When Wizards Dream - 9

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

"Because of your gift from the Red Defender," they told him, "you will be going to a fire elemental. She will see inside you and if you displease her with dishonesty or cowardice she will incinerate you. If she is indifferent you will soon be on your way but if you interest her she will tell you things that will make your fire unstoppable and expand your soul."

He was afraid when he met her, though he was shielded her heat was nearly unbearable but it was her eyes and her voice that filled him with fear. Her eyes were glowing embers and her voice a whispering fire, her felt drawn to her and that was what scared him. "Ahhh, morrrtaaal," she hissed, "it isss long sssince I've ssseen one like you. Aaasssk what you will, I will glaaadly ssspend time with you." "Will you teach me fire?" he asked but he sensed she already knew what his request would be. She was power, enchantment and wild beauty, he loved her. He gazed into the eyes of death for three years and left a changed man, he was wise and powerful beyond his years.

The Beginning Place

"To face who you must," they told him when he returned, "you must face who you are." It was part of every quest, the inner journey. From his time with the elemental he knew he had much still to learn, he was wise but there was something lacking. He thought it was his weakness he would have to face and he was prepared to, he'd learned much and already overcome much, but it was something altogether different that he needed to deal with, it was, as the Black Wizards had said, himself he had to face.

He returned to his first professor to begin his search, it was a thing that needed overseeing and, though they had disagreed many times, it was him Relg trusted the most. The old wizard brought a dreamwatcher with him and they found a quiet place. Relg summoned his energies and stepped into a dream.

He was very young, out in the woods for some reason, gazing into the embers of a dying fire. He was mesmerized, it seemed to call to him and, under its spell, he fell in. He slept in its warm embrace and dreamed of darkness.