Nictin spent the next few months in Rivervale painfully. No one would
speak to him because of his so-called insanity and even his mother was so
pained that she seemed to be in her own little world. Fydlin now known to
be a rogue was not allowed in any of the shops with the exception of the
Fool's Gold and he and Nictin's friends where few and far between. The
warrior leader spread awful news about how Nictin was preaching the
insanity of slaying a dragon and becoming a druid. No one felt it was
right. Not even Fiddy who now appeared less often at the River's dock. And
through all this abuse only one kind soul stood by Nictin and that was the
warrior barbarian who had gave him the horrible news. Nictin learned that
his name was Falguril and he was a apprentice to his father. Falguril often
protected Nictin from angered town folk and tried so often to stand by his
side. Nictin could not see why him becoming a druid would be such a big
disappointment to the public. Then he remembered the popularity that
Rivervale so desperately wanted. They wanted people to use their city more
then ever as a trading port and had hoped to one day be as big as FreePort
the human city. But this popularity comes from hero's and legends. Nictin
and Fydlin had broken this chain and for it were suffering the pain of an
entire town. The burden lay on their shoulders.
"I need to meet the druid leader Falguril." Nictin said as the two
walked through the market. Nictin looked and saw one of his old friends
give him a dirty look and then he saw Malcolm standing behind a counter
selling vegetables. When he saw Nictin he frowned sadly and lowered his
head hoping not to be seen by him. Nictin shook his head and walked on. "I
don't even know if he will train you Nictin you may have to travel to
Qeynos in the north and be trained by the humans. Nictin hated that
thought. He heard the human trainers weren't to fond of halflings and that
their training was simple minded to that of the halfling race. "No" He said
"I need to be taught by RavenClaw he is the only one who I can see my self
being raised under." Falguril sighed, "We can try McFiddle." Falguril
stopped in his place and let Nictin proceed down the winding road to the
druid guild. As he walked Nictin's eyes shimmered at all the animals that
walked him. The very essence of nature seemed greater then any other place
in town. The ground around him almost seemed alive and he stopped to breath
in the fumes of the air rich and pure. He looked into the distant and saw
the Jum Jum fields. How he wished he could sneak in and grab a few just for
the taste. Jum Jum's where the food of the halfling and one would do
anything almost for a good jum jum. He looked and saw halflings walking
around in the fields tending to the seeds. He climbed over the fence and
carefully walked into the dirt and over to the middle of the field. He saw
there a man sitting. He seemed deep in thought and concentrating all around
him. When Nictin stepped closer to him he felt a sudden sense of power and
he looked to see the mans character. He was old but not very old. In his
middle ages. His hair was black and he had large eyebrows that rested in a
tiresome look on his forehead. His cloths where a green tint. And he wore a
long robe around him. The halfling lifted his hand forward and roots began
to grow wildly through the ground until finally a large tree stood before
both of them. The halflings eyes where still closed and he gave a small
smile. "I was wondering Mr. McFiddle when it would be your time to see me."
He said. Nictin laughed unable to contain his excitement, the lead druid
guild leader knew him. The man groaned as he got up. He cracked his spine
yawned and scratched his head. He opened his eyes to reveal they where very
green. He was still smiling at Nictin. "Been through hell haven't you kid?'
Nictin nodded unhappily. "Same way when my dad died." He patted Nictin on
the head and the two walked through the field. "I knew from the first day I
saw you that you where to be a druid." He said. Nictin raised an eyebrow.
"Prey tell how sir?" He chuckled. RavenClaw lifted his hand and raised a
bluish aura it surrounded Nictin's feet and they grew muscular and light as
a feather. Nictin loved the feeling and he dashed around quickly. RavenClaw
smirked "Cause anyone who runs like that is more then your average
warrior." Nictin did then remember seeing RavenClaw resting when he was
running from the bully's the day of the wolf encounter. "I will train you
yes but you must realize something. You are not to use your powers unjustly
and you must not get angry for with anger comes a rage that cannot be
controlled and your magic will be used against your will." Nictin thought
about this. With all that was happening lately how was he going to control
his anger? "We can begin tomorrow said RavenClaw "but first." Then he went
to a large bag he had been carrying. He pulled out a red book and blew the
dust of it he flung it at Nictin and it dragged his hands down when he
caught it. "I want you to memorize those first six pages by this time next
week. It shouldn't be to hard there just your first season spells. After
you have defeated a certain number of animals or monsters you will go up in
season. You will memorize the next six after that but don't worry that's
still pretty far away." Enjoy he smiled and walked off. Then he stopped "Oh
and don't get in any trouble I don't want you coming to training with a bad
name. Nictin nodded and headed home.
On the way he opened up the book. The words were all mixed and odd.
It was some ancient language used years ago and he knew that saying the
words in a pattern and concentration would allow him to use certain spells.
Among them would be healing, skin like wood and strength and he knew all of
them would be very useful. While reading he was smacked into a odd little
gnome. He looked at it as the two lay on the ground. The gnome was an odd
little fellow he looked young but his hair was already white. His eyes
where brown and he had a mustache that grew wildly in different directions.
He got up and his eyes sinned around quickly. He adjusted his robe and then
his ear twitched as he heard screaming from old Mr. Grummings. "Give me
back me cracked staff you little weasel!" The gnome screamed and grabbed
hold of Nictin. He yelled "Come on we gotta go this is crazy yes very odd."
Nictin was being dragged along against his will "Hey I don't need to get
into this!" He yelled. The gnome giggled, "ye all ready have indeed." The
two dashed through town and where knocked over by Tyleer. He grinned evilly
"Well looks like its time to get even McFid.Ahh!" The two continued and
Nictin looked back to see Tyleer whimpering on the ground holding his
groin. Nictin gritted his teeth at the feeling and the two ran through to
the thicket.
"I'm in so much trouble thanks to you." Groaned Nictin as the two sat
in the tree. The gnome pulled out some fruit and began munching wildly
"Trouble has found you me lad for it is looking for a partner." Nictin
shook his head "Stop trying to act intelligent it really isn't working."
The gnome laughed, "If I where acting intelligent that wouldn't be smart!"
Nictin raised his eyebrow. "You are very." "Strange." The gnome pointed
out. Nictin nodded "Yeah" The gnome chuckled and pulled out a case form his
robe. He opened it up and pulled out a long totem pole. It wore the face of
a frog and it was as orange as a carrot. It seemed to have a invisible aura
and it was pulling it's self toward Nictin. "You can keep that." The gnome
smiled "If you be a friend of mine me friend." Nictin took it and
immediately felt that his magical power had been increased. He smiled
happily. Friend he thought. Now there's something I could use. He patted
the gnome on the shoulder "Sure I'll be your friend my name is Nictin
McFiddle. The gnome bowed before him "Wbikk the Ankle Biter pleased to be
at your acquaintance master McFiddle. Come to Ak Anon city of the gnomes
some day and you will find more adventure then your mind holds. Nictin
smiled "I'll keep that in mind." The gnome jumped from the tree and dashed
off not to speak another word.