A year had passed since Arlinda died an untimely death. It had been a struggle for Graxar. It was hard for him initially to find love in his heart for his son, whom he unwillingly held responsible for the loss of his beloved wife. The first weeks after the incident he ignored Krazar entirely, leaving him in Erona’s care. He spent many hours sitting by his wife’s grave, grieving her passing. In that period he hardly came home and was more than once found drunk somewhere in the streets of the commons.

After about a month his grief had turned to anger. Anger at Arlinda for leaving him, at himself for wanting a child so desperately, and at Krazar for causing the death of his beloved wife. Thoughts of ending his own life regularly crossed his mind, and he had lost interest in the practice of magic altogether. In his fits of rage he more than once wounded himself and he even tried to kill Krazar once, blinded by his loss and his anger. Erona kept Krazar safe and Graxar at bay, taking upon herself the role of mother as well as guardian. As time passed, Graxar slowly came to terms with his himself, and started to recognize Arlinda in young Krazar. Slowly but certainly the boy started to grow on him. Graxar’s intelligence crept back in, chasing away the wild emotions that had governed his life for months. And now, at Krazar’s first birthday, he realized he had truly learned to love his son. He thanked Arlinda for her sacrifice and beautiful gift, as he looked out the window holding Krazar in his arms. “Happy birthday beautiful boy”, he whispered as a tear rolled down his cheek.

Erona walked in and Graxar gestured her to sit down. He looked at her with a friendly smile. “Today is his first birthday, and you have been here for him all this time.” He paused. “I can never thank you enough for what you have done, but I’m afraid we will have to say our goodbyes.” Erona looked at little Krazar. “It has been my honor sir. May I inform as to why we will part ways?” Graxar sighed and stared out the window watching the spring rain washing away the winter. “We are moving. We are leaving The Jewel of the North. I don’t know if I will ever return here. There simply are too many memories here.” Erona nodded in understanding. “Where will you be going then? Far away?”“I will try to find work as a magician in the Wizard City. I want to be able to give Krazar a decent shot at living the life of a mage. He had best start young, so we are leaving by the end of the week. Erona looked surprised. “I remember you telling me you were not really welcome there anymore, has something changed?” Graxar stood up from his chair and gently rocked his son in his arms. “I have changed”, he simply replied. “I have sold the house and managed to buy a small farm just outside the Wizard City. It isn’t much, but enough to feed me and Krazar and to make a life for ourselves. In a few years the council of mages will recognize who I have become. They may never accept me back into their ranks, but I doubt they will deny Krazar a proper education.”

The week passed quickly. The last two nights Graxar had spent at the Trader’s Inn as his furnishings were auctioned off and the new owners took up residence. On the morning of their departure Graxar presented Erona with a pouch of silver pieces and a pair of Arlinda’s golden earrings. “I know it isn’t much, but please accept this gift. Not as payment for your services, but as a token of my gratitude. If you hadn’t been there for Krazar and me, I would have wife nor child now, and be a broken and lonely man.” Erona smiled, “You don’t have to give me anything, though I will accept your gift. Out of respect for your beloved Arlinda, Gods rest her soul.” Her thoughts were quite different than her words. “The Gods had no part in this, and her soul will probably never rest”, she still enjoyed her mischief knowing one day the ritual would bring Krazar back to her.

Graxar sat down on the bench of the wagon he had purchased. Nothing special, just a simple wagon with a linen roof. The horse was old, which was reflected in its price, but looked healthy and full of spirit. The wagon was loaded with equipment Graxar didn’t want or couldn’t afford to leave behind His alchemy lab and a painting of his wife, being most important to him. Before he set out to travel to the town of Amalen, he visited Arlinda’s grave one more time. He sat down cross-legged by her grave, holding Krazar close to his chest. “This is Krazar love. He looks just like you. I’m so sorry you never got to meet him, I’m sure you would have loved him just as much as I do. We are leaving the Jewel of the North and will travel to Amalen. I sold our house, don’t be mad. Everything in there reminds me of the dreadful day you left me. I don’t want that anymore. It’s what I take with me that matters most.

The memories of you and me, and the joy we shared in anticipation of the birth of our child. The love between us and the way you could turn me on with a simple look or gesture. The tears we cried and the desperation in our search for our deepest desire. You are in my heart forever, and your spirit lives on through me. I will tell Krazar about you. About who you were and what you did, and how you loved me and…” He could speak no more. The lump in his throat stopped him and tears started welling up in his eyes. He reached into his pocket and took a necklace from it with two rings attached, their wedding rings. He opened the necklace’s lock and added a third tiny ring. He hung the necklace from the side of her headstone and uttered an incantation. The rings and necklace merged with the headstone, still visible on its surface. “Now we will always be together right here”, he whispered to Krazar. Graxar stood up and kissed the top of the headstone. He gently caressed its back as he caressed Arlinda’s back so often when bedding her. “Goodbye my love, you are with us, always.”

The child and his father made their way across the farmlands and through the savannah to Ezecha, where they would set sail for Amalen. The journey took almost seven days, of which five were spent at sea. Their new home was a simple brick farmhouse with a thatched roof. The inside was divided into two parts. A bedroom just big enough for two people, and a large space that functioned as living room and kitchen. They settled in quickly and Graxar took it upon himself to raise Krazar as best he could. The island on which Amalen was situated was quite big. Travelling from one end to the other end of the island would take at least two days on foot. Its beaches were lined with palm trees, several grasses and an abundance of flowers. Beyond that tree line the landscape resembled a desert, with patches of green along gullies and small streams where drinkable water flowed from the hills the Wizard City was built upon. The colorful towers of the city that was surrounded by grassy hills and patches of trees, were a beautiful sight. Especially after dark when some of the towers seemed to light up. To Graxar being in the city’s vicinity felt like almost being home after a long journey.

In the years that followed their arrival Krazar learned to walk, talk, swim and read. He turned out to be a very bright child with a quick grasp of things. Graxar did not care much for his external appearance. His wild knotted black hair was easily covered by a hat, and his casual clothing was almost always oversized and undercleaned. But his dark eyes pierced the soul of any who gazed into them with an unsettling ease.

Due to the solitary lifestyle Krazar had inherited many social traits from his father. By the time he was eight their life as farmers had become routine, but never fulfilled their expectation of what life should be like. Krazar often looked at the high spires of the Wizard City of Amalen, dreaming of what it might look like from the inside. Graxar had visited the city a few times in those years, but only long enough to get what he needed from the city’s traders. He had described the city’s outer layer, but that simply wasn’t enough for Krazar. He had witnessed his father perform feats of magic often enough, and was eager to learn for himself how to do that. He often looked at his father’s spell book, but never touched it. Graxar’s vivid descriptions of what could happen if it was used in the wrong way, made sure Krazar wouldn’t give in to his curiosity.

Graxar could be home any second from one of his rare visits to the city, and had promised to bring Krazar a surprise. Krazar gazed out the window overlooking their vegetable garden. Between the stems of the fruit trees he could see the sea, and to the right were the spires of Amalen. He was uneasy in anticipation of his father’s return with a surprise. He didn’t have to wait long, and saw his father waving in the distance. He knew Krazar was looking out for him. Krazar ran towards him and gave him a big hug, which was returned with equal enthusiasm. Graxar was hauling a stuffed backpack which he dropped with a sigh of relief, rubbing his shoulder where the strap had rested. Krazar hung a kettle over the fire to make tea, while Graxar started unpacking his backpack.

Krazar watched his every move, keen on discovering what his father had brought him as a gift. He sat down at the table observing the strange collection of things before him. Gold dust, candles, dead spiders, strange green berries, too much to name. Krazar knew they were used for certain magic spells, but had no idea which one belonged to which spell. Then Graxar presented his surprise. There were two beautifully wrapped packages. One had a stamp on it depicting a cauldron with smoke coming out of it. It said ‘The Bubbling Cauldron’. The other package had a more familiar marking, namely that of the Council of Wizards, depicting a head with the top taken off, revealing the gray matter underneath. It’s circular lettering linked the words ‘Mind over Matter over Mind’ together in an infinite loop. Krazar loved how text kept repeating itself.

Graxar pushed the packages towards Krazar. “Open them, you will need them very soon.” Krazar knew very well what his father hinted at. He would leave his house, and become a member of the Arcane University very soon. He broke the ‘Mind over Matter’ seal and removed the wrapping. Inside was a granite gray robe with wide sleeves and a hood. It was the official outfit for an apprentice of magic at the Arcane University. “Try it on”, Graxar said. It was still a little big for Krazar, but he felt so proud wearing it. “Thank you father. I will be going soon then?” Graxar nodded, “Yes indeed son, you are expected to report to Lilia Rosentia within a week. She will be your tutor.” Krazar repeated the name in his head a few times making sure not to forget it. “Now open the second package, it is even more important than the first.” Krazar had seen the seal of the package before. It was the seal of a trader in magical goods. He didn’t need to open the package in order to know what was inside it. “It’s a spell book, isn’t it?” Graxar laughed. “It is indeed. And in a few days it will be your spell book.” Krazar took the wrapping off and lifted the book into the air. It had a crimson leather cover with a bronze locking mechanism. A circle of strange markings was etched into the books cover, a triangle at its center with onyxes set in each corner. Inside the triangle a lidless eye with an emerald pupil stared at Krazar.

“How do I open it? Are there any spells in it.” Graxar smiled at his son being so eager, it reminded him of himself when he was his age. “It is not your spell book yet son. This week I will teach you an incantation that will bind the book to you. And it will stay that way until you die. You will then be the master of this book and it will only open for you.” A faint rumbling noise came from Graxar’s belly. “Now let’s eat something. The long walk made me hungry, and I can’t teach you anything on an empty stomach.” Krazar hurried to get the dishes done because he really wanted to get started. By the time he was finished, Graxar sat with his back against the wall, his pointy hat pulled in front of his eyes. He was fast asleep and Krazar decided not to wake him. He sat down next to his father in his new robe, pulled the hood over his head and joined his father in a snoring symphony.

The days passed swiftly and Krazar only needed a day and a half to learn the incantation needed to bind his spell book to him. The emerald in the center of the book’s cover lit up when Krazar touched it, causing the book to magically open itself. Graxar of course didn’t let the remainder of the week go to waste, and taught Krazar how to turn pages of his book without actually touching them. “In time you can instantly see any spell you want, without having to turn a page by hand. Nothing is more annoying than having to turn pages when you are busy becoming a great and powerful wizard.” Krazar appreciated his father’s confidence in him. “I will do everything I can dad, you’ll see.”

Finally the day came when Krazar was to be initiated into the Arcane University. They left early in the morning. Krazar wore his father’s old leather belt with several pouches attached to it. His regular clothes were in his backpack along with a small wooden chest containing fifty gold pieces, a small fortune. It was payment for enlisting as a mage at the Arcane University. It seemed a steep price, but wasn’t much considering it included ten years of food and lodging. The University provided students with all the ingredients they needed, and even rewarded students with magical gifts for excellent accomplishments. As they made their way through the hills, they saw the enormous yellow walls that surrounded the city. The trees growing along the edge of the city were dwarfed by the breathtaking height of the walls and watchtowers. And then there were the spires of the towers in the center of the city, that seemed to reach all the way up to the clouds. Their tops were a merry mixture of colors and shapes. Some were like golden spirals, where others appeared like shimmering red torches. The birds circling the highest towers were merely specks against the background of the azure sky.

“Follow this path, the guard will take you to Lilia Rosentia.” Krazar looked up at his father with doubt in his eyes. “Don’t worry son, I will come visit you as oft as I can. And you do get leave of absence once in a while. It will be fine. Now go on and make me and your mother proud.” Krazar smiled, “I will father, I promise.” He walked up the hill confident of his abilities, turned around one last time to wave at his father and was awed again at the size of the walls he was rapidly approaching.

“Ah, a young wizard. Welcome to Amalen. Who is going to be your tutor?” Krazar looked up in awe at the city gate, It was at least ten times his height. The enormous ebony doors were inlaid with silver symbols, and a giant depiction of a battle between wizards and monsters. The monsters in specific captured Krazar’s imagination. One of them he recognized, a dragon. But there were others that he had never seen before. The weirdest of them all was a huge eyeball. Small eyeballs on tentacles grew from its body, emitting beams of some sort. The guard noticed Krazar’s amazement at this creature. “We call it a beholder. They appear to be very dangerous, though I never saw one myself.” Krazar thought about the name Beholder for a second. “Makes sense with that many eyes”, he replied to the guard.

“Your tutor?”, the guard asked again now that he had Krazar’s attention. “Lilia Rosentia, sir.”“Excellent, follow me.” The guard opened a small door inside the giant gate, which was invisible to the naked eye. They entered a space with several stairs leading up to more doors. At the far end of the room was another big gate. Again the guard opened a small hidden door. Krazar stepped through and couldn’t believe his eyes. In front of him lay a cobblestone road, leading to a fountain of three dolphins about as big as a house. Beyond it another wall and gate. To the left and right stood tall buildings, painted summer yellow, light blue and some even pink. There were so many people out in the street, it made Krazar feel uneasy. They walked down the street to the fountain that was standing at a crossroads. To the left and right the street continued in a light bend following the city’s outer walls. There were so many shops and market stalls, Krazar was convinced there was nothing that could not be bought here. They moved straight on towards the next gate. There were people performing on the street, juggling and singing, dressed in the most colorful and eccentric costumes Krazar had ever seen. They even passed a woman dressed in transparent blue clothing dancing on a rope, without the rope being attached anywhere. It was simply floating in the air. “Believe me child, a year from now it will all seem pretty normal.” Krazar found that very hard to believe.

They passed the second wall. “Only guards, council wizards and trainees are allowed in the second ring”, the guard said. “What is a council wizard?”, Krazar inquired. “It is a wizard who has trained in this city, and whose accomplishments were memorable enough to get invited to become a member of the council of wizards. Something almost every wizard here accomplishes at some point. I only know of one case where a wizard was expelled from the council. Graxar was his name if I remember correctly.” Krazar’s face turned red, as he was feeling a bit of shame. His father had never told him why he got expelled, and Krazar noticed an opportunity. “Why did he get expelled? . The guard laughed. “Sorry lad, I’m not at liberty to discuss internal affairs of the council with an apprentice wizard. If you really want to know, try becoming a member. That will give you access to the archives.” Krazar nodded as he looked around. There were lots of towers, though most weren’t higher than the walls. There also was another wall and gate leading to the very center of the city, where the absurdly high towers were situated. The ones you could see from miles away. “Can I also go there?” Krazar pointed at the towers that seemed to touch the clouds. “I’m afraid not, it is a place where only Arch mages are allowed.” Krazar mumbled softly, “Maybe I will be an arch mage someday.” They stopped at a decent sized tower, painted yellow with a blue spire on top. Krazar counted the windows and figured there must be at least eight stories. There was a sign above the door that simply stated ‘apprentices only’. The guard knocked on the door, a young woman opened the door. “Yes, what is it?” The guard bowed, “The new apprentice has arrived, meet Krazar.” The woman looked Krazar up and down. “Come in Krazar, I’ve been expecting you. My name is Lilia Rosentia, but you can just call me Lili.”

Krazar thanked the guard and followed Lili inside. She was wearing a moss green dress with brown sleeves. On her waist she wore a brown leather belt similar to the one Krazar had on. The tower had a spiral staircase winding around a massive column. “You will be joining the other students shortly. In here are the student dormitories. Your bed has your name on it, go and sort your belongings and meet me over there when you’re done.” She pointed to a door on the other side of the central hall. “I will inform you on the house rules, the code of conduct and your class schedule. After that I will show you around and introduce you to your class.” Krazar did as he was asked.

The interior of the school was not what he expected. No fancy decorations or mystical paintings. No fancy colors or strange symbols. It was simple and basic. Sturdy wooden bunkbeds with a simple footlocker for each student. Plain closets to keep the sheets in, and simple lanterns to light the rooms and corridors. “Nothing like outside”, Krazar thought, entering Lili’s office.After receiving the paperwork containing the school rules and schedule, Lili took Krazar to the first floor to introduce him to his fellow apprentices. Krazar was very nervous about this because he never had any contact with children his age. They entered the classroom and the other students stopped what they were doing. “Class, this is Krazar, your new classmate. Be kind to him and make him feel at home please.” Krazar stared at the ground while Lili opened a scroll rack barred by a metal grate, and took a scroll from the top compartment. “This will be your first spell, your classmates already know it, except for Theos.” She gave Theos a stern look. When she turned her attention back to Krazar Theos stuck out his tongue. “If you have any questions, ask Ferlinde, she is most advanced in the use of spells at the moment. And you can of course always ask me. Take your time copying the spell to your spell book, it needs to be done right.” Lili left the classroom.

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Krazar suddenly felt very alone and sat down in a bench in the far corner of the room. His other classmates came over to him, telling him their names, then swiftly returning to their studies. Theos walked up to Krazar and offered his hand. Krazar wanted to shake but Theos quickly withdrew his hand and laughed. “Well look what we have here, a new classmate. I bet you all of five silver pieces that he won’t learn his new baby spell for at least a week.” Krazar didn’t know where to look. “What’s wrong”, Theos said, “Did you lose something, like your wits.” He looked at the rest of the apprentices. “Come everybody, let’s find the new kid’s wits.” The others made sure not to respond to Theos, scared of being bullied themselves. Krazar looked up at Theos, who was at least four years older than him. “Leave me alone”, Krazar stuttered. Theos burst into laughter. “L..L..Leave me alone. How are you ever going to c.. c.. cast a spell if you can’t speak p..p..properly.” Krazar looked down again feeling very small and insignificant. Theos pushed Krazar’s spell book and papers off the table. “What a crappy spell book, did you steel it from a beggar.” Krazar didn’t dare move or say anything. Theos stamped his foot scaring Krazar even more, then tried to kick Krazar’s spell book.

Suddenly one of the chairs bumped against Theos’ legs causing him to lose his balance and fall to the floor. Ferlinde stood up from her bench. “Enough, leave him be Theos. Or do you want me to experiment on you again.” Theos shook his head and scrambled to his bench. Ferlinde picked up Krazar’s spell book and scroll. “Don’t let him get to you, he is as dumb as a drunk dwarf. The only reason he is here is because his rich parents couldn’t raise him properly.” Krazar looked gratefully at Ferlinde. Her eyes were a bright green, and her blond curls and pink cheeks made her look adorable. She smiled kindly and somewhat playful at Krazar, trying to make him feel a bit more comfortable. “I am Ferlinde, I’m in my second year. Your name is Krazar right?” Krazar nodded. “Do you mind if I sit next to you?” Ferlinde didn’t wait for an answer. “Now let’s get started on that first spell.”

It took Krazar only three days to copy the spell into his spell book, greatly annoying Theos. Being with Ferlinde made Krazar feel safe, because Theos definitely feared Ferlinde. She looked cute but underneath she was a feisty young woman, even though she was only a few years older than Krazar. The two of them became close friends. Krazar trusted her and she helped him progress in the arcane arts faster than Lili could ever have hoped for.

Krazar had been an apprentice for more than three years, by the end of which he knew more basic spells than any other student in his class, except for Ferlinde. On a rainy afternoon Krazar received a magical message from Ferlinde. Her voice manifested inside his head. The spell was called thoughtnote, and was already in Krazar’s spell book as well. “Meet me by the gate, after dinner.” Krazar glanced at Ferlinde who was looking at him waiting for a response. Krazar nodded.“Where are you going?”, Lili asked as Krazar opened the front door. “Out for a walk”, he replied. “Very well, enjoy. Make sure you are back before curfew. We can’t have apprentices roaming the streets at night.” Krazar closed the door behind him and ran towards the gate. Ferlinde was waiting for him, standing with her back and one foot against the wall. “You made it”, she said. Krazar was still panting from his sprint. “Look what I have.” Ferlinde took a glass bottle from under her dress and showed it to Krazar. She had a mischievous look on her pretty face. “What is it”, Krazar curiously asked. Ferlinde checked to see if no one was near, then whispered in his ear. “It’s a potion of invisibility. I have been saving up and got it yesterday from a shop.” Krazar looked excited at Ferlinde. “I need your help with something, but only if you can keep a secret. You have to swear.” Krazar was too curious to deny. “I swear, I won’t tell anyone.” Ferlinde quickly put the potion back under her dress. “Follow me.” They walked past their school and turned right towards the city center. They stopped at a small gray tower only five stories high.

“Why are we here”, Krazar inquired, “Who lives here.” Ferlinde pulled Krazar closer. “Sssst, whisper please. It is the home of Graldo Dimwood, or Dimwit as some call him.” Krazar chuckled. “I heard he has a magical mirror that will show you what you need to see.” She checked her surroundings then continued. “Can you imagine, a magic mirror. I want to take a look, don’t you?” Krazar thought about it for a moment and nodded. He couldn’t say no to Ferlinde. After all she was his best and only friend. “How do we get in? I guess we are not going to ask Graldo to let us look.” Ferlinde gave him a funny look. “Duh! Of course not.” She tapped the potion of invisibility. “Graldo takes a stroll every night at the same time, always for about an hour. If we make ourselves invisible at the right moment, we can sneak in when he leaves for his walk.” She grinned. “And we will be back in time for the curfew too.” Krazar hesitated. “Won’t Graldo be mad if he finds out, or Lili?” Ferlinde put her hand in his shoulder and gave Krazar a grave look. “Very mad”, she said, then started giggling. “Come on, he will be leaving soon. Let’s get ready.”

They positioned themselves a few feet from the door. After a few minutes they heard the door opening, so they both quickly drank some of the potion. Krazar was surprised to see Ferlinde disappear right in front of him. Graldo stepped outside stretching his arms and legs. “Now”, Ferlinde whispered. Krazar quickly moved to the door and stepped inside. He bumped into something. “Watch it dummy, I’m standing here.” Krazar almost burst into laughter and covered his mouth and nose with both hands so as not to make a sound. The door closed behind them and suddenly Krazar heard Ferlinde laugh. He couldn’t hold back himself and joined her.

“Where are you Ferlinde, I can’t see you.” “I’m right here next to the dresser.” She opened and closed one of the drawers. Krazar chuckled. “I’m right here”, he said, pushing a chair through the room. “Sit in the chair Krazar, I’ve got an idea.” Krazar stopped and sat down. “I’m sitting.” It stayed silent for a few seconds. “Where are you Ferlinde?” Still no response. Suddenly Krazar felt a pair of warm soft hands against his cheeks. Before he could move Ferlinde kissed him on the lips. Krazar pushed himself backwards causing his chair to fall over. In a reflex he reached forwards trying to hold on to something to maintain his balance. He grabbed hold of Ferlinde’s invisible robe, but it was too late. He fell, dragging Ferlinde with him. She landed on top of him, causing them both to become visible again. They looked each other in the eye, then rolled over the floor laughing.

Krazar was still drying his joy-teared when Ferlinde gestured him to follow. “Where does he keep this mirror”, Krazar asked. “No idea, we have time, so let’s look for it.” They checked the kitchen but didn’t find anything but a tasty cake. They both took a slice and moved on towards the living room. It was quite messy, papers lay spread out over the table and the couch, all sorts of plates and mugs serving as paper weights. The wine-red curtain was half closed and a plant lay on the floor between the shards of a broken pot. “Now where would I keep a magic mirror?”, Ferlinde whispered. “Let’s try upstairs.”

They moved up the winding staircase to the first floor, but found their way blocked by a locked door. “Well who would have thought that, a locked door, Ferlinde mocked. Don’t worry Krazar, I came prepared.” Krazar grinned, “I was expecting that much.” Ferlinde started an incantation Krazar was unfamiliar with. He recognized some of the sounds and gestures from a spell used to open the lid of his footlocker, but this was clearly more complex. Ferlinde finished her incantation while touching the keyhole with her finger. A click could be heard as the lock opened. “There, all done.” Krazar clapped his hands and imitated Lili’s sing-song voice. “Well then young apprentice, you are well on your way to becoming a council-mage.” They both giggled and entered Graldo’s bedroom.

The room smelled musty, and was just as much of a mess as the living room. It was big though, with a large double bed in the middle. Some strange objects lay on a dresser, which theburglars wisely decided not to touch. The curtains were closed cloaking the room in an eerie shade of darkness. There was a dressing screen standing on the left hand wall and a painting of a woman hung above the bed, who appeared to be looking right at them with dark eyes. Ferlinde shuddered at her looks. They tiptoed towards the screen and peeked behind it. Ferlinde squealed as she saw her own reflection in a mirror behind the screen. “Is that it, let me see”, Krazar insisted. Ferlinde shrugged, “Bah, it’s a plain mirror. Let’s move on. Maybe it is in the other room on this floor.”

They opened the other room, from which a smell of dirty laundry emanated. They peeked inside but saw nothing special, and quickly closed the door again. They decided to go further to the top floor of the tower next, then work their way down. “I would keep a magic mirror in the attic”, Krazar said agreeing with Ferlinde’s plan, “Let’s go.”

They swiftly made their way to the top floor, where they found themselves standing in a five by five foot space. They were surrounded by walls and there was no door. “There has to be a way in”, Ferlinde said. “Look closely at the walls, maybe there is a switch somewhere.” They checked the walls feeling every square inch, but found nothing. “Maybe the door is magically hidden, or needs a keyword”, Krazar guessed. Ferlinde grunted with frustration. “This is taking too long, we haven’t got time for this.” The two youngsters looked at each other, then both started smiling. “The ceiling!”, they said simultaneously. “A wizard usually has a staff with him, so maybe there is a button on the ceiling. Give me a boost Krazar.”

Krazar entwined his fingers together allowing Ferlinde to put her foot on them. She tried to reach the ceiling but was at least two feet too short. “Let me sit on your neck, that should do it.” Krazar struggled to keep his balance as Ferlinde was searching the ceiling. A few minutes passed and Krazar felt his muscles getting tired, when all of a sudden Ferlinde cheered. “Found it!” They heard a click and a small piece of stonework moved out of alignment, revealing a door handle. Ferlinde crawled down from Krazar’s shoulders. He enjoyed the soft touch of her skin. It somehow felt like something he had missed all his life. “Will you do the honors?”, Ferlinde asked. Krazar smiled at her, “Most certainly.” He opened the door that was made to look and feel exactly the same as the walls. “Welcome to the attic.”

They were overwhelmed by what they saw. The attic was a large round open space, about thirty feet in diameter, with small stained glass windows randomly positioned along the wall. A large crystal chandelier hung from the roof in the room’s center, most of its sixteen candles still burning. The left half of the wall was lined with various size bookshelves, stuffed with tomes and scrolls. To their right three levels of shelving held up a multitude of potions and empty bottles. Next to it a knight’s plate armor was displayed in a glass casing. The chandelier lit up a large oak table covered with trinkets. Several large objects were covered in drapes.

Krazar and Ferlinde took a closer look at the oak table. Several rolls of parchment with strange symbols lay among a random assortment of gems. On the far corner, a scale with all sorts of polished bronze weights was gleaming in the light. Beside the scales they noticed the skull of a snake with ruby inlaid eye sockets, giving them both the creeps. Ferlinde pushed aside some of the parchments revealing a short ebony stick with a hand holding a huge pearl on top of it. “Don’t touch it”, Krazar urged her. Ferlinde hesitated for a second, but took the wand from the table. “I wonder what it does”, she mumbled, holding the wand in the air. Krazar looked at her nervously. “I think I’d rather not find out.” he said. Ferlinde gave him that mischievous look again, then swung the wand at the snake’s skull. Krazar let himself fall to the floor covering his head, fearing some awful power being unleashed. Nothing happened. Ferlinde laughed at the sight of Krazar cowering, which in turn made Krazar laugh at himself. Ferlinde waved the wand a few more times without any result. “I guess it’s broken”, she concluded, putting the wand back on the table.

“Let me try, it is probably only usable by really powerful wizards”, he joked. He swung the wand in a circle and then towards the ground. A sudden flash of light blinded them both. They were rubbing their eyes when they heard a squeaky laugh. A voice chattered strange sounds, “bidi biggi dio riggi sippi.” On the ground before them a small creature had appeared, about two feet tall, its entire body shining with a bright white light. It had a triangular face with long pointy ears and its arms were too long for its small body, its hands touching the ground. It looked at the two baffled youngsters tilting its head to one side. “Bidi giggi toa topi tapi kippi?”, it asked. Krazar and Ferlinde looked at each other with a hint of panic. The creature tapped its little clawed foot. “Topi tapi kippi?”, it repeated. “What now?”, Krazar whispered. Ferlinde’s look said enough, she had no idea. Krazar stepped towards the creature, causing it to jump backwards. “Let me try something”, Krazar said while crouching and reaching for the creature. Krazar tried to imitate the creatures gibbering. “Ikki sikki pola ripiki.” The creature tilted its head again, than slowly inched towards Krazar’s outstretched hand. Krazar looked back and smiled at Ferlinde, convinced he did something right. At that moment the creature touched Krazar’s hand, instantly burning his flash. Krazar retracted his hand in a reflex and shouted. ”Ouch!” This startled the creature. It began running and bouncing around the room. Krazar and Ferlinde froze for a few seconds as they had no idea what was happening. Ferlinde shook her head and shouted at Krazar, “Quickly, close the door. Don’t let it escape.” Krazar jumped to the door and pushed it shut. The creature jumped on the table and pirouetted while hitting the table with its tiny claws. “Get that bucket and catch it”, Krazar shouted. Ferlinde snatched the bucket Krazar was pointing at from the ground, and jumped towards the table trying the put it over the little critter. The creature jumped up just in time grabbing the chandelier, causing it to sway violently. One of the parchments the creature touched had caught fire. The creature laughed as it swung the chandelier back and forth, launching itself towards the bookcases. Ferlinde was desperately trying to put out the flames crawling over the table, while Krazar grabbed the bucket as he ran by the table in pursuit of the creature. The creature sat on the highest bookcase waving its long arms in the air, ranting chaotically, “ikki bikki popo tuki wikki.” Krazar jumped up to scare it and make it move. It worked, the critter scrambled along the top of the bookcases, kicking down several tomes and scrolls. Krazar followed it right to the last bookcase. The creature suddenly started glowing more intensely, followed by another bright flash.

Krazar somehow anticipated this and blinked at exactly the right moment. The creature tried to jump over Krazar, who in turn jumped trying to catch it in the bucket. It worked and Krazar quickly put the bucket on the ground upside down, and sat himself on top of it. “Good job!”, Ferlinde cheered while snuffing out the last flames. “Let me get a pile of books so it can’t escape.” The creature was squealing inside the bucket, and Krazar noticed smoke rising from the bucket. “What to do, what to do”, he panicked, “This won’t hold him for long.” Ferlinde frantically looked around the room in search of something better to hold the critter captive, then noticed the wand on the floor faintly glowing. She quickly picked it up. “Hurry, my butt is getting very hot”, Krazar urged. Ferlinde ran towards him, “Lift the bucket just a little bit”, she said. Krazar carefully took some of his weight from the bucket, causing it to start shaking as the critter was fighting to get out. He quickly sat back down on it. “Jump away with the bucket when I say, ok?” Krazar looked at Ferlinde wandering if she had lost her mind, but nodded. “Now!”, Ferlinde shouted. Krazar jumped up dragging the bucket with him. The creature looked around for a second slightly disoriented. Ferlinde dashed forward and touched the creature with the wand. “Oni poki, mia mikki jukki!”, the creature screamed. The wand started absorbing the creatures light. The creature scratched the floor but couldn’t prevent being pulled back into the pearl. In a flash it disappeared. Ferlinde dropped the wand on the floor, where it continued smoking and vibrating for a few more seconds.

They embraced each other in relief. “That was the craziest scariest thing I have ever done in my whole life”, Krazar stated. “Likewise, this was just crazy”, Ferlinde replied. “I suggest we get…”, Ferlinde stopped. “Look Krazar.” She pointed at one of the draped objects. The draping had shifted and revealed the bottom part of a mirror. “Are you serious? We should leave now. We have been here way too long and Graldo can come home any second.” Ferlinde didn’t register his plea as she walked towards the mirror. “Don’t you want to have a look? Don’t you want to see what you need to see?”, she tempted Krazar. “Oh alright then”, Krazar said, “Let’s get it over with and leave.” He took hold of the draping and pulled it down.

“Well, what do you see Ferlinde, was it worth it?” Ferlinde didn’t respond, she was looking at herself in the mirror completely mesmerized. She held her hands on her cheeks slightly tilting her head, obviously admiring what she was looking at. Krazar’s curiosity aroused, and he pushed Ferlinde to the side. She sat down on the table still in awe. Krazar stepped in front of the mirror and gave himself a good look. He didn’t see anything out of the ordinary, but when he looked closer something startled him. He looked at the reflection of his face and saw his right eye was green rather than blue. He shuddered and stepped closer to the mirror, focusing on the strange green eye. He held his face so close to the mirror, his breath fogged the glass. Suddenly the green eye started to move in its socket frantically. Krazar screamed and turned around. He quickly covered the mirror avoiding to look at his reflection again. He looked at Ferlinde who was still sitting on the table musing. “We have to go now”, Krazar said still shocked by what he saw. Ferlinde sighed, “Yes, let’s go. This was so worth it”, she mumbled. They opened the door leading to the staircase when they heard a voice downstairs. “What happened to my delicious cake?”

“What now, we will get caught”, Krazar said. Ferlinde chuckled which greatly annoyed Krazar. He kicked her in the shins, “This is not funny, we could get expelled.” Ferlinde chuckled again. “Don’t worry, I always have a plan.” Krazar looked at her impatiently, “Do you have another invisibility potion?” She shook her head. “No, but I have the first spell they ever taught me, and you.” Krazar looked confused, “And how is your Magemaid spell going to rescue us out of this, I wonder.” Ferlinde gestured Krazar to follow her. They went down to the second floor. “Hide in the bathroom. Watch and learn.” Ferlinde summoned her Magemaid and ordered it to push over the dressing screen in the bedroom. A few seconds passed followed by a loud crash and the sound of breaking glass. “Who’s there!”, Graldo shouted running up the stairs. Ferlinde peeked out of the bathroom door. “Now!”, she sneered. They swiftly but silently ran down the stairs, to the front door and out to the street. They didn’t stop until they had turned a corner. “Told you I had a plan”, Ferlinde proudly announced. Krazar was still shaking in excitement. “We better head back now, unless you have another plan”, she added. Krazar fanatically shook his head. “Nope, no plans, none at all for the next couple of month, or years even.” Ferlinde laughed, “Don’t worry, I do. Let’s go.” They walked back, Krazar constantly looking over his shoulder to see if they were followed. Ferlinde was totally careless and completely sure of herself, skipping ahead while singing the school’s rules.

That night Krazar could not fall asleep, his mind was troubled by what he had seen in the mirror. “Was I just imagining things?”, he thought. “Can’t be, I looked very closely, something is not what it seems.” He stared at the dim flame dancing in one of the lanterns. “What did Ferlinde say about the mirror, it shows you what you need to see. Why did I have to see this then?” He rolled to his side. “Should I tell Lili?” He thought about it for a moment. “No way, she would find out what we did and both me and Ferlinde would get expelled.” He brusquely rolled to his other side, annoyed by his own thoughts keeping him awake. “I will keep it to myself, and find out what is wrong, no matter the cost”, he concluded. Several hours passed before he finally was able to stop contemplating why he had seen that creepy green eye, and fell asleep.

The Mistress sighed with relief leaning back in her chair. “That was close, and unexpected. Interesting artefact, that mirror.” She waved her hand over the scrying orb, causing it to turn crystal clear again. “Let’s just hope the Oracle was right about this boy. I am dying to know what those arch mages keep hidden in their fancy towers.” She stood up and covered the orb with a cloth. “And if all else fails…”, she wound Krazar’s umbilical cord around her neck, pretending to hang herself and left her ritual chamber.