Ch.1: Eight Years

In the small village known as Ulvick there is a cottage placed at it’s side, with it’s back faced towards a forest nearby. Inside the cottage there is a woman with waist-length blonde hair in a ponytail, with steel blue eyes, seeming to be in her 30’s. She looks to be preparing something in the kitchen and while doing so she calls out in a loud voice.

“Zach honey, come on down!”

After a little while of hearing the sound of tiny footsteps a small voice is heard coming from the kitchen door.

“Hi Mom, what is it?”

The woman stopped her cooking and turned her head to see a young boy who seems to be around eight to nine years of age, wearing shorts below his knees and a simple shirt. His pale green eyes looking at her in curiosity and his blonde, golden-like straight hair at eyebrow length, shining in the light coming from the bright midday sun seen from the window. She smiles warmly at the sight of her son and tells him.

“Hi sweetie, I’m gonna need you to do something for me, your father is out hunting for some Red Furred Hares, so I’m gonna need you to grab me a few ingredients from Mr. Geran, okay?”, as she says this she takes a piece of paper and writes down a few names and numbers.

She hands the paper to Zach and also gives him a few bronze colored coins. Zach however has his eyes wide open and starts salivating slightly at the thought of what he was going to have for dinner. He then snaps out of it and quickly takes the coins and paper to put it in his pocket, he then asks his mother a question.

“Sweet!, we’re having roasted hare for dinner?”

His mother just looks at him, slightly chuckling and nods, her son is somewhat of a glutton and loves anything that tastes good. He isn’t fat by any means, in fact he’s quite fit for a boy his age, surprisingly he almost never gains any weight, so one could imagine how amusing Zachs mother finds it whenever she mentions food that he gets a little overzealous.

“Yes hun, now get on outta here, I’m gonna need those ingredients before noon kay?”

“Yes, Ma’am!”, Zach, while saying this does a salute in a joking manner. While his mother just chuckled and shooed him away so that she could continue preparing.

Zach walked out of the front door of the cottage and took out the piece of paper containing the ingredients that he needed.

“Huh, that’s a lot of stuff. Don’t remember roasted hare needing so many things.”, Zach was pondering the fact while walking down the rows of houses and heading towards the market area.

“Oh well, doesn’t matter.”

Zach just shakes his head as he speeds up towards the market in the center of the village. As he enters the area full of people trying to sell their various goods and produce from their shacks, he bypasses the crowds of people and looks around. He seemingly spots what he is looking for and quickly walks towards a certain old man who seems to be in his late 60’s, he is holding a cane while sitting on a wooden chair, viewing over his shop like and stern eagle. He has set up his shop in the far right of the village square center.

“Hi Mr. Geran, how ya doin?”, while greeting the old man Zach slows down his pace and eventually stops right in front of his shop and looks around to see only a few customers browsing his wares. “Slow day huh?”

The old man known as Geran, whose eyes at first seemed to be annoyed at first looks up at Zach and his facial expression softens up.

“Ohoho, hi there Zach, what’ll it be today?”

Zach turns his head to look at the amiable Geran and smiles, he then takes out the piece of paper and hands it to Geran, while saying something.

“Just these few things, Mom’s says we’re having roasted hare today.”

“Let me see, let me see.”, the old man looks at the paper in curiosity and holds it in front of him to look at for a few seconds before his face turns into a look of confusion.

“Boy, you said that your mother is making roasted hare?”

“Yeah, why?”

Geran just sits there to ponder a bit and then his face brightens up as if he realizes something. He chuckles slightly at his newfound revelation and sets the piece of paper down

“Hoooh, I see now.”

Zach just stares in confusion and says.

”See what?”

However Geran didn’t comply to his question and simply smirked at the boy.

“Oh it’s nothing you should worry about, just wait here and I’ll gather the ingredients.”

Zach being the curious youth he is couldn’t help but scowl at the fact that he was left out of the revelation. He tried to call out to the old man but was interrupted as a small voice was heard.

“Hi Zach!”

Turning around to see who called out to him, Zach was now smiling as he was looking at a young child who had a full head of sky blue hair styled in a messy bowl-cut, it was almost as bright as his own set of blonde hair. The child who was a full head shorter than Zach and seemed to be just a few years younger, had on a pair of blue overall shorts and a plain white shirt.

“Oh, hey Quinn, what have you been up to?”

Quinn just looked around as if to make sure that no one was around to listen and simply said, “Don’t tell anyone this but I’ve been actually planning on sneaking into the shop that opened up across from gramp’s shack recently.”

Zach with his curiosity piqued once more is compelled to ask about the shop.

“Oh?, and what’s so special about it?”

“It’s supposed to be owned by a retired mage.”

“Wha-rea-seriously?”, stunned at the information Zach was fumbling his words and staring at Quinn with half-shocked half-excited expression.

“Hmph, special enough for ya?”

Quinn on the other hand just gloated at the fact that revealing the fact to Zach surprised him to this extent. But honestly speaking, who could blame him?, mages were beings who were treated like royalty in any parts of the country, much less in such a small, unimportant village on the outskirts of the country like Ulvick. Even a retired mage could be treated with respect in the most prosperous cities and could live the life of teaching young nobles for a price that a commoner like Zach couldn’t dream of even hearing of in a small place such as Ulvick.

Snapping out of his stupor and regaining his senses Zach gathered his thoughts and started to question Quinn about the credibility of it all.

“Wait, you’re not lying are you?”, while saying this Zach had a suspicious look on his face and started squint his eyes and rub his chin. Logically speaking, mages, even retired ones would have a status akin to a noble even in capital cities, but to have come here in such a small village? Unspeakable!

“Wha-of course not!”, Quinn just had this look of astonishment as if shocked that Zach would even doubt it.

Still unconvinced Zach just continued asking Quinn about it, “Oh really?, then how come no-one is crowding the store right now?”

Looking at the store there was a sign that simply said Mana Wares. Now this in of itself doesn’t mean that the owner is a mage, for example a lot of shops tend to have magically infused items or item that utilised mana, but does that mean that there is a mage nearby? No, in fact these types of wares were not that rare, they weren’t cheap, explaining why none were visiting the shop, but they were seen on the occasion even in a village like this.

“Well that’s because no-one else knows about it dummy.”, fitting for a child, Quinn had this pouting, annoyed looking face on at the moment.

“Why you little brat!, then how come you know about it then?”, Zach at this moment also had a face full of annoyance, seeing as how he didn’t like being called dumb.

He was far from being stupid, he was actually extremely smart for his age. He could be considered a sort of a prodigy child, he started to walk when he was only four months old and even more shocking, could read and talk at six months. His parent were indeed shocked at this but were nonetheless very joyful that their son had such learning capabilities.

This fact however was very offset by the fact that he in fact was very interested in the world and it’s wonders and loves new information. Therefore one would think that he was a fairly intelligent boy. In fact Zach was the most interested in one thing, mana. The invisible force that pretty much everyone uses from simple farmers with magical items, to grand and seemingly invincible mages who directly utilises it.

Thus, the reason for Zach being ecstatic at first at the chance of meeting a mage, and his suspicion for Quinns claim.

“Because Grandpa told me about it!”, Quinn meanwhile sticks a tongue out at Zach.

“Wait, Mr. Geran really said that?”, Zach on the other hand was slightly taken aback, because he somewhat thinks of Geran as a reliable source as he, in his old age is very wise, seemingly so at least.

“Yeah! he even said that he and the mage were old friends too!”

“What?!, really?”

“Mmhmm”

As they were talking, Geran walks in with a bag full of ingredients and spices, and sets them down next to Zach.

“Here ya go boy, that’ll be three bronze coins….what’re you looking at me like that fer?”

“Mr. Geran are you actually friends with a MAGE!?”

“Wha-what?!, where did you get that from?”

Geran was confused and startled at the question because that information was supposed to be a secret. However once he took a look at Quinn trying oh so hard to look innocent, he realized what happened.

“Ah you BRAT!, I tell you one thing and you go off telling people left and right!?”

Gerans face was full of annoyance and was glaring madly as he yelled. He didn’t think his grandchild would be such a loudmouth.

“Hiii, I’m sorry grandpa!”, while saying this Quinn just crouched down in fear of punishment.

“I only told Zach I swear!”

Zach, realizing from Geran’s reaction that Quinn was actually telling the truth, decided to try and help the kid out. After all Quinn did no harm, and was just telling him some interesting info.

“Wait!, Mr. Geran, Quinn did really just tell me, honestly!”

“.....{sigh} Fine then, child you better thank Zach.”

Quinns face lights up and stands to thank Zach profusely.

“But Mr. Geran, how are you friends with a mage? Aren’t they supposed to be really haughty and prideful?”

“....Boy, you’ve no idea how this world works.”

“Wh-what?”

“Just because you’ve read a few books and are seemingly more intelligent than the average kid, in the end you’re still just a kid. You are too inexperienced to say what is and what isn’t.”

Staring at Geran in deep thought Zach’s mind begins to unravel. It was true, although he is more intelligent than the average child, nearing an adults IQ, this was only in book smarts. He thought that what Geran said was perhaps very true and was slightly perturbed at that. Although he wasn’t straight up angry at the old man's words like he was with Quinns, simply because he knows that what geran said was rooted by his wisdom and speculation and not some form of cheap insult like Quinns.

“But, to answer your question, yes, mages are usually very haughty and would usually not bother with a simple man such as myself.”

Zach's eyes light up slightly at the fact that he was not completely wrong.

“The mage we speak of however was actually born here and rose up in power with his talents. We were actually old buddies from childhood.”

“That’s incredible…”, Zach's eyes were practically glittering at the moment.

“Yeah, yeah, anyways, are you gonna just stand there or are you going to give your mother those?”, Geran said this while pointing at the bag full of the needed ingredients.

“Huh? Oh yeah!”, Snapping out of his train of thought Zach just grabbed the bag and started to walk towards the direction he came from while waving goodbye. “Thanks Mr. Geran!”

Geran on the other hand stood there shaking his head.

“Hmph, I swear that kid.”

“Ummm…”

“Hmm? What is it Quinn?”

“Grandpa...did he pay?”

Geran had a look of realization and yelled out while walking out of his shack.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

“AHH, you BRAT!”

However Zach was already long gone and out of sight. Geran just sighed and looked at Quinn.

“Quinn, can you go run me an errand and get that idiot’s money?”

Saluting him as if it were an important mission, Quinn simply said, “Yes sir!”

----------------------------------------

Back in the cottage, Zach's father, a man with a fully grown beard and long, shoulder length, brown hair has arrived and come home with several dead hares with red tinted spots of fur near their heads. His green eyes looking around at the entrance for a second before a loud deep voice comes out of his mouth.

“Honey, I’m home!”

He then raises up the hares that he has by their feet and says once again, now in a more normal tone.

“And I’ve brought the hares.”

A several seconds pass and in comes the same blonde woman from earlier. It seems that she got done preparing in the kitchen a bit ago and was ready to take a break. Looking at the the hares and then looking back at the bearded man, she then spoke.

“You know...you didn’t have to yell Mark.”, looking slightly annoyed yet slightly endeared she scratched her head while saying this.

Mark on the other hand just smiles and sets down the hares, only to lean forward and give his wife a kiss.

“Sorry, but you know how I like to give a bit of a grand entrance Diana.”

Diana gives Mark a smirk, while he grabs the hares and heads into the kitchen to set them down.

“Honey, could you get these ready to roast?, I want to rest up for a bit before we start roasting.”, Mark said this while pointing at the hares in the kitchen.

“Alright then, let me get ready first.”, Diana then heads into the kitchen to continue her work.

“Oh yeah, where’s Zach?”

“Oh I had him gather the rest of the ingredients from Mr. Geran from the market.”, Diana comes out putting on an apron, while answering Mark.

Just as Mark is about to say something, a sound of a door unlocking is heard. The said door which the sound came from opens up to reveal a young boy with a bag full of groceries and such.

“Hi mom, I have the produce!”, setting down the bag at the door he then notices his father sitting on the couch in the living room, just a few feet from the kitchen door.

“Dad!”, Zach then runs up to greet his father.

“Aaah, hey kiddo.”, Mark replied to Zach while ruffling his hair and messing it up slightly.

Diana however just smiles at the two and walks towards the bag while closing the door and locking it at the same time. She checks the ingredients and spices and confirms them as the exact ones she wrote down.

“Good job sweetie, now to get on with actually cooking. You can go play with your friends now, after all it is your rest day.”

Zach however just stood there in between his mother and father seemingly wanting to say something. He slightly fidgets while contemplating whether or not to say something. Mark notices this and looks at his son and asks him something.

“What is it son?”, this catches the attention of Zach’s mother Diana, as she turns her head to look at Zach.

Zach realizing that he should probably say something, decides to just go with it.

“Mom, Dad….do you think I could become a mage?”

This slightly shocks the both of them, but not for the reasons one would think. For example, one would think one would be surprised at the question because simply put, it is extremely difficult to become a mage. In fact, to become a mage someone would need the natural talent, intelligence, and most of all hard work and ingenuity. In general, warriors and the likes are far more common, one could see them even in such small villages as Ulvick. Generally only one in a hundred people are able to become warriors, but only one in a hundred thousand were able to become a mage. This was a difference of a thousand times!

But no, the real reason why Zach’s parents were shocked was not because of this reason, but because of the fact that their child actually asked them for advice! For you see, Diana and Mark knew how intelligent Zach was, it was apparent from the start. So the child himself would almost never ask them anything after his fifth year of age, simply because he would go out a read about it or try to learn it himself. In fact Zach had a very well tempered and level headed personality.

So when their remarkable child asked them whether or not he could do something, that truly surprised them. They knew that given the chances, Zach was probably completely capable of becoming a mage, just to what degree that they didn’t.

“Hahahahahaa”, both Diana and Mark start to laugh.

“Wh-why are you laughing?”, asked Zach.

“Well honey it’s just…. we didn’t think you’d ask something like that.”, Diana regained her composure and said so in a sweet voice.

“Oh, well could you answer my question?”, while asking so Zach had a slightly serious face, as if to indicate his curiosity.

“Well of course you can son, you’re our child after all.”, Mark was the one to speak this time and he did so with the widest grin he could possibly give, Diana on the other hand was doing the same.

“Of course you’d have to put in hard work and have intelligence, and well...you’ve already got that down so I have no doubts that you could do it.”

And this was very true, in fact Zach has always had a more keen interest in magic and mana, but he would usually keep that to himself because he always felt that as a commoner he would have little to no chance to become one. But once he heard that a member of their village had become a mage, his brain started to unravel his deep interest in mana.

So when his parents said that they had their utmost faith in him, he smiled greatly and was filled in excitement, but he then thought of something, he thought ‘wait, how do I start?’.

“But wait, Mom, Dad, how do I even begin?”, this was a very valid question in Zach’s heart, one that could make or break his life as a mage.

“Oh yeah!, you don’t know about that do you?”, Diana had a look of surprise at first and then a look of realization. Mark then right after said something as he also seemed to realized something.

“Guess you didn’t read that in your books, huh?”

“Wait, what are you talking about?”, Zach however just looks at them in confusion.

“Well you see honey, there is actually an entrance exam for when kids are of the age of 12.”, Diana was the one to answer Zach.

“What!?”

“Yeah it was actually implemented fairly recently, around 50 years or so ago I think.”, this time Mark was the one speaking. “So your books shouldn’t have this information I don’t think.”

“Bu-but that’s not short…”

“Compared to how long mages have been around? I’d think that would be extremely short.”

“Yes, as your father said, you know that mages and the like have been around for as long as civilisation had begun. Comparing it to 50 years would indeed be short.”

Zach just had a look of amazement and intrigue, indeed this was correct. The books they had here on mages was fairly dated and wouldn’t include a new addition from a mere 50 years ago, so accepting that he then began to ask another question.

“Mom ca-”

“Sweetie of course you can.”, Diana actually interrupted him before he finished and answered with a yes.

Zach realized that they already gave their full support so it would be obvious they would allow it.

“Ah, but we should probably tell you that we don’t know the specifics about it so you’re gonna have to figure it out, ok?”

“Ok!”, he nodded wholeheartedly.

Zach then ran outside to go and play, after all this was a rest day. It was a day where he didn’t have to do much in terms of chores or anything. So he walked down the walkway towards the market. He was obviously going towards Mr. Geran’s place and ask more about mages. However, as he was walking he was knocked down by someone from behind as they shouted.

“Ahaha!, there you are thief!”, the voice however loud the person tried to shout was still childish and small.

“Oof, get the hell off me Quinn!”, while saying this the two children were squirming on the ground.

“NO!, not until you pay!”

“Pay for what!”

“Those groceries you ran off with!, wait don’t tell me you forgot!”

Zach then checked his pockets and found out that he still had the coins that his mom gave him in the morning. He stood up while shoving Quinn off and quickly apologised.

“Ah, sorry Quinn, here ya go.”, handing over the coins to Quinn Zach then asked something.

“Wait”

Quinn then took and pocketed the money to then turn to Zach.

“What?”

“You said that you wanted to break into the mages place?”

Quinns eyes then brightened.

“Yeah!...why?”

“Well...I want in.”

“Hmmm…”

“Wh-what?”

“Oh nothing, just remembering how mean you were to me today.”

“Mea-mean!?, but weren’t you the one who called me dumb?”

“Well you were calling me a liar!”

“That’s completely different!”

“Nuh-uh.”, quinn on the other hand just stuck a tongue at Zach.

“Then what do you want me to do about it!?!”

“I want you to say you’re sorry.”

Zach just looked at Quinn in disbelief, he thought that it was completely justified to question Quinns logic, but apparently it didn’t seem like so to the kid.

“Ugh, fine then…..I’m... sorry for calling you a liar…”

Quinn’s face shot up at that moment and seemed to be pleased with Zach’s apology.

“Heheh, let’s go shall we?”

“Wait, right now?”

“Yah, why not?”

Quinn just shrugged and walked towards the market, Zach just followed on.

----------------------------------------

Arriving at the market and after Quinn gave Geran the money and walking towards to the mana shop sneakily so that Geran wouldn’t see, they were crouched up at the side of the building and were talking about their plan of infiltration.

“So how are we gonna do this?...”, Quinn said this simply and with a curious tone. Zach however was annoyed as he thought that there would already be a plan.

“Seriously, you didn’t think up of anything?, in fact... why don’t…. we just... walk in?”, Zach said this in a fairly annoyed voice and a very sarcastic tone.

“Cause it’s more fun this way and stop being such a party-pooper, come on I think I found a way.”, after saying this Quinn pointed at a nearby window and motioned a box, that was also near, under the window. After they pushed the box under the window Quinn motioned towards the window, indicating to climb into it.

After the two struggle to open the window they finally got it open and started to climb into it. The window however closed shut after Zach got inside, and left Quinn outside. “Quinn!”, after shouting out for his friend a booming, deep voice came out from behind him.

“WHO GOES THERE!”

This shocked Zach greatly and almost made him faint, as he turned around he was startled not to see a grand, tall, old, wizard with a grey long beard. No, what he saw was a young man in his 20’s, with a slightly scraggly, short dark purple beard, his dark violet hair down to his ears and his eyes a shade of dark red.He had a look of confusion as he looked at Zach, as he spoke his voice was extremely deep and yet much more soothing than it was just a moment ago.

“Just a child?”