Chapter 02
When he awoke the next time he was alone. And cold. And alone. He sat up slowly and winced anyway. What had happened? He didn't seem to remember a thing.. but he definitly felt horrible and wondered what caused this, beside his ribs giving him a hard time breathing. Each breath proved difficult.. Suddenly it came back to him with revenge.
Morgana. Veronica.
Balthazar...
The youth bit back a sob as he thought back and looked in the direction his fragmented memory remembered where his master and friend lay. It was too dark to see, so he extended an arm in that direction and felt again for the hand he'd found before he'd lost consciousness. Nothing.
Somewhere between irritation and confusion he tried again, crawled even a bit closer. Still nothing! Again wincing he conjured a small fireball and looked. Beside his irreparably damaged tesla coil there was nothing. Only one thing... it shimmered, laying hidden under the spool, covered in a small pile of dust, which dimly reflected the fire's shine. The young sorcerer slowly dragged himself closer, always on guard in case the thing would suddenly jump at him or something. As it turned out he'd found a golden necklace. One that looked exactly like the one that evil witch... no, Veronica had carried... just how many coincidences could ...?
"Are you finally awake?", a voice from somewhere to the right snapped his train of thoughts and made him turn around quickly enough to upset his aching side and make him once again wince and lowly curse in the same move. Then he realized he knew the voice. It spoke on in an annoyed tone, but betrayed both, pain and tiredness.
"Dave? You there?"
"Balthazar?!"
"Ah, you decided to join the conversation. Good."
For a second Dave wanted to lose his cool.
For the friction of a petasecond he wanted to jump over there and actually murder Balthazar for scaring him like that.
Or just scream at him until his eardrums came popping out.
Or play Alvin and the Chipmunks to him until that man went crazy. More than usual.
In fact, actually he wanted to rush over there right now to confirm he hadn't lost it himself, but his body didn't oblige that wish. Instead he pushed himself to his legs and staggered in the direction he'd heard the voice from. Again, he found his friend by smell. He'd become well enough in it that he'd have to fear for a new series of comments about being a better dog than an apprentice or something. His summoned fireball illuminated the way so he didn't run into Balthazar by accident, instead he sank to the ground next to him and, like his master, back leaned against the wall. What the apprentice couldn't copy was that awkward angle of his companion's legs though. It looked painful enough for Dave wanting to ask how the other had gotten that far in the first place, when he noticed the dark colored puppet in his grip, one hand pressing it to his chest, the other giving some support to the body by resting on the ground. The younger one wanted to ask... but the words simply didn't want to leave his mouth. For his lack of words, silence claimed the air once again.
".. she's gone..", Balthazar finally said.
Dave couldn't quite comprehent the words as it seemed, so Balthazar thought a moment, long enough to make his apprentice become impatient, as the elder felt the younger's warm hand on his own, slight pressure coming from it.
"You okay?", said youth asked, seemingly relieved for the nod he got.
"... yeah..."
It wasn't as if Dave didn't buy it. He just didn't believe that yeah. At all. As the other turned his head a little and looked at him, the sorcerer trainee nearly shrinked back from the emotions that washed over him in that moment. Fear was there, regret, a bit of pain, anger at some undefined person.. and pictures, blurry and dim. As Dave blinked though the spell broke and with it went all he felt just now. Even his master looked away with something like guilt showing on the tired face.
She is dead, you fool. Didn't survive being put into the Grimhold a second time because it's just not built to take a person more than once! He just told you, fool! - Dave's usually physics trained brain shouted those words at its owner, as the grim conclusion was made. The lump in his throat grew quite heavy as he digested the insight.
"Yes.. And I'd appreciate if you don't even think about it, Dave.. When you think it's the same as for anyone else to shout", Balthazar suddenly said beside him, giving him the please-listen-to-me-for-once look, effectively closing Dave's mouth. The apprentice cocked his head slightly, not unlike a puppy who tried to better understand it's master. Again with the dogs, Dave thought grimly and shoved the thought aside, fixing his posture and pushing himself up, earning a confused look by his master and seeing the outstretched hand of his apprentice waiting for his.
"Let's get you to a doctor.."
"Dave.."
"If you could heal yourself, you'd done so already, wouldn't you?"
"I'll take that as yes"
Balthazar sighed and took the offer of help, somehow made it to stand – though Dave suspected Balthazar to be experiencing a whole new level of pain while keeping it out of his face enough to be not breaking out in tears – and let himself be led to the stairs, where both of them slumped down, panting from even that small distance they'd covered.
The lab was pretty much messed up whereever you looked. Dave found it easier to see after they'd been down here for a while and he could see the damage to a half-way decent degree and didn't wish for more insight. This would be one hell of work to get it back right... Again, he looked at his master who rather laid than sat on the stairs, the Grimhold still clutched tightly and trying not to gasp for air, though his breathing was still far off normal and coming in sharp waves. There was no way the older sorcerer would be moving anywhere anytime soon.
"Don't worry about me, Dave", he said between two breaths, which nearly had the younger Merlinean laugh sarcastically, but knowing it didn't help the situation, he didn't. But it carried over anyway, judged by the next words his master said.
"Go and get the car... I'll meet you outside."
"Geez, you can't be serious, Balthazar!"
"You're old enough to drive, so yes, I am."
"That's not what I mean!"
"Dave, go. Now."
There was an emphasis behind his words now, making Dave gulp hard and nod.
"Alright alright, but don't move! I'll be back."
With that, he shakingly stood and rushed up the stairs, panting caught his breath there for a moment, jumped through the non-existant door and looked left and right, searching for the phantom, which was nowhere in sight. "Oh boy", he sighed and walked to the right. Nothing. Back to the entrance, further on, nothing. Turning at a corner and walking around it he mentally cursed. Where was the freaking vehicle?
After a while of hopelessly searching, the youth decided to go back, rounded the corner and was just finished compiling an explaination when he heard the horn of a car beside him, a dreadful noise to his aching head.
"We need to work on your instincts, Dave. Get in", Balthazar called from inside the car through the open window, scaring the hell out of Dave.
"Just.. what.. how.. why.. what..", he stuttered, trying to formulate a question on how the elder had gotten up the stairs in the first place, let alone drive the car with the obviously broken legs and ...!
"Come on now.", the amused sounding voice broke through the thick mists of Dave's confused thoughts, making him close in on the car, open the door, jump into the seat and close the door again, before he stared at his master, who just gave it a low chuckle.
"If I wouldn't know better I'd say it's your first day of being a sorcerer, Dave.."
"You could've told me you could do that!", Dave exclaimed, half joking, relieved, acting offended in a poor way and earning a half-amused smile of the other.
"Just a little levitation and teleport tricks, baby did the rest. Nothing special, Dave", the elder just said. As they drove by the lab though, the door was reconstruced like on its first day. Dave stared after the thing, then looked back at his master, who, much to the youths horror, was fast asleep behind the car wheel, leaned back into the seat. For a second Dave wanted to panic and wake him, then he noticed just how smooth the phantom rolled on by itself. Forcing himself to relax the youth leaned back as well, trusting the vehicle to bring them where-ever.
The goal turned out to be the closest clinic. Dave whistled in admiration at the car's navigation skills, looking up at the high, white walls of the Bellevue Hospital Center. The youth cast a quick glance to his still sleeping master – by the looks of it though, the elder was more unconscious than sleeping -, before he climbed out of the phantom and ran to the reception to get help.
Of course he didn't make it to the next day's lesson at NYU.
It was his girlfriend Becky who seemingly tried to crash his door bell button and his sense of hearing just with it! When he rolled over, he found himself not only in his own appartment and bed, but also staring at the alarm clock which told him it was like 2 PM which made him groan into the pillows before the youth, sore everywhere, got out of bed, took a shirt and fresh jeans, then went to open the door.
As he did, he found Becky half between fury and half flowing apart.
"Why didn't answer your phone?!", she shrieked at him, leaving a bad feeping sound in his left ear. He still looked trashed and he knew it, so did his girlfriend who forced herself to calm down and then looked over his battered form.
"Rough night?", she asked, he nodded, not even wanting to think about it..
"Do you.. want to come in...?", Dave asked, feeling awkward about talking on the doorstep where everyone – who hadn't already done so - could hear them.
They entered the kitchen and Dave offered Becky a drink while she first sat on the table, then started cramping in her backpack, fishing out some papers and placing them on a neat heap on the table. Homework and notices probably, quite a lot of them. Dave really appreciated it, telling her he didn't feel like working would've been like a slap to the face too, so he just kept quiet and joined the girl, drinking fresh coke from the can.
When Becky stopped, the heap had enough paperwork to pose serious rivalry to the Encantus itself.
It was then he realized how often he'd slipped school in these past days.
"So...", Becky finally said, putting the backpack below the table and turned to Dave who flinched slightly at her sudden attention.
"So, what?", he asked.
"What did I miss?", she helped him, trying not to get annoyed by the clueless look that entered his eyes. "I see that the-world-is-gonna-be-screwed-and-i-had-to-fight-it look on your face.."
"Close enough", the male student half-heartedly smiled and tried to put it into words that wouldn't scare the wind out of Becky. Not that he didn't trust her, she'd helped a big deal last month. In fact, they'd all been goners if the girl hadn't disturbed Morgana's spell by tilting that one satellite dish which had taken quite a lot of courage for the heights fearing girl. She was dependable, maybe she could stand the truth. Maybe not. He was willing to try.
"Morgana came back."
For ten long seconds, she didn't utter a word about this. When Dave was sure she wouldn't reply at all, she found her voice again.
"You're not serious, are you?"
"I am..."
"After all this work..", she said in a kinda sad tone, as if she'd just lost her favorite Beatles-record, staring at her hands and the table plate. She sighed, silence reigned for a minute or two, then she turned to him again, somehow more resolute than before.
"So it was all for nothing? Your efforts? Our efforts? Me climbing up on that roof-top to prevent something I didn't even see?"
"N-not all of course, Balthazar managed to capture her again..."
"I see... good for the world", Becky said, her voice full of sarcasm, sounding tired all of a sudden which made Dave avoid her eyes by a side-glance to the by now empty coke can. He only returned his gaze back to her when she suddenly stood and went to leave.
"Becky, wait!"
"Rebecca", she said, pronouncing it with force. "There's no more Becky."
She was sour now and Dave knew it. Bitter maybe too. And with right. The whole thing was indeed quite frustrating in itself so he couldn't blame her for being angry. He followed her to the door, keeping a save distance though as she seemed agitated enough without him pushing her.
"Nor is there an us anymore. I'm sick of this. I just want a normal life you see!", Rebecca continued, opening the door in front of her while speaking, turning around a last time then, staring at Dave with a hurt glare. "See you tomorrow." With that, she was gone.
She had taken the news not very well.
Later that day he received a call from the hospital.
He was sitting on the kitchen table, gently feeling sorry for himself, loathing his life and griefing for his lost love, which he'd pursued for years and lost within the span of two weeks, when the sudden RING-RING of the telephone made him nearly jump out of his skin.
But contrary to his hopes it wasn't Becky who called, but the hospital. About his uncle who had no health insurance – Dave frowned at that and decided he'd have a word with Balthazar about that – and, as he seemed to be the only relative, if he would pay. Emergency care had been done, as the woman on the other side of the cable claimed, but as he hadn't woken up yet, they were forced to use life-support. Dave confirmed, grinding his teeth, relieving the woman audible.
"Thank goodness.. You don't know how often we're forced to pull the plug these days.."
This somewhat shocked Dave. In fact, he wondered just what kind of people he'd delivered his pal and master to and suddenly he wasn't so surprised anymore as to why the elder avoided hospitals like the plague. Quite a creepy place... had it always been like that?
When the youth hung up the phone, he felt the intense need for an aspirin. Maybe two. Screw it, he thought and took three. He knew of its bad side-effects, but his headache hadn't lessened since he woke. He partly blamed Becky for it, for ticking and just leaving.
Otherwise.. could he really blame her?
After all what she'd done for him?
Without asking for anything in return?
And now in vain?
Probably not. It was his fault for involving her into this. But was it..? Confusion was taking over. From stress, from pain, besides, he already felt the numbing effects of the pain-killers clouding his mind. A little sleep would problaby do wonders against his headache. So he crossed his arms over the kitchen table, yawning, bedded his head on them and was asleep within seconds.
The youth had deemed himself asleep, yet he found himself at a place he knew. The pent-house of the deceased Drake Stone, who'd left his life by the hands of Hovarth when that one had used the parasite spell on him. Dave knew that the house was empty now, so what was he doing here, standing on its veranda, looking down on New York City like it was the most normal thing on earth?
"So you came. Good."
The youth turned around to find his friend and master stand behind him, yet a few meters of distance, as he leaned against the building's wall, obviously unscathed which in turn made Dave wonder if he was awake after all. Dreams could be pretty realistic if you took medicine... But dreaming of Balthazar was something he took as serious side-effects. He decided to go with it and look where the dream would go. The picture of the other seemed sad somehow, reasonable, as Dave could remember him being quite down last time he'd seen him.
"You've grown to become a worthy heir to Merlin, Dave"
Okay, where was that coming from out of the blue? Was his sub-conscious trying to help build his confidence now? Great, he never deemed himself miserable. Now he did. The other nodded, as if Dave had talked, further adding to his uncormfortablity. When he spoke again, Dave wished the figure would just stop talking.
"I'd like to make one last request to you."
This was plain unsettling and Dave really wished to wake up. Now. But that wasn't going to happen, he just knew it by instinct. He waited for Balthazar's image to continue.
"When you awake, the hospital will call you. They will tell you I'm dead."
Dave wanted to protest now, nobody died of broken legs! Not anymore at least! But when he tried to speak, his voice was silent, even as he moved his mouth. This was turning into a freaking nightmare now.
"You need to let go. When I'm gone, you'll be your own master. You'll be able to destroy the Grimhold for good and get rid of Morgana once and for all..." With that, the dream image took off the ring of it's right point finger and offered it to Dave. But that one shook his head in disbelieve. This wasn't about apprenticeships or being free of seemingly annoying and torturing training sessions. This wasn't about letting go. If he was to lose his friend, he'd storm over and...
"Dave!", the voice roared, making him jump and look away like a child that'd been found to steal cookies from a jar. "You will take the Grimhold and destroy it. Use my ring to enhance your powers. Morgana won't survive this..."
Dave felt desperation and realization boil up. Did the elder want to join his love? Was that it? Why was Dave even considering this, it was a freaking nightmare, but a dream nonetheless, wasn't it?
"No, Dave. It's not. I'm bidding you farewell here", with that, Balthazar put back on his ring – given it had been denied from his apprentice - then pushed from the wall and turned to walk into the penthouse.
"Wait!", Dave's voice finally worked again, as he stretched out his hand after him.
With that, the sudden ring of the telephone shook Dave up, ripping the dream's folds like a cloth of linen. For a second the youth was consternated and confused, then shock settled in. Hesitating he took the phone and answered it.
"Hello?"
"Mr. Stutler, we are sorry to tell you that Mr. Blake has passed. My sincerest condolences", the voice on the other side of the line said. The youth heard a crack, indicating the phone hearer he'd just dropped in shock had sustained serious damage now. It got him from his stupor though, made him jump up and out of the door.
Jumping into the car he didn't drive; he flew. In fact, the car seemed to do all the racing action by its own volution while Dave just held onto the steering wheel. They reached the hospital in less than ten minutes. As he nearly fell out of the Phantom, he merely took the time to close the drivers door before storming off into the building, not caring if he looked like a madman right now. He didn't even stop to answer the watchman at the entry, just ran straight on, following a hint of magic he felt. It didn't occur to him that he was aware of the feeling, nor did he care about the, probably important, learning progress right now, pressing on, skipping waiting for the elevator by using the stairs.
When Dave reached the correct feeling floor, he was gasping for air. A passing-by nurse regarded him with sceptism, actually wanting to scold him for running here. When she noticed the fighting spirit in the youth's eyes though she decided otherwise and went on. Better not mess with the insane, that one probably had broken free of the psychic ward and someone else would take care of it later.
As it turned out, so she found, he didn't need help either. When he stopped panting he'd stormed off again, obviously knowing – or maybe not, she didn't care – where he was going. When she saw him stop in front of a patient's room though she called for security. Couldn't have a madman kill the patients, right?
Dave finally stopped for good, looking at the door of the room he had left Balthazar in last night. Room 776, ironically. Building a barrier shield around to each side of the floor – out of a reflex to prevent intervention of third-partys – he slowly pushed against the slightly open door, entering the room, just to feel his heart sink.
There he laid. The one who Dave had learned to know and love – in a fatherly way - in a shorter time than anyone had managed him to do. A doctor standing beside the bed, looking gloom when he saw the youth come in. Sadly he shook his head, indicating the worst. The devices had been put off, probably to nullify the beeping noice of the cardiac monitor. Balthazar laid there, as if sleeping, but Dave knew better. He swallowed hard as he came closer, stood beside the bed and looked down on the old man. He didn't even notice the doctor leaving.
\\ So you came.. \\, Balthazars voice said in Dave's head, making him barely wince this time.
He wasn't about to let his distress show.
\\ Yes \\, he replied, mentally in that matter.
\\ Good.. Take the Grimhold from my locker... \\
\\ No. \\
\\ No? What do you mean, no? \\ The voice sounded somewhat amused.
\\ No. I won't take it. \\
\\ You're denying a dead man a last wish? \\ This sarcasm...
\\ Do it yourself! \\
\\ Come again? \\
\\ I said, come back and protect it yourself! \\
\\ Dave... \\
\\ No! Now you listen to me for a change.\\ He was angry now and knew he was overreacting. But the apprentice couldn't think straight. Desperation settled in and made him blubber out everything coming to his mind. \\ You're still needed here! I'm no Prime Merlinean! Not yet anyway! You can't just leave me you know! I might accidently release Morgana! Besides, Veronica wouldn't want you over there! Not if it means you sacrifice yourself! \\
He didn't feel him anymore now. What Dave felt though was the plasma bolt charging in his hands. If Balthazar wanted to play this game, he'd get it... When the elder finally spoke on, Dave felt his heart skip a beat and his whole body flinched from tension. Instantly the energy left his hands and returned to its natural, peaceful state, leaving a tingling feeling in his fingers, like pins and needles.
\\ You won't even let me die in peace? \\, the other voice asked, sounding defeated.
\\ No! \\, Dave was resolute now.
\\ Too bad.. \\
With that, the dreamlike state dissolved and Dave opened his eyes, confused looking around. It was then he noticed the doctor missing and the heated discussion outside the room. Probably they were wondering where the invisible wall came from...
He looked back at Balthazar who didn't look like anything had changed. But if you looked close enough you could see the flat rising and falling of his chest and a slightly relieved expression in his face. That made Dave wonder if he'd been dead to begin with or just messing with him...
As he left the room, a group of people stood around it. Some irritated, other with pity in their eyes, the doctor pretty outright angry at the wall. When Dave passed them though the barrier gave away and those who had pressed against it fell over like bowling pins.
Dave didn't care. At all. All he wanted now was ...
... a cup of tea, ...
... his bed ...
... and a good week of sleep.
Of course he was denied this. He slept in late, again missing school but he couldn't care less. He felt just and simply awful. The aspirin had stopped working and now he had the hang-over of the year. In fact, he might've been to a disco instead and could've returned home drunk with all the amnesia action involved. Instead, he felt sick to the core. His headache had returned with interest and made him despise the idea of ever getting up again. To make things worse, he was hungry. And sick. In conclusion, if he'd solve one problem, he'd have another. But as it was sleep kept avoiding him. So he stood up and dragged himself to the kitchen.
First thing he noticed was the New York Times, sprawled out on the table, no specific page at first glance. So Dave ignored it for now, turning to the fridge, taking out a coke and opening it with a whizz, feeling its cool, prickly liquid flowing down his throat and then stared to nowhere in particular, collecting his senses and getting awake for real now. He really tried.
When he was feeling more like himself, he turned his attention back to the newspapers. His roommate must've placed it there, even if it was quite unusual for him to actually buy this stuff... Bennett even marked something with red there.. was he supposed to see anything special..?
Squinting at the article's title, Dave felt his mouth fall open on it's own accord.
He started reading..
BIBLE COMING TRUE! RESURRECTION OF A CLINICAL DEAD MAN IN THE BELEVUE HOSPITAL, NY
Yesterday night a miracle happened in Belevue Hospital, New York, Manhatten.
Earlier this day, a man in his late thirties was delivered in by an unknown person, both legs shattered beyond repair, completely unresponsive. EKG checks found irregular heart-beat. Later that night, the man died of heart-failure, the only relative was informed.
The actual miracle happened in the early morning hours. The man, who'd been declared dead and frozen for autopsy by then, came back to life and left the morgue, releasing himself on his own responsibility. He left the hospital half an hour later, walking on the originally destroyed legs, and was never to be seen again.
Will we ever stop wondering about the miracles of life? Maybe there's more to the bible than we ever dreamed for. Will other dead return soon, too? Nobody can say...
"Made it into the New York Times.. Nice.", someone said behind Dave, scaring him enough to throw up his arms as he jumped up in shock and turned around in a whirl. Nobody else than the mentioned man stood behind him, looking at Dave first impassively, then with a smirk.
"Balthazar!", realization finally sank in, then the youth felt anger rising. "Do you have to pull a show each freaking time? What happened to 'Keeping the non-magic folk clueless'?"
"Nothing. I just didn't feel like staying there. Too cold."
"And what about 'Healing yourself is a no-no'?"
"Not sure where you got it... but I'm a pretty decent healer actually."
Dave wasn't sure to say about that. His shoulders slumped and he gave it a sigh. It was too early for this... A side-glance to the wall clock told him otherwise though. Five past one in the afternoon. This kept getting better and better. Another sigh, then he looked at his master again. That one had used the time to lean against the fridge and watched his apprentice half sceptic, half bored.
"Now. Tell me, why you just had to drag me back."
This simple order snapped Dave's train of thought and he glanced away. "Did you really want to die?", he asked instead of answering, trying to reestablish eye-contact, and hold it. He failed and looked away once again.
"If you need to know this, yes, I want to leave the world after thirteen times a sorcerer's and sixteen times of a normal human's lifespan. And I still think you'd be able to fend for yourself. You are no ordinary sorcerer, Dave, you are the Pr-..."
"Prime Merlinean, I know, damn! But I'm human too! I don't like to lose my friends."
"Nobody does, Dave. But master and apprentice can't stay together forever you know."
"Not even half a year isn't 'forever'!"
"So what? Do you think there's anything I can teach you what doesn't involve you reading the Encantus? All you've got left is studying. And you wouldn't need me for it."
"Do you think it's all about training and sorcery for me?"
"It should be, yes."
"Well, big news, we're friends! And I'm not about to leave a depressed friend to his fate."
With that, silence made it's big return in a glorious speechless way. Dave now openly stared at Balthazar, who in turn looked thoughtful into the distance. A few seconds later he turned his attention at the still glaring apprentice again, who remained silent, probably waiting.
"While we're talking about depression", he started to walk around in the kitchen, like a caged tiger, focussing on Dave, who felt like a lamb put into the same deadly prison.
"What's with Becky, erm, Rebecca?"
That truly shook the youth and he, again, averted his gaze, finding interest in the floor all of a sudden. The fact that the older one had corrected the name so suddenly must have meant that he knew. Lying would be in vain. So Dave tried something totally new; he told the truth.
"Nothing"
"You're still a bad liar, Dave. So she ran off after hearing what happened."
"Yeah..."
"Do you still love her?"
A silent nod.
"I see. If I help you to get her back, will you let me go then?"
Now Dave really stared at him. He wasn't serious, was he?
"What's so bad about staying alive?"
"Nothing. Beside the fact that I've outstayed my welcome on this god-forsaken planet. While you can go and fix your little fight with the girl you love, mine waits in front of the afterlife's gates."
"Can't we get her..?"
"Back? No, I'm afraid without a body it wouldn't work out. And as we are no Morganians we won't go and take an innocent girl's body just to revive a soul who'd probably be quite happy to leave the world she wasn't used to anyway."
He did know how much it'd hurt Veronica to hear him say this, but essentially he was right. She hadn't been happy in the new world and if they could spend eternity together in Garden Eden it'd be a blessing. If Dave just understood!
"Besides. You didn't answer my question. I can help you to get Becky back, don't worry about that. All I ask is for you to look away when I pass over. Deal?"
"... so you basically ask me to choose between you and Becky? Is that right?"
"No. I ask you to let me find my rest as I'm damn sick of this world."
"You really want to die?"
"Deal?"
"Like, really really?"
"Dave. Stop this nonsense."
The youth swallowed hard, looked away uncertainly, sighed, glanced again at his master who offered him a hand, still waiting for Dave's answer. It didn't take much to see the tired look in the older sorcerer's eyes. More than simply sleepy, more like exhausted of a whole life. One in extra-large on top of it.
"If you really can't stay with me...", Dave said, mustering all overcoming-powers, "..then deal..."
Even when he felt tears well up behind his eyes he took offered the hand.
"Wood is vulnerable against fire. What will happen, if we put enchanted wood into fire, Dave?"
"It... will burn?"
"No. But this will."
"ARGH! What'd you do that for?!"
"No reason."
Dave glared at Balthazar. They were in the subway turnaround again, with Dave standing in the renovated Merlin's Circle, Balthazar circling around it in slow, well chosen steps, watching his apprentice who rubbed his singed backside, which had been hit by a flame just seconds ago. Talking about punishment for stupid answers!
"Now. Let's try this again. What will happen, if we tried to burn the Grimhold?"
"It.. won't burn, right?"
"Yes. Go on."
"It might defend itself?"
"Damn right!"
"OWW! You're doing this on purpose!"
"Defend yourself, Hovarth would roast you instead."
"Give me a break!"
"Maybe later. So, if an enchanted object defends itself, what does that mean to the sorcerer who attacked it?"
"The spell might turn against the caster."
As Balthazar raised a hand, seemingly preparing another attack, Dave raised both of his and errected a barrier shield, a victorious smile on his lips. "Not this time, Balthazar!"
Wrong. A sadistic smile graced the other's lips.
Dave felt it between his legs before he realized his master had even moved to touch the ground. The same stone he usually walked over had formed a nice fist and buried itself into his crotch, throwing the youth off his legs and effectively breaking the barrier, making him squirm and writhe on the ground. "Very original, no, really!", he whined, biting his tongue in an effort of not starting to cry from pain.
"An enemy would've stabbed you."
"From that angle?"
"Yep."
"Gross!"
"Indeed. Now get up, we haven't got all day."
Dave obliged, even if he had serious doubts about being able to walk straight for a while. His master resumed on his circling way, like a tiger stalking his prey.
"So an enchanted object can't be destroyed by magic, except if the sorcerer is more powerful than the one who enchanted the object. How do we get rid of such an obstacle?"
"With raw brutality?"
"Exactly!", Balthazar's sudden turn to face Dave made the youth cringe on reflex. But this time, the attack didn't come. The elder sorcerer just went on around the circle, silently smiling about his successful attempt of scaring Dave. It just never got boring.
"Except there's nothing on this world which could break an enchanted object. It would survive two planets colliding with it between them. We need to remove the enchantment. So, what risk do we take if we do that?"
"Morgana could escape the Grimhold"
"And furthermore?"
"We couldn't catch her again.."
"Only if?"
"If we'd re-enchant the object!"
"Exactly! So. Let's see if you were paying attention. Tell me what we need to do."
"Remove the spell that's protecting the Grimhold."
"Yes. Go on."
"Run for our lives.." - ZAP went the next Plasma bolt - ".. burn it?"
"Better. Try to get it right first time. So the Grimhold has burned - what now?"
Dave stared blankly at Balthazar, who raised a brow. As the apprentice didn't look like he'd get any further, the master decided to help a little.
"What do we do with the ashes?"
For a moment, the apprentice seemed to think about it. Leaving it felt wrong. Any legitimate method that came to mind somehow seemed like a dangerous thing to do.
So there only was one way that shouldn't - probably - earn him another scorchmark.
"Spread it so nobody can restore the Grimhold and release Morgana?"
Balthazar nodded - much to Dave's relief. "Indeed. That's the plan. You've done well.", the master sorcerer said, raising a hand – Dave flinched again, prepared for anything that'd fly at him by this point -, his ring glowed for a moment, then the apprentice felt all pain vanish, even his ripped clothes had been repaired. Even though, the youth sunk to the ground, feeling tired and exhausted at the same time. His master summoned a chair and sat on that one, legs crossed. "The only problem is; how do we remove a millenia old enchantment? It was made to last for eternity by Merlin himself. The usual breakdown-spells won't work. If they did, Hovarth had cracked it long ago."
"What if we do it together?"
"Two never was a magical number. It'd have to be three, but that won't work out. Hovarth has no obligations to help us. Besides us, there are not many sorcerers left, giving us no alternatives."
Unspoken were the words 'if Veronica was still here' but Dave could see it in his companions eyes. An incredibly sad expression flickered there for a second before they became impassive again. A thought crossed Dave's mind, but he wisely decided not to ask what point it had been if he'd taken the ring if two wouldn't do in the first place.
Maybe it had been a weird dream after all. He made a mental note to avoid aspirin for the next few lifespans.
"But essentially you're right. We need help. I know someone who might be able to support us, but she lives deep in the russian woods"
"Quite a trip.."
"Indeed. Go home and pack your suitcase, training is done for today."
"Figured. Should I call you when I'm ready?"
"No. Just be ready in an hour."
"Aw man..!"
"Hurry Dave, time is running!"
So was Dave when he ended the sentence. The youth jumped up and stormed the stairs, gone out of sight within the minute. Balthazar smiled silently as he watched the younger one leave. If he'd even register he'd left his Encantus here? The master sorcerer raised, walked over to the table and folded the mighty book to a smaller version of it, putting it into his side pocket before slipping into the trenchcoat and starting to gather the few belongings of his.