When Wizards Dream - 8

A mini story by S.E.Estes
Part 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Final

Faceless Guardian

"You have learned the power of the storms, that is a mastery to be had for the strong but strength is not all that is needed for what is to be faced. Before your next lesson it is time to explain, there must be no doubts in you mind, uncertain thoughts will lead to certain failure." Once again the wizards stood over him, he didn't understand why they felt it necessary to come when he slept. The speaker went on, "You have not asked but we will answer your questions. We called you Three because that is what you are, to explain, we must begin with One."

"There was a young wizard who sought the united power of the storms, to this end he went on a quest of Union. This is not the time for the telling of quests, that will come later, for now it is enough to say that he came before the Faceless Guardian and was granted power of the Guardian. It was this power that saw him to the end of his quest and brought him to the attention of Seris Black. Seris sought a guardian over the castle he had built to hold the Key and one who could command the storms and learned the power of guardianship from the eternal Guardian was strength enough. Enough for all but two, the Three and the Other. We feared the dark wizard would come with his army before you could arrive but the fates have declared otherwise." You killed the Guardian and at his dying he must have seen who you are for he passed his powers on to you, you are now the Guardian with the power of the storms within you. You also killed the Key Master whose power also lives in you, hers is the tale of the Two.

Elemental Shapeshifter

"A bleak wind blew through the town, he was bored. The air elemental was looking for something to do and thought he would give a people place a try. They were limited beings in many ways but their short lives could be interesting and some were even intelligent. When he found a gathering place he stayed to watch, unwilling to reveal himself right away he watched from the room's smoky air. He was losing interest and was about to blow away when he heard something that made him stay. 'The cursed thing should be killed.' 'You paid to see it as did we all.' 'Even so, think if the shapeshifter gets free.' It was all he needed to hear, finally, something new to relieve the boredom."

"He found her easily, he had seen the places where the mortals kept oddities. It was a squalid, foul smelling prison on wheels where those unfortunate enough to be different were caged for the simple-minded to gawk at. She was tightly chained to the wall of her cage, her eyes were filled with pain and a hopelessness that made him feel for her. He was not used to pain and sadness, he did not involve himself in mortal affairs, and he found the sensations intriguing. It made him angry that someone would inflict such feelings on another for personal gain and he decided to get involved."

"A warm breeze enveloped her, she wondered where it was coming from on such a cold night. It was comforting, something she was not used to, and tears came to her eyes. The wind seemed to speak, to question, 'What are those?' and then he stood before her. She was not sure she saw him and wondered about the state of her mind, he was insubstantial, an image wavering in the air. She decided she was seeing things then she felt his wispy finger trace a tear down her cheek. 'What is this?' he breathed. 'Who are you?' she wondered, still uncertain of her mind. 'I am.' he whispered across her wet cheek. 'Tears,' she told him, 'they come from grief.' 'Grief?' blew in her ear. 'Sadness, pain...' 'Ahh...' the wind sighed. The air gathered before her, a storm in the shape of a man, and tore the chains from her. The angry wind caught her up and as they walked away from her prison he released the storm upon it."

"She gave herself to him, the physical pleasure overshadowed by another new feeling, gratitude. In return for what she had given him he gave her a part of himself and, in time, an elemental shapeshifter was born. That is who you killed, the Two, and, as did the One, she passed her powers on to you. To have a thing is very different from knowing and using a thing, though, and that is why your heart must be sure, it is time to meet an elemental."