come here before the incident. I think the Sheriff will come by here to ask us about him, says Arcus. Oh no, I exclaim as I reach the bottom of the stairs.

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