A tall African American man in red robes entered the room with a smile upon his face. His beard was long and braided but his head was bald with a scar running from the top of his left eyebrow up his forehead and down to the back of his neck, “Allow me to introduce myself young one. I am Master Gorgu.”

“You should be careful Master,” says Jacob as the blade disappears, “Sneaking up on a man like that is a sure fire way to get yourself killed.”

“It’s nice to see you too Jacob,” responded Gorgu with a nod in his direction, “It is nice to meet you too Jason.”

“Um- Likewise,” managed Jason as he looked between his father and Master Gorgu with an inquisitive gaze. He could sense a tension between the two men that was palpable. It felt like a bomb that was ready to blow at any second.

With a light cough Master Gorgu spoke once more, “I was surprised to receive your letter Jacob. Especially after so many years of silence.”

“Yes well the situation called for it,” grumbled Jacob angrily.

“Yes and what an intriguing situation that it is,” commented Gorgu, “With proper training you young Jason could become one of the most powerful sorcerers that this world has ever seen.”

“But to truly face your potential you must complete the trials,” spoke Gorgu, “Which is why I am here. I am taking you to your first trial.”

“I thought we had agreed that I would be doing that?” snarled Jacob in distaste, “I am his father after all.”

“Is that the great lie you have convinced yourself of?” asked Gorgu taking a step towards Jacob, “Because if my memory serves me correctly, which it does, I would have thought it was Samuel who was the father.”

“You bastard,” growled Jacob as he re-summoned his blade and pointed it at Gorgu ready to slit his throat.

“You’re lying,” snapped Jason, “He’s my father.”

Jacob didn’t drop his blade but Jason could see it in his eyes, the truth. He wasn’t his father.

“Jason,” spoke Jacob softly, “I promise I will explain-”

“Explain what!?” yelled Jason in agony, “That you lied to me! That I am not your son! EXPLAIN WHAT!?”

The desk exploded and send Master Gorgu and Jacob flying across the room and into the wall with a hard smack. The lights began to flicker as Jason collapsed to his knees with tears streaming down his face. He let out a yell of anger and emotional frustration causing the floorboards to crack and start to break.

“His magic is taking him over!” yelled Jacob as he fought to get to his feet against the now invisible force that was keeping him away from Jason; it was like a wall of wind had suddenly erupted and separated him from his adopted son.

“Allow it to pass!” shouted Gorgu over the now howling wind that had formed in the office, “He must experience this pain it will give him drive to learn!”

“YOU BASTARD!” screamed Jason as he stood to his feet pointing at Gorgu. The Master found himself pinned against the wall unable to move against the tantrum of magic.

“WE WERE HAPPY! I WAS HAPPY NOT KNOWING!” the sheer torment in his voice wrenched at Jacob’s heart. He fought towards his son in absolute desperation, “JASON!” he cried out pleadingly.

Jason looked at him with pain and anguish, but what unnerved him was that his eyes were glowing a sapphire blue, he was becoming consumed by his own power.

“Jason nothing changes how I feel about you,” said Jacob as he dodged some of the items that were whipped up in the wind, “I don’t care what anyone says especially this prick. I love you more than life itself. You are my son no matter what!”

The wind began to die down and Jacob could see the light in Jason’s eyes beginning to dim, “I raised you, taught you how to be a good person. No matter what happens I will always be your father.”

Jacob finally managed to reach Jason and pulled him into a hug, the wind stopped and all the items that were flying through the air dropped to the ground with a clatter, including Master Gorgu who looked on with intrigue.

Jason cried into Jacob’s shoulder letting all the emotions go.

“It’s going to be okay Jason I promise,” sighed Jacob as he held on tightly.

“I’m sorry Dad,” said Jason with a sniff, “I ruined your study.”

Jacob stepped back and held Jason firmly by the shoulders, “You have nothing to apologise for. I am the one who should say sorry. I should have told you a long time ago the truth about your parentage. I just became selfish. I didn’t want to lose you as a son.”

“You’ll never lose me Dad,” says Jason with a watery smile.

“Well that’s touching,” says Gorgu as he manages to get to his feet.

The father son duo look at him with anger.

“So why don’t we move forwards hmm?”

“Sure,” says Jacob as he approaches Gorgu with his hand outstretched. Gorgu takes it and Jacob grips his hand tightly and punches him in the face knocking him to the floor, “You ever pull shit like that again Gorgu and I swear I will destroy you.”

Gorgu spits out a mouthful of blood, “Fair enough.”

Jacob helps him to his feet.

“The first Trial will commence in an hour,” says Gorgu as he brushes dirt from his robes, “Jacob will take you to it. Make sure you are on time.”

With a snap of his fingers Gorgu disappeared as if he were never really there.

“I hate that prick,” growls Jacob, “Always shows up and causes trouble then leaves everyone else to deal with the aftermath.”

“I know you have a lot of questions Jason,” sighs Jacob with exhaustion turning to the young man behind him, “I will answer all of them. I promise. But now we need to get you ready for the first Trial.”

“I do have questions,” admits Jason, “But no matter the answer. It still doesn’t change that you’re my father.”

Jacob pulls him into a gripping hug, “Love you son.”

“Love you too Dad,” answers Jason tightening his grip.

After a few more moments they broke apart and Jacob grabs his cane leaning on it once more, “We need to help you perfect that fire spell. You go into this with a disadvantage, most children in this trial will have already learned some small forms of magic. You however are going into this as a blank slate. So I guess we can thank your mother for teaching you that spell.”

“So to truly harness this power you must focus entirely on positive emotions,” says Jacob as he holds up a hand and creates a ball of purple flame, “The stronger the emotion the more powerful the magic. That’s how it works. So give it a try. Remember the incantation Flagrante and remember to annunciate.”

With a deep breath Jason held out his hand and spoke clearly, “Flagrante!”

Nothing.

“It’s okay son this happens,” says Jacob confidently, “Now focus on a moment in your life. A moment where you felt nothing but joy. Or love or whatever happy moment you can conjure.”

Jason closed his eyes and tried to think of his father, “Flagrante.” A small purple flicker appeared but disappeared to quickly. He growled, there was too much uncertain emotions surrounding his dad. But what about his mother?

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With his eyes still closed he thought of his mother, her hair tickling his face, her soft touch, her calming voice. The warmth. The first time he witnessed the spell in all its glory. His eyes snapped open and his eyes were glowing with purple flames, “FLAGRANTE!”

A purple flame erupted in his hand almost blinding Jacob.

“Wonderful!” congratulated Jacob as Jason closed his hand and the flame extinguished, “So long as you recall that exact feeling in the trial that spell will be of no issue to you.”

“Thanks,” muttered Jason guiltily. He hoped he wouldn’t enquire about what memory he recalled or why the spell failed the first two times. He couldn’t bare to tell him that the spell was weak because of him.

“We haven't got much time,” says Jacob as he looks at the clock on the wall, “We have fifteen minutes before the The Trial Of Courage begins.”

Jacob raises his hand into the air and mutters softly under his breath. The study begins repairing itself from the destruction that Jason caused in his emotional state.

Once the desk had repaired itself Jacob opened the drawer and pulled out what looked to be a key, “I am not able to open portals or teleport like other sorcerers,” he explained as he approached the study door and closed it, “So I rely on these transport keys to do that part for me.”

Jason watched curiously as Jacob put the key into the lock of the door and turns it clockwise three times and anti-clockwise once. He opened the door and Jason was instantly in awe, on the other side of the door was the largest room that he had ever seen. It looked more like a stadium. There were stands surrounding the room with what looked to be families and random robed people.

Jason walked into this room with Jacob beside him. When Jacob closed the door and removed the key the doorway disappeared with a crack. Jacob firmly steered Jason towards the stands.

Now that they were at a higher vantage point Jason was able to fully appreciate the stadium like room they were in. The stands surrounded the room with a large open space with a floor of concrete and what looked to be obstacles in the centre.

There was a podium made of stone in the centre of this obstacle course with a withered old man in a emerald green robe standing behind it. His beard was trimmed and wispy whilst his bald head had what looked like a frog perched upon it.

“Weird,” thought Jason as he looked away from the man and began looking around the stands. Most of the people in the stands were kids around his age with their families, his eyes lingered a little on a girl with green hair and in what looked like a black leather trench coat, though mainly because she was making vines grow out of the stands next to her. But he nearly did a double take when he saw Diana sitting with her parents not too far away and just like him she was staring at him with wide eyes of realisation.

Before he could mention anything to his father the old man began to speak, “Welcome everyone to the first trial. Before we begin I would like to introduce myself I am Master Warbler and this is Conk,” he said pointing a bony and withered finger at the frog on his head.

“This Trial is simple survive the obstacle course with your wits and courage and move on to the next trial,” said Warbler with a croak from Conk.

“Now may I please call upon the following outstanding participants. Diana Styles, Marcus Capaldi, Jessica Walters and Jason Jones.”

Jacob gave a reassuring squeeze of his shoulder and Jason stood along with the other four teenagers. Jason nearly did a double take when he saw the swollen jaw of Marcus. That was the guy that he had hurt at school. Small world.

When they all reached the course and stood in front of Master Warbler he spoke once more, “Now I warn you. This trial will test not only your abilities but your humanity. So be careful and stay sharp.”

He stepped down from the podium which began to sink into the stone floor. Diana smacked his shoulder, “You could have told me you know.”

“To be fair I didn’t know,” mumbled Jason.

“How could you not know!?” she whispered back a little harshly.

Marcus eyeballed the two, “Look guys my dad says this is a dangerous course so if I were you two I’d focus more on this than boning each other.”

Before either Diana or Jason could answer Jessica spoke, “Is it me or is the ground vibrating?”

Jason paused and felt the slight tremble in his feet, “Wait you’re right it is.”

A large rumble in the ground sent all four to the floor with a thud. Lucky for Diana she landed on top of Jason to break her fall making the young man blush when her bosom was pressed into his face.

Another rumble and Marcus shouted out, “WHAT THE HELL IS THAT!?”

The large boulders that Jason assumed were obstacles were rolling towards each other and forming into a rather large and opposing stone giant with a giant glowing red orb for an eye in the centre of its head.

The monster let out an Earth shattering roar making them all cover their ears.

“RUN!” yelled Marcus as the beast began making large strides towards them.

Jessica however shot lighting from her hands hitting the monster...but it did nothing. Marcus grabbed her hand and forced her to run away. Jason grabbed Diana’s hand and they both began running in the opposite direction of the monstrosity.

“HOW DO WE BEAT THAT!?” yelled Jason over another roar.

“HOW SHOULD I KNOW!?” screamed Jessica in response as all four dove behind a rather large boulder to avoid a large stomp from the giant.

“FUCK THIS!” yelled Marcus as he ran out from behind the boulder and made a run for the entrance to the room. However he wasn’t lucky and was struck by a giant stone hand and landed with a sickening crunch on the ground making Jessica scream.

Jason and Diana looked at each other with panic as the giant picked up the boulder they were hiding behind. Jessica made an attempt to run but tripped on a crack in the floor. Diana grabbed Jason and opened a portal beneath them making them fall onto the floor at the far end of the arena.

Jason could hear Jessica scream. He looked at Diana, “We need to get her!”

He dove through the portal before it could close and grabbed Jessica throwing her through it as it closed. The monster smacked Jason with his massive hand sending him crashing into the ground.

Pain erupted all over his body as he hit the ground. The monster towered over him, but suddenly he was falling and he landed on something soft. He just about managed to make out the portal closing.

Diana’s lap, that's what was soft, “Jason please tell me you’re okay.”

“Yeah,” he groaned as he managed to sit up, “Who doesn’t love being pimp slapped by a stone monster.”

There was another roar but it was muffled, they seemed to be in a room made entirely of vines, “Where are we?”

“I made a shelter,” says Jessica with a groan as there was a loud thud against the barrier, “Which is getting harder to maintain with that thing hitting against it. Any ideas?”

They didn’t get the chance to answer as the barrier was ripped apart by the monster. It swiped its massive hand which they just about managed to avoid by diving sideways onto the stone floor. Jason staggered to his feet, “FLAGRANTE!” he yelled as purple flames erupted in both hands. He threw them at the monsters face but it did nothing except obscure its vision temporarily but that was enough for them to get out of the way of its other hand.

Diana dove out of the way, however the monster was about to stomp on her like an ant. Jason let out a yell and jumped in front of her with his two hands outstretched. He could feel the giants foot hit him but nothing happened.

“Holy shit!” shouted Jessica.

Jason’s body became entirely encased in stone like the earth was providing him with his own armour. His two hands held the monsters foot with ease, “What the hell?” he managed to say. But taking advantage of this he gave a massive shove and the stone giant was forced back a step.

“It’s like you absorbed some of it’s magic,” says Diana as she managed to get back to her feet. Jason let out a shaky laugh, “Well let’s hope you’re right.”

Without any hesitation Jason rushed at the monster and jumped as hard as he could launching himself at least twenty feet into the air, with a well aimed punch he struck the monster in the eye making it topple to the ground and fall apart.

Landing into a tuck and roll he felt the stone armour fall off. Jason lay there breathing hard, “I am so glad that worked,” he panted in great relief.

“Me too young man,” says Master Warbler standing over him, “Conk was impressed as well weren’t you Conk?” the frog on his head croaked almost happily in response.

Diana and Jessica appeared next to Master Warbler offering their hand to him which he took gratefully managing to get back to his feet.

“That was awesome,” said Jessica with a toothy grin.

“Yeah that was some impressive magic dumbass,” complimented Diana.

“Yes congratulations all round. You three demonstrated teamwork, quick thinking and most importantly courage in the face of danger,” says Master Warbler chirpily, “Unfortunately for Mr Capaldi he will not be going through to the next round. Such selfishness.”

“He’s not dead?” questioned Jason as he glanced over to where Marcus lay with people in white robes inspecting him.

“Oh no definitely not. He will however be recovering for a while,” answered Warbler with a small croak and ribbit from Conk in response.

“On to the next trial children,” he added happily.

“Don’t we get to rest?” asked Jessica with a grimace as he tried and failed to remove the dirt from her green hair.

“Rest is for the dead my dear,” he answers and guides them towards a door which appeared out of no where.

“I’m dead inside does that count?” queried Diana.

Jason chuckled but Warbler looked at her confused, “You look healthy to me...so I say lets continue.”

“Worth a try,” she muttered.

And like that they were on to the next trial. The Trial Of Fate.