THE HEALER

Edited by: Magical Maeve

Prologue

(1464 A.D.)

I had always loved this city of gorgeous, glittering palaces; their windows open to the constant breezes of the Adriatic. The great port city of Venice with its dark and winding green canals was possibly the greatest city in the whole of Europe. I had always enjoyed my visits to this city, not only because of the sites but also the company.

Our carriage rolled to a complete halt. In front of us was a wrought-iron gate, which reflected the grandeur of this era. Lifelike sculptures of two unicorns on their hind legs stood on each end of the granite columns. Although beautiful, I knew for a fact that he chose these specific materials for reasons beyond their beauty. I smiled for he had taken my advice after all; he had wanted to use silver and marble. I had told him that iron and granite were natural magical wards. To a small degree they can negate magical attacks. The owner of these grand gates was a painter, one who was never at the mercy of his patrons. He was not a working artist who took commissions, but an eccentric gentleman who chose to paint for his own pleasure.

"Perenelle, I still don't see why you want to do this. We will live forever so we won't be needing one. I will admit Nathaniel is an excellent painter, the best I've ever encountered, but..."

Perenelle entwined her hands in my own. "The future, dear Nicolas is never sure. I would have thought you liked visiting young Nathaniel as much as I do. You two talk for hours on end each time we visit."

"I do enjoy the young man's company. I could never tire of hearing about his theories and inventions just as you never tire from discussing and admiring his paintings." I opened the carriage door to help my wife out. "Although if you truly want to be certain of the future you can ask Nathaniel, I hear he's also a very powerful seer."

The wrought iron gates were opened by unseen hands and the stone pathway was illuminated by silver torches. I raised my eyebrow fondly at my wife. "And you said we ought to send an owl first because he won't be expecting us."

I held back my laughter as Perenelle scowled and crossed her arms. "A seer cannot always tell the immediate future. We just got lucky."

The front door opened as we approached; once again I admired how Nathaniel's house elves maintained their silence and hid their presence from all visitors. The palazzo was filled with magical paintings of all shapes and sizes while the stars twinkled on the painted sky above us. I smiled as a familiar young man in blue velvet greeted us from the end of the hallway. I guided my wife across, for she was far too busy admiring the painting of the night sky above us.

"Nicolas, Perenelle it is always a pleasure. Although I would have expected you to use the back entrance."

"I did indeed want to use the back door, but Perenelle insisted that we enter through the front gates. My dear wife believed that since we're coming unannounced, we best make a traditional entrance." I reached out to shake his hand. "Had a vision to warn you of our coming, Nathaniel?"

"Hardly, given the three 'Flamel Sightings' in Florence yesterday, I supposed you would arrive at about this time. After all, I still owe Perenelle a guided tour." He gestured for us to enter his studio and offer my wife his arm. I followed Perenelle inside and took a seat on one of the Roman style couches.

"Tea?" he asked, as cups magically appeared out of thin air. Again I admired the skills of his house elves.

Perenelle smiled, "Fruit tea." She had always loved the fruit teas served in Nathaniel's household. I likewise requested my usual Earl Gray.

The young man across from us waited patiently, but his eyes betrayed his anticipation.

I decided to start off with small talk. "So, how are things with Bianca?"

Gray eyes turned stone-cold as he answered. "She married my brother two months ago."

I could scarcely believe it. He was in love with the girl and from all indications she returned his affections. I could hardly find the right words to express my disbelief. Beside me Perenelle was equally shocked.

"I went on one of my long trips, when I returned she was pregnant with his child. I did not want to hear her explanations; I ordered him to marry her; they are now the proud parents of a healthy baby boy," he sighed. "It is all for the best, this will make what I have to do so much easier... I cannot make her happy, for I am not destined for a long and peaceful life."

I looked closely at the man. He was still the young man whose company I enjoyed, the one who was like a son to me; but somehow, all that he's been through has taken its toll. He was still Nathaniel, but he was colder. I could feel the trace of bitterness about him. Despite all this, however, I saw that he's the same Nathaniel with whom I share this innate love for learning and discovery; the same young man who share Perenelle's love for art and nature. Someone whose innate light shone despite of it all.

"I do not know what you meant by that, but my offer to share with you the 'Elixir of Life' would always be open."

He shook his head sadly. "Your elixir will only ensure that one does not die of old age. I am destined to meet a violent death."

I stared at him in shock.

He gave me a lopsided smile. "The problem in seeing the future is knowing what is to come and accepting that you are powerless to stop it. You and Perenelle on the other hand will live a full life. It will end when you choose it to."

Perenelle looked stricken; I offered her my arm for comfort. I looked straight at Nathaniel's eye and reprimanded him, "Why is it that such a learned gentleman as yourself, never learned the virtue of using a bit of tact."

"Because the Head of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black can get away with the lack of it," he drawled and leaned back on the couch. "So, enough with the small talk. Why did the two of you travel all this way to Venice? The last I heard you were both on your way to Dresden. Although I appreciate the visit, it is a bit out of the way."

Perenelle smiled. "We wished to ask that you paint a portrait of us, a magical portrait. We decided that, should the time come when we would need one, we would prefer a portrait painted by Nathaniel Black."

"It would be my pleasure, dear friends."

I noticed an old staff displayed on a pedestal that had not been there on my last visit. That single wooden staff seemed out of place in this room full of rich marble and velvet decor. "If I may ask, dear friend, what is the reason for placing that odd piece on wood in such a revered position?"

Nathaniel crossed the room and picked up the staff lovingly. "This was the staff of Asclepius."

"The Greek god of Healing, surely you jest..." Perenelle voiced her doubts, and I was inclined to support this doubt.

He drew himself up and took a bow:

"I have the gift of sight,
doors to the past and future,
all part of my birth right.

The future, I find no allure...
Fear of action it tends to bring.
In it one cannot be truly sure.

Within the past I find great strength.
Of the tales long forgotten and buried.
Knowledge and learning, to me sent."

I rolled my eyes. "Nathaniel, your vague eloquence might work to convince the parlour crowd, but surely you don't expect Perenelle and I to fall for that. I, for one, prefer real answers over vague poetry."

He laughed and shook his head. "I had to try." He handed the staff to me and I inspected it. "That staff was a medium for me to see Asclepius' life. It was an early version of a wand"

I frowned and looked upon it closer. "It has no core. How can it be a wand?"

"We all have innate magic within us, all living beings do. Ancient wizards use creatures such as cats and snakes to channel their powers. As we all know, Asclepius carried his snake familiar on that staff."

Suddenly the staff became extremely interesting. I admired how the gnarled wood had withstood the test of time.

"Why the interest in Asclepius?" Perenelle asked.

"Before Asclepius ancient wizards are usually only seers and conjurers. He was the first of the healers, as well as Aris' father and teacher."

This had unexpectedly become all the more interesting. "Your ancestor? The one with whom you can communicate through that ancient slab of stone?" I looked around the room, to the place to where he usually kept it and found the pedestal empty. "Nathaniel, the stone..."

"You need not worry, I'm working to reinvent that artifact, to make it more portable for all future generations of Blacks."

I shook my head. "You ought not to fool around with ancient magical artifacts such as that. You might..."

"There's no need to worry. I know what I'm doing."

I was about to argue, when Perenelle interrupted. "Asclepius seems so interesting. Do tell us more about him."

He smiled. "I can do better than that. I can show you. Incidentally, it's about time I give you that tour as promised. This way..."

I stood to follow him and wondered what he meant by 'showing us'.

He pulled open the curtains and revealed a magical painting that depicted a centaur pulling a woman out of a burning sacrificial pyre. Behind them was a mob, shock evident on their faces.

I wrinkled my nose for I could almost smell the burning flesh. The woman in the portrait screamed and writhed in pain. Perenelle turned away and shuddered and I placed my arms around her.

"I shall start from the beginning..." Nathaniel's voice was soft and clear; amazing that I can hear him so well over the screams that emanated from the portrait.

A/N: In many stories, magical beings like druids and fairies are said to be unable to touch wrought iron. Pure elements like silver and gold, they can accept. This is because; wrought iron is an adulterated or debased metal. I just thought this little detail would be familiar to Nicolas Flamel because he's an Alchemist.

I know the writing style here is very much different from Black Chronicle. I'd appreciate any feedback though - just want to know if anyone finds this interesting.