Chapter Two

Well, this is a conundrum. How could I forget that living things eat? Theirs obliviously no food in this house or anything edible in the bog well, nothing this kid would eat or at the very least be able to prepare without poisoning himself. I suppose leaving now is better than later. Those goons must be long gone for how long Thomas took to wake. Stitches pondered these thoughts in silence.

“Umm… Stitches is something the matter? Thomas asked sheepishly.

“Well, yes and no. While you were asleep, I found there was no food in this place.” Once again, lying to the boy leaving guilt.”So I was just thinking of a plan.” Stitches tried to say with confidence.

“Oh! So what is the plan? If you don’t mind me asking? Thomas says while standing up with excitement.

At this, the sorcerer felt confident and a strange warmth coming from the boy akin to love or friendship it made sense he was in his doll, and it was even named the odds of it being named Stitches were pretty far-fetched, leaving the conclusion that this doll has always been with him and put back together. For a child born to wealth and nobility to care for such a thing must mean this child truly loves this wrag of a doll, meaning this sorcerer not only had a job to protect this child but his doll as well. With a deep mental sigh, he began laying out his somewhat plan.

“Let's look for a pack or satchel you can carry, then grab a small pillow and blanket afterward. I believe a local map shows a small town just northeast of here if the map is accurate, we will get you something to eat and go from there.” This time Stitches said this with complete confidence.

“That’s brilliant I’m glad my imagination let you show up; otherwise, I might be doomed,” Thomas said while beginning to look around.

“Uhh yes, true…” Stitches said quietly with guilt. “Just hurry up and look.” Stitches demanded.

After much time more than it should have taken because of a child getting distracted in a sorcerer's home and being scolded to pay attention, they finally found a satchel Thomas could carry and just the right size blanket and pillow to stuff into it, having it bulge. and be overloaded. As they stepped outside, the sorcerer realized he hadn’t been outside his home since he had died. With a lump in his throat, he stepped outside. Realizing he would be depending on Thomas just as much as Thomas would on him.

After several hours of trudging through the bog, the two felt solid ground walking into a clearing in the plains. As the moon rose and dusk fell, the two set up camp. Stitches lit a small fire with magic that glowed a light red and orange mana. Leaving wonder in the hungry boy.

“I’m so hungry,” Thomas whined.

“ I am aware. Painfully aware for the past several kilometers. Now go to sleep, and in the morning, we will continue and find you food.” Stitches said with a somewhat harsh tone.

“ I can’t sleep. Oh! I know. Tell me a story.” Thomas said, rolling over and looking at Stitches with pleading eyes.

“Will you promise to go to sleep if I tell you a story?” Stitches asked.

“Yes! I promise.” Thomas said, waiting in anticipation.

(Sigh) “Very well, here we go. Long ago, monsters roamed everywhere. And no kingdoms existed humans lived in fear and terror day to day. Until one night, the moon spoke to the humans in the most beautiful voice that any ever heard. The moon said it felt the human's pain and wished to give a gift that must never be missed used. That gift was magic, most notably the use of mana itself. It turned warriors into heroes. Heroes into kings. And made sorcerers who took the moon's words very much to heart. So much so that the more knowledge and power a sorcerer gained, the more closed off they became from others. Believing that the powerful sorcerers were hoarding the moon's power, the kings and people began to become angry at the sorcerers. leaving them but little choice but to hide themselves away. Not wanting to be used as weapons and always taking the moon’s words to heart. The sorcerers who did not gain power and shared the little knowledge that they had were beloved by the people but felt the pain for those they respected. And that’s the end.” Stitches said with sadness in his voice.

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(Sniff) At the end of the tail, Thomas began wiping tears from his eyes. “That’s so sad they didn’t do anything wrong..” Thomas said through tears.

“I agree, but that is how humans have magic,” Stitches said while fondly gazing at the moon.

“Aren’t bedtime stories supposed to be happy?” Thomas asked, wiping away the last of his tears.

“Not all some teach you very important things. This one taught you where magic comes from to always be careful of others and that as long as you hold true, the moon will always love you.” Stitches said with a tender tone.

“I see… goodnight, Stitches,” Thomas said as he rolled on his back, gazing at the moon.

“Goodnight, Thomas.” Stitches said calmly, drifting into his own thoughts.

That night Thomas dreamed of the moon and it giving him magic. His adventures were spectacular. The ranged from becoming a hero to saving the world, and his imagination soared. The sorcerer's night was not so magical as the story brought back things he meant to forget. Things he thought he didn’t need. But how could he tell a child to learn from his story. His actual story. Pondering his thoughts made him question his being a made him wonder. Was the child finding his home an accident? Any intruders before either fell in from above from poor upkeep caused by the tree or a close to mindless animal wandering in. But Thomas he came through the door. A door with wards now he hadn’t checked those wards in a while nor on the way out. The questions kept piling up. Until he cleared his mind and remembered none of this matters. After all, he promised to get Thomas home safely; any other mysteries would reveal themselves or not.

As the dawn of the next morning broke with the scent of fresh dew and crisp grass, another perk of a body the sorcerer found, he also found that Thomas was not a light sleeper. And being in a tiny doll was futile to use force to wake the slumbering giant well, giant to him anyways. But that’s where magic can be useful. Surrounding himself in almost clear mana, he began to speak in a thunderous voice.

“Thomas, wake up! I’m tired of this game,” Stitches boomed.

“Ah … What’s happening?” Thomas yelled as he jumped out of covers.

“What’s happening is I will wake you every morning on the morrow and the morrow after that till you learn to get up.” Stitches boomed again, releasing his mana.

“That’s not fair and not very nice,” Thomas complained.

“ I am here to protect you and get you home, not coddle you at let you starve in your sleep.” Stitches replied.

Thomas went to complain, but his stomach did for him, reminding him that his home with his fresh breakfast was far, far away. Noticing the drool forming on the boy's lip from whatever he was thinking about, Stitches made him pack up and start walking.

After a few kilometers and a lot of “Are we there, yets” they saw it a town it wasn’t much a simple farm hamlet, but that meant food. Having to stop Thomas from running in Stitches had now to come up with a new plan.

“Why do we need a plan?” Thomas asked

“How many children do you know with a talking doll Thomas?” Stitches asked, really wondering.

“Oh! Yeah, that might be a problem.” Thomas said with a sigh.

“Drat! There goes my plan of noble kids having golems.” At this, Thomas just looked at Stitches confused but said nothing. “Okay, we will try this.” Without warning, Stitches picked up a smooth pebble and channeled a small bit of pure white mana into it.” Now put this in your pocket.” Stitches said, holding out the stone.

Wanting to know what it did but just going along with it, Thomas put the stone in his pocket. “Now what. Thomas asked, looking confused.

“Now, can you hear me” Stitches thought to Thomas

With a yelp, Thomas fell backward, startled. “Your voice is in my head how and why?” An even more confused, Thomas asked.

“Silly boy, it was the stone no need to get jumpy. As for why I can’t be seen talking or telling you what to do in towns or in public for that manner. When we are alone, fine. If a child is just having a one-sided conversation with a doll, that’s fine children are silly that way. My plan is brilliant if I do say so myself.” Stitches thought to Thomas, rather proud of himself.

“Hey, what do you mean by silly?” Thomas asked as he thought he was being made fun of.

“Not important right now, as we can now go into town and feed you.” Stitches thought, steering the conversation away tactically.

Filled with joy and adventure but not food Thomas picked up Stitches and made his way to town.