The Mage's Tale
Chapter 3- The Summoner
"Woah! Cye!" Kento exclaimed as he stared in awe at the newly summoned beast. Sage looked up in shock and horror at the creature, as it towered over him. He watched in horror as a Tidal wave crashed towards them. He sealed his eyes shut and waited for the impact of the liquid, but it never came. Slowly he opened his eyes and looked up, staring at the suspended water inches away from his face. Cye had stopped it from hitting his friends. Either that, or Leviathan was doing it. But one way or another, Sage was safe. He was in a lot of pain, but other then that, still safe. Finally the water flowed away, taking the others with it, and Leviathan as well. Rowen glanced in confusion at the auburn boy, sweat beading down his face, anger leaving his face.
"Sage?" Rowen asked as he ran over to the other boy. Sage smiled faintly, still slightly winded. Rowen struggled to un-do the knots, managing to eventually succeed. Sage struggled to his feet, but failed, falling weakly against the archer.
"Are you ok?" Sage nodded, ignoring the fact that his shirt had yet to be re-buttoned. Rowen sat next to the blonde, who let his head fall to the side, landing limply on Rowen's shoulder.
"Sage, you aren't ok. And you have a huge bruise on your stomach. What happened?" Sage took a slow breath.
"Kayura…" He muttered as Rowen slid his arms under the thin boy. Gently he lifted Sage up, noting with interest that the blonde was extremely light.
"Cye, may I speak to you later, after we get Sage in bed and rested. And healed." Sage shook his head.
"I don't need to be healed."
"As the prince of Escaldia, I demand that you rest!" Sage sighed in defeat as Rowen carried him out of the academy.
~~~***~~~
"Cye?" Rowen asked quietly as he stepped into the odd accented boy's room.
"Yes?"
"You are the Summoner. You realize this don't you? Your father was the one that died to buy us time to my birth." Cye nodded, playing with the corner of the blanket resting on his bed. Rowen sat down next to the other boy.
"I need your help, you know this, don't you?" Cye nodded.
"But Rowen, I don't know how to summon things. It was an accident. I was mad that they would do that to you and Sage. But I don't know how! It was all an accident." Rowen shook his head.
"Cye, it wasn't a mistake. You are the chosen, and you may not realize it, but you knew exactly what you were doing."
"No I…." Rowen cut him off.
"Cye, I need your help. I can't save this world on my own. It's just you, the elementals, and me. We're the only ones who can save the world. And we will."
"But Rowen, what about the others? What if we fail, what if history is destined to repeat itself, and we will both die in our feeble efforts?" Rowen sighed.
"We wont let that happen. I can tell you right now that I am not going to let myself die. I plan to be with Sage if I can, and that isn't possible if I'm dead." Cye smiled faintly at the other's words.
"I told you that you loved him." Cye said with a grin.
"Hey! Now I don't know about love! I just like him." Cye laughed.
"You love him! Admit it!" Cye giggled as Rowen's face turned a lovely shade of crimson.
"And even if I do? You know that it wouldn't work out. A prince and an elf? It's obscene. Would and can never happen." Cye groaned.
"Please don't start on this. Denying your feelings is just going to lead to more problems and more pain. Just quit the charade while you're ahead."
"What charade?" Rowen began as he turned to look at the boy, who was gone.
"How did he…?" Rowen asked himself, sighing.
"what is he talking about? I am not pulling a charade. Am I?"
~~~***~~~
"My gosh Sage, you read a lot." His mother muttered as she carried a stack of 10 books up to her son's room.
"I heave good reasons!" he retorted, grabbing the top book off the pile that she presented.
"Oh!" He exclaimed as he glanced up at the black haired woman.
"Thank you mother. Your help is much appreciated." He bowed his head to her as she smiled.
"That's better." She smiled faintly and ruffled her son's golden hair. Not even his father had such a rarity. The appearance of gold hair in her bloodline was odd, but she loved it anyways.
"Now, don't strain yourself reading too much. I want you actually going to sleep in an hour, Ok? Whatever is so important can wait."
"But…" He began as his mother cut him off. He glanced up and smiled at the blue-haired boy standing in the doorway, an eerie smile on his face. One filled of sadness that made Sage's heart ache. A mother was exactly what Rowen was missing. Miss Date turned to the entrant and smiled cheerfully.
"Hello Mr. Rowen. I'm guessing you two have things to discuss, so I'll make myself scarce." She smiled again and made her way out of the room. Rowen watched her leave, then turned his attention to the bed's occupant, walking over to the swordsman.
"What are you doing with these books anyways?" Sage glanced away from what he had been reading.
"Well, I was reading up on the battles of the Black and White Mages before you." He sighed.
"The only problem is that I know Calerian, the language, but reading it is so much harder. It will take me forever to decipher these books."
"I'd help, but I only know what I speak." Sage nodded.
"I understand. I only know Calerian because it was what my father spoke. Though he only new my mother for a day, she is not only a sorceress, but she is a speaker of many different languages. But she can't read well." Rowen nodded.
"I could ask the others. They may know some." Sage nodded.
"I'll get
to work translating. You go ask." Rowen was about to leave the confinements of
the room, when Ryo flew in.
"Hide me!" Rowen glanced at
Sage who shrugged.
"I called master a… a… bastard! I don't know what it means, but I know it's a dirty word! And he got really mad and started chasing me!" Rowen winced. He doubted that Cye would have done anything more then scold the young demon, had his words not been true. Though was a person whose father died actually be considered a bastard? Sage was one, but his father had left the moment he was… umm… conceived.
"Well, Ryo, you do know that I am a bastard too." Sage pointed out as Ryo's eyes went wide. Sage nodded solemnly.
"Yep. A bastard is a person without a father. My father slept with my mother then left. I was the result." Ryo gasped. Then stopped to think.
"What do you mean by "slept with"? As in slept in the same bed or something?" Sage grinned.
"Never mind Ryo. It's not for little boys ears." Ryo began to pout.
"But I'm not little! I'm 15 years old!"
"And that would be how old where you're from?"
"Umm…" the boy thought for a moment.
"9." Sage laughed. No wonder Ryo didn't understand anything. Given Sage didn't really know the first thing about sex either, so he was not one to talk, but Rowen seemed to be enjoying the boy's talk.
"Well, Ryo, you can use the closet, though I am a little busy."
"Whatcha doing anyways?" Ryo asked in curiosity, flying effortlessly over to Sage. He glanced over the blonde's shoulder, eyes widening.
"Wow! This is Calerian and it's about the Black and White mage! Cool!" He yanked the book from Sage's hands and started reading out loud.
"During the War of the Black and White Mage, the world goes through a state of chaotic scenery, when the minions of the Black Mage, which are monsters formed from lesser beings, revive and attack. As the White Mage prepares for the final battle, the Summoner, if younger then the age of 30, must go to each of the four lands to gather articles used to bring the four elemental dragons to where Talpa is to be sealed away." Sage gasped.
"Ryo, I thought that you couldn't read!" Ryo looked at him oddly.
"What gave you that idea?" Sage rolled his eyes.
"The fact that you couldn't read the map." Sage pointed out as Ryo grinned.
"I can't read that! But Calerian is my real language! Its what all we demons know and were taught." He grinned at the shocked look on the boy's faces.
"Well, anyways, it says here that you have to go to the four lands to gather the elemental powers. You know the four main, umm, central kingdoms? Them. Umm… does anyone know who owns the land? I think we have to get permission or something." Rowen sighed.
"I know them all. There is my land, and then there is Quatre's. He is a prince that is so utterly devoted to his people that it is insane. He is also not one of your typical princes. He is supposed to wed a dame, as am I, and produce children to carry on his bloodline, but he is not, umm… strait. And I am not speaking that this other man is a mistress. Lord Trowa. They own the land of "Wisteria". It's named after flower, and please, don't ask. He will allow us to get what we need. He is a good man, as is Trowa. But it is the others I worry about." Sage glanced at him in confusion.
"What is so bad about the others?"
"Well, they aren't the best people in the world." Rowen said softly.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Their antics are ones best served cold. They have dames to which they are to be wed, but they enjoy their nights out and good times. Real good times." Sage still didn't truly understand, but he decided to end their conversation.
"Will they let you enter their kingdoms?" He asked as Rowen shook his head.
"Well, My 16th is coming up, which is basically an entrance to meeting them. When a prince turns 16, a party is held in his honor, and he is to bring, a… umm… err… Guest." Sage shrugged.
"What is so wrong with a guest? I think that going to a party would be fun." Rowen laughed nervously.
" It's not the kind of party that you are thinking of. And the guest that I bring is not supposed to be your normal guest. They become the entertainment. Amusement to the other's to tell you the truth. Cruel to the guest. That is the problem. I don't have anyone to bring."
"I'll come." Sage volunteered as Rowen shook his head rapidly.
"No! I mean, you wouldn't know what to do." He didn't want Sage anywhere near these people. They were rude, power hungry, sex in crazed people. He didn't even want to go near them, but he would do what he must.
"I don't get it. You need a guest, don't you? And they're rude to the guest. But I'm used to being teased and insulted. So why is it that you don't want me coming?" Rowen sighed.
"Because I don't want them to hurt you." He said softly, as Sage glanced at the archer sitting next to him.
"Rowen, I don't get where you're coming from. I mean, Sage wants to go, and you need someone to go, so why can't he?" Ryo asked innocently.
"You wouldn't understand. Sage and I would have to, umm, be together." Sage nodded in understanding.
"I get it. You don't want to be seen with me. Why couldn't you just say it instead of making up all these excuses?" Rowen shook his head rapidly.
"No! Sage! That's not it! I just don't want them to hurt you in any way. I would love to go with you. It would be so much fun, but I don't want anything to happen to you."
"And if you can't find anyone to go with you?" Sage asked with a sly glint in his eye.
"Well, hopefully I will. By the way, while I'm doing this, I want you guys to go to Wisteria, ok? Ryo, you keep reading and find out what it is that you need from there. Sage, you go to sleep. You'll need it. I think I'll take you after all, if that is what you really want." Sage nodded in response.
"I'll go tell Cye and Kento about what we're doing, ok?" The elf and demon nodded as the prince rose to his feet.
"Goodnight to you both." He said with a slight bow, as he made his exit.
~~~***~~~
As the sun broke trough the mountaintops that surrounded Helkta, the five young warriors awoke. Sage groaned as the light streamed into the room. He had an odd fondness to light, and a thing against darkness. But at the moment all he wanted was for the light to go away so that he could go back to sleep. He and Ryo had fallen asleep hours later, and the demon was curled snuggly up to the elf. Ryo was extremely warm, and Sage and lost any urge to move from his comfortable position. He finally moved, though he regretted doing so, when the door to the room slid open, and Rowen peered in.
"We fell asleep looking for more about the battle." Sage left his arm slung around the ethereal boy, as he let his eyes met Rowen's.
"He's so young." Sage muttered, ruffling Ryo's silken ebony hair as a mother would. Rowen couldn't help but envy the small boy, but pushed the thought aside.
"Did you two find anything?" Sage nodded slowly.
"Ryo would read it to me and I would translate anything we needed. He reads fast. Here are the notes that I took." Rowen gingerly took the paper from his friends grip, quietly reading over what it said.
"It was odd. In every single book, when we got to the part about the elementals, it would start a sentence, but then the next page would be ripped out. And it was always right when we finished reading about the four elementals. It was as if someone had gone out of their way to hide what happened after you summon the four dragons." Rowen shrugged.
"Maybe they did." He continued reading, eyeing the article in Quatre's land.
" Woven of silk, wrapped in crystal, covered in blue of the palest shade. What the hell does that mean?" Rowen asked out loud, hoping that someone may have the answer. The other two occupants in the room shrugged. He groaned at their lack of assistance.
"Why, you have helped me so much!" He stated sarcastically as the two glared at him.
"Hey! We were up half the night translating this!"
"And he was hurt too!" Ryo added as Rowen sighed.
"I apologize. It's not your fault. Maybe Cye or Kento or your mother will know." Sage nodded.
"Maybe they will. My mother is rather good at puzzles. Not as if it matters, you don't have to figure it out. You and I are going to the palace!" A grin formed on the blonde's face.
"Yeah, we are." Rowen muttered, lacking any hint of enthusiasm.
"Well you don't sound too happy about me going, now do you?"
"No. I told you, I don't want to see you hurt."
"And I wont be. I'll be perfectly fine. I mean, these are high, regal princes. Would they really stoop to the low of a not even pure-breed elf?"
"Hey, you're insulting me!" Rowen pointed out as Sage grinned.
"You caught onto that one faster then I thought." Sage stated with a teasing look in his eyes.
"Anyways, you go ask the others about it. Take the entire poem. If you can't figure that one out, you can try the others. Ryo and I'll get to work again, ok?" Rowen nodded.
"Good luck!" He stated as he bid them farewell.
~~~***~~~
"Cye, Kento, Miss Date, I have a question." The trio turned to face the new entrant.
"Yes Rowen?" Cye and Miss Date asked at the same time, laughing at the coincidence.
"Sage and Ryo were up half the night translating those books."
"Hey! I thought I told him to get some rest!" Miss Date exclaimed as Kento muttered silently under his breath.
"Obviously, he ignored you." She glared at the fairy who cast her an innocent look.
"Anyways, before I was rudely interrupted, Sage and Ryo were up half the night translating those books, and they found a sort of riddle/poem that tells you what you must look for in each town. And while it does tell you which town they are referring to, they lack to tell you what it is they are referring to. I was wondering if you could help me try to solve the riddles."
"Well, tell away!" Miss Date said with a grin.
"Ok, here is goes,
"In the Kingdom of the one who chooses a different path, lies the item woven in silk, wrapped in crystal, covered in blue of the palest shade,
In the land of the wise, lies a heat that blazes like an inferno, confined in a tiny being kept from all site,
In the land where angels fear to tread, lies an Emerald of life, nature, and her creations,
In the land where knights rule, darkness prevails, the world lacks of light,
In the land once forgotten one young being to lead them all, his destiny chosen, his future hazy, his paternal not there, his life dealt unfair,
Yet he will prevail in our worlds hour of need, along with the White one sworn to protect."
"Well, first of all Rowen, The last parts, about the young being, is that referring to me?" Rowen nodded.
"I think so. But that doesn't matter. What matters is figuring out this puzzle."
"Well, I noticed in the third line, the one with the knights, that it didn't make much sense. While the others spoke of actual items, it spoke of light and darkness. I wonder what it means." Rowen shrugged.
"That's what I came to you for." Rowen pointed out as the woman nodded.
"True." She sat and pondered for a moment, thinking the words over.
"I have no idea. I'm sorry boys, I tried." Rowen nodded.
"It's ok. Your help has been more then enough." He bowed politely as she blushed.
"Now I get how you made Sage blush." He grinned as he turned to Cye.
"We're going back to the kingdom. My kingdom. I have to get Sage appropriated for the party. I doubt going there in his normal attire is going to go by well."
"I don't think Sage dresses badly. Too much green for me, but that is alright." Rowen laughed.
"He's going to a place of total royalty. Everyone there will be royal, servants, or dancers that were hired. He will be well dressed or else he will pay the consequence. As if he isn't going to pay enough for begging me to let him go." Rowen finished as Cye shrugged.
"I think that he is right, going to a party of royalty would be fun and enjoyable."
"If only you knew the half of it." Rowen muttered under his breath.
"Well, I'm going to go force Sage and Ryo up, and then we can set on our way." The other occupants of the room nodded in agreement.
"Cye and I will get food and necessities ready for your journey." Miss Date called after him as he waltzed out of the room.
~~~***~~~
Escaldia. The land of the knights. You couldn't walk more then a few feet without running into one. And that was because of Rowen's paranoid father. Especially because his father was aging all to quickly, and the kingdom would soon be in his hands, and his alone. Which was good for the most part. Getting the old bat away from Rowen's reach and the ability to hit the young prince was always good.
The five young men slowly walked into the town, having left a few hours ago after bidding farewell to Miss Date and ensuring that Rowen would watch over Sage. Sage had blushed at the comment and hugged his mother, and then they had been on their way. And finally they had arrived. Rowen had pointed out to Cye and the other two that the "In the land where knights rule, darkness prevails, the world lacks of light" in the poem had been referring to his town, and to keep their eyes open as they toured the town. He had then proceeded to drag Sage off to the tailor so that he may have some fitting clothes for the party. And Sage obviously didn't like the idea of someone touching him to check his measurements, much to Rowen's amusement. The elf stood perfectly still, a look of pure hatred flaring in his lavender eyes.
"All done!" the woman exclaimed, giving his thigh a last squeeze as she rose to her feet.
"Rowen, are all tailors jerks?" Sage asked, venom dripping sourly in his voice.
"Umm, elf boy, his name isn't Rowen. Its Touma." Sage rolled his eyes.
"I call him what I want, you call him by royalty, Ok?" Rowen stifled his laughter. He wasn't quite fond of the woman either, numerous times having here make advances on him, so he was finding this much too amusing. But she was still the best tailor within all the lands, and for that he was grateful.
"Remember, I want it tomorrow." She nodded.
"I will slave through the night if I must, your majesty." She bowed in respect to the blue boy.
"Thank you lady. I will pay you largely for your goods." She nodded, a smile planted across her face.
"Again, thank you my lord." She glared at Sage, and then turned back to the prince with a sweet smile.
"Do not worry my lord, it will be on your steps as you requested by the upcoming day."
"Good. So be it." He took Sage's hand in his.
"Come. I shall take you to the palace for a night. We will go in through the back, and you and the others shall stay hidden in my room. If my father were to find out about my guests, I'd never hear the end of it. I doubt that he would be partial to me hiding an elf, fairy, and a demon, along with the Summoner." Sage nodded.
"Let us go get them then. Come on." Sage stated as the two ran off to find the other group.
~~~***~~~
"So in the riddle dark conquers light. Well, that is interesting, because in all truth, they counter act, and neither one rules."
"Like night and day!" Ryo exclaimed as Cye nodded.
"Exactly."
"So it has to be somewhere where it is always dark!" Ryo pointed out, his voice growing with excitement.
"You're right." Cye responded as Kento sighed.
"Ok, I waited for you to figure it out, but now I give up. A cave. Think about it. In the cave, darkness is always there and it is never light unless you bring a lantern." Cye's eyes widened.
"Wow! Kento! I didn't think that you were going to be the one to figure it out." Kento shrugged.
"I'm not as stupid as you people perceive me to be." Ryo shrugged.
"We never thought you were dumb!" Cye exclaimed in his own defense, but was nicely ignored by Kento.
"Where are Sage and Rowen anyways?" He asked suddenly, glancing around the premise.
"I miss my hood." He muttered. He always slept in Sage's hood, for safety reasons. Sage was the only one who was neither scared of him, or going to hug him all the time for being so little and cute.
"It's ok. They have to be around here somewhere." As if on cue, Sage and Rowen stepped out of a tailor's building. Kento grinned as he flew over to Sage, flying into his hood and curling up for some much needed rest.
"Hello to you too Kento." He muttered to the fairy, as he and Rowen walked over to the other two.
"Guess what? Kento figured out what the riddle refers to!" Cye exclaimed as Ryo nodded in agreement.
"Yeah! It's a cave!" He blurted out as Cye sighed.
"Ruin my moment." He muttered as Ryo went on asking Rowen if there were any caves nearby.
"Well, there are the Ruins. It's a prehistoric cave that has yet to be explored, and is highly dangerous."
"Danger? Cool!" Ryo smiled devilishly at the idea. Rowen shook his head and sighed.
"Well, not today. You guys can tomorrow, but not now. I'm taking you guys to the castle, but you must be quiet! I have already warned Sage about keeping you guys quiet. My father would be very apposed to having you guys there." The trio nodded.
"Yes Rowen." The said in unison as Rowen laughed.
"Come on guys, let's go back to my home."
~~~***~~~
Rowen reached his room door and felt for the bag that was to me there. He smiled as he felt its smooth, leather casing, and was well aware that it was Sage's outfit, strait from the tailor. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a large sum of money in a small sack, and left it there. The girl would be by later to pick it up.
"Sage!" he called out and watched as the half asleep blonde stumbled over to him.
"What is it?" He demanded as Rowen laughed.
"Its called morning." Sage glanced at the sundial.
"But it's only 4 in the morning." He complained as Rowen smiled mischeiviously to him.
"Welcome to the life of royalty, my dear." Sage groaned as Rowen shoved the package into his arms. Sage groaned as he walked off to another part of the room to change. Rowen laughed as he waited for Sage to enter. And when the tired and peeved blonde entered, it was not what Rowen had expected. Sage stood, or what slightly resembled Sage, dressed in a flowing garb made with layers of green and white silk, gold embroidered around the hem. His long hair was yanked back in a braid, which obviously Cye had done, and thin sandals fit perfectly on his slender feet. They had taken away his long no datchi and replaced it with a thin dagger strapped to his thigh, which was slightly visible through the slit allowing him to walk.
"I feel huge." Sage muttered as Rowen struggled out of his stage of pure shock.
"You look beautiful."
"I feel like a tool." Sage muttered as Rowen laughed.
"Come on, the part awaits. Cye, Ryo, Kento, I want you to go north to the cave." Rowen took Sage's hand in his and dragged the blonde who was still protesting about the weight of the clothing, out of the room.
~~~***~~~
"This is the cave?" Cye muttered as he stepped into the cave, and immediately was falling.
"Master!"
"Cye!"
~~~***~~~
Sage stared in awe at the chandelier that hung high, and the people dancing across the polished floor.
"Oh my…" He muttered softly, as Rowen smiled.
"Well, you are my date for the night. At least let me have this dance."
To be continued….