The Novice
Prologue: The Spell
The robe was flashy, azure and pristine. Hints of lightning splayed across its nighttime surface, arcing for one second, dissipating with even greater speed. They didn't concern the wearer of the robe, however. His attention was enraptured by something so beautiful, so unbelievable he'd long thought its existence to be a cruel myth propagated by laughing gods.
No more. The ancient wizard gazed at the eons old spellbook page with reverence bordering on awe, mystified at what his old eyes were pouring over. Fingers trembled while tracing the calligraphy, small runes of exquisite arrogance. Here it was.
The shear chance of it all astounded Karac.
The time-worn, dust-laden tome lay before the wizard only by accordance of one of his many whims. Its peeling, worn spine caught his eye the tenday previously at some small, insignificant window shop. The title clinched the purchase: 'On the Decorum of Immortality'. Karac remembered his silent chuckle at the heading, thinking the book some tactless rambling on why humans should be awarded everlasting life. Without even cracking it open he had tucked the thing beneath his arm. Some moronic essay, though, the book was not.
No reminder of Karac's ignorance of large areas of magic had ever been more poignant.
He felt again like some awe-filled apprentice gawking at the work of a Master, watching forces vastly beyond him play out in all their glory. This simple book, a hundred pages of wonder, forced the feeling upon him, and he accepted it graciously.
It was the work of a person whose thoughts must have been akin to a god, Karac mused. The spell was so elegant it rose off the dozens of pages it was etched upon to dance in the wizards eyes, teasing him, egging him on, making promises tantalizing enough to set his brain tingling. Promises and promises, all for him.
Just knowing of the spell reenergized him. His sagging skin gained an earthy tone it hadn't seen for decades, blue eyes sparkled brilliantly, weak fingers clenched into triumphant fists and a broad smile widened cracked lips. With a rush of breath his spindly legs propelled him up to stand, for what he did not know. But at least he stood for something.