HIERONYMOUS ZEPHYR
- Air Elementalist -
Now, I want you to all sit down, relax and try to get comfortable. This story may go on for a bit. Ready? Good.
Some 23 years ago, I was born into a large family of woodcutters known as the Trielopas. My mother named me Rimone Nicko Trielopas, after her uncle, for which I have forgiven her. It was a name I found rather awkward to relate to, so I vowed to change it when I reach the legal age of maturity. As you can tell, this I did.
The family consisted of 4 sons, 2 daughters, my mother Vera, and her husband Alfonso. You'll notice I didn't say father. This is because, quite simply, he wasn't. Though it was never said, everyone suspected I was not of his stock. A big, strapping man with brilliant red hair and a ruddy complexion, he contrasted with my unusual willowy build, dark hair and fair skin. My mother, bless her gullible heart, looked much like her husband (though I was told she was pretty in youth).
I was the youngest of the sons but older than the youngest daughter, Galianne. Of all my siblings, she was the only one I would call friend. The others were all too tough and rugged for my liking. They'd often call me a wimp when I'd not join in the head butting games, but rather read one of the few books I could find in our small cottage. Galianne, on occasion, would ask me to read to her. This I did gladly, happy to share the little talent I had with someone appreciative.
Conversation in the family seldom strayed far from the popular topic of tree felling. You'll never know how dull that can get! "What kind of tree did ya cut down t'day, dad?" "A cyprus, son." "Oooh, gosh! Can I cut a sigh- pruss one day?" "All in good time, lad." The times I tried to swing the conversation to something more intellectual were often quickly snuffed out by an elder brother, "You may think we live in a multi-dimenshunal quasi- real universe, but how many pines have you felled in a day?!" A real wit, that one.
But my early childhood days weren't all bad. Quite often, the whole family would gather the wood Alfonso had cut and take it to the village square in Holmsgate, to sell or trade. These outings were nothing particularly special in themselves, but they did allow me to hunt down new books to read. Some of the elderly, wizened residents actually had libraries of twenty, sometimes thirty books! They were thought of as intellectuals; I considered them friends.
The most important and fascinating of these village trips, however, was one that coincided with the visit of a group of travelling performers; a circus, if you like. They consisted of many acrobatic fellows balancing on tall poles while short, misshapen creatures played the fool to make us children laugh (I later realized they were called dwarves). But the most astounding and heart-pounding for me was the awe-inspiring winged creature looking like a cross between horse and eagle, being ridden by a lithe, darkly garbed man. I stood and watched the creature for well over an hour, transfixed by its beauty and self-restrained power.
Eventually I was forced to take my eyes away from the creature to eat a sweet that had melted in my hand. When I looked up once more, the creature stood just a few feet in front of me, examining my small form; the darkly dressed rider even closer. His somewhat large eyes, the only part of his body exposed, stared smiling into mine.
"You would like to fly the beast, no?" he asked, with a voice strangely muffled. "You seem the only one unafraid."
Excitement constricting my throat, I managed to force a slightly strangled yes. With that, he quickly picked me up and placed me straight onto the saddle atop the creature and deftly straddled the creature to sit just behind me.
The creature then turned, took a few brief trots and lifted into the air on its magnificent wings. The ground rushed away beneath me and I felt a small moment of unease. But not for long. The sights and sensations of flying totally overwhelmed any fear that may have tried to spoil the moment. I was hooked, no doubt; have been ever since.
We soared high into the blue, summer sky. The ant-like people of the village became difficult to distinguish amongst the varied colours of the landscape so far below. I was in heaven; I was king of all I surveyed; I was the invincible flier... I slipped from the saddle! Fortunately, my dark garbed benefactor grabbed my tunic before I got into any real danger. And not long after that, we headed back down to the dull, uninteresting ground.
After depositing me on the village green, the cloaked rider again looked into my eyes and spoke, "You are too young, I think... but you are the one, no less." With those mysterious words he jumped back onto the creature. "Until we meet again, small one. Train your mind and your body will follow."
And they left; flew off into the distance. I cried and I laughed. I was confused but ecstatic!
Alfonso and Vera severely chastised me for my foolhardy actions and promptly banned me from the village visits until the performers had left. Naturally, I was heart-broken. And equally naturally, I decided I'd run off and find them on my own. Of course I had no idea of where they'd gone, but I was determined none-the-less.
I told Galianne of my decision, knowing she'd understand at least. What I didn't expect was her determination to come with me. I was taken aback; she was far too young, and my unnatural, adult-like wisdom knew I couldn't endanger her life on a whimsy of my own. So I reluctantly decided to stay with the family and suppress my yearning.
Instead, I studied the books I had accumulated and uncovered references to the horse/eagle creature. It was a hippogryph; a rare creature indeed. But the pictures in the books were no match for the memory I retained of its majesty and beauty. And they made no reference to flying the beast, which frustrated me greatly. I wanted to gather as much knowledge as I was able, even though I was unlikely to see it ever again. Though I think deep down, I knew I would.
Several years passed by, ever so slowly. I reached my teens and was expected to help with the woodcutting. The thought abhorred me. What had the trees ever done to me, that I should want their destruction? Clearly our family had a lot to learn. Or maybe the financial side of things eluded me. Whatever, I wasn't impressed, but had to comply. Many a poor innocent tree fell at these hands...
On the few days I was given off, Galianne and I would sometimes venture down to the local river: the Elfwash. There we would sit on the bank and talk fantasies and dreams, wishing the day would never end. One day, to my ever-lasting torment, we stumbled across a small boat lying hidden on the bank. Galianne instantly dived into it, pushed herself out into the slowly flowing river and started jumping up and down, showing off.
It all happened so quickly, yet I remember it all in vivid detail: her little cherub face smiling with glee; the too-large frock she wore swaying around her small jumping body; the boat rocking higher and higher with the movement; the sudden look of terror on Galianne's usually smiling face as the old craft capsized beneath her; the even more frightening sight of it flipping on top of her; and finally the view of the boat, with Galianne trapped beneath it, suddenly, unnaturally, sink (almost dive) into the deep river.
I rushed into the river after her, even though I was a lousy swimmer, and tried to dive down to save her. Ten, twenty feet I went, until I could feel my lungs trying to burst. There was no sign of Galianne or the boat. Thirty, thirty-five feet down. Pressure, darkness, no air, and the sound of my heart pounding in my ears. Still no sign. I had to return to the surface. But it was too far. Halfway back up, I felt consciousness trying to leave me as the lack of oxygen took hold. The world looked suddenly all red and blue as my mouth opened and the Elfwash entered my lungs. I vaguely remember breaking the surface as I lost the battle. And Galianne. I never saw her again.
The next few days I spent convalescing and weeping for my only friend. The rest of the family, though somewhat quiet, hardly seemed to notice Galianne's absence. Heartless, I thought. What was wrong with these people? I just couldn't stand to be with them any longer. Within two weeks, I ran away, leaving them far behind. Forever.
* * *
For many weeks I wandered aimlessly in the forest between the villages of our land, sorrow weighing heavily upon me. I'd often go for days without food, just drinking the morning dew off large leaves in the forest, nibbling at berries and mushrooms when hunger became unbearable. I thought I'd had little purpose in life as a woodcutting Trielopas, but now I had none. What was I to do? Where was I to go? Should I go home? Should I seek out a large town to start a new life? Then it struck me: the hippogryph! I would search out the beast and its rider, plead for a job mucking out stables if need be, and travel with them!
Yes, that was it! I picked up greatly after that, my only regret being that Galianne couldn't be with me. Maybe I should have taken her with me when I first decided. Maybe she'd be alive today if I had. But before I could start feeling too guilty, I was disrupted by the rush of strong wings and pounding hooves as none other than the hippogryph and rider swooped down before me. It had to be more than coincidence.
"Little one, it seems it is now time," the rider said as he leapt lightly to the forest floor. "You look not at all well, here, take my cloak."
The rider then unhooked his cloak at several points, allowing the dark covering to spill across his arm, revealing for the first time, his face. Her face! The rider was a woman! And not human either, for the ears were long and pointed. But not unattractively. In fact she was quite gorgeous. Now that the cloak was removed, I could see much of her obviously elven figure. Suddenly I didn't feel cold anymore.
"Come with me, half-breed, I take you as apprentice, no?" And she placed the cloak around my shoulders (it fit as if tailored for me) and, as she had in the village so long ago, plucked me up and placed me onto the hippogryph's back. "We ride!"
Again, the beautiful beast (that's the hippogryph, if you're wondering) took to the air. The pure exhilaration of flight took my breath away once again, but didn't quite manage to distract me from the close presence of the gorgeous elf. I think all these sensations, combined with a weakness brought on by hunger, caused me to drift into a blissful, if precarious, sleep. How or why I didn't fall was, and still is, a mystery.
I awoke sometime later, it may have been hours or even days, I don't know, to find myself lying naked beneath many furs in a small house or cottage. My senses were suddenly overwhelmed by the plethora of scents drifting through the room. A mixture of the furs and some other quite alien aromas, possibly coming from the collection of bottles and jars sitting atop a large wooden table not far from where I lay. Sunlight, too, was filling the room, highlighting the drifting dust stirred up by my movements.
"So the little one has aroused, I see," said a voice. It sounded like the elven rider's, but I couldn't be sure. No one was visible within the room.
"I-is that you?" I asked, not really knowing who you was.
"Yes, my little Rimone, it is I, Marina." And before my fascinated eyes, I beheld the motes of dust swirl and coalesce into a shapely female elf.
Marina. A woman of many talents, one of which was magic. From that day on she taught me many things. Not just spell craft, but how to ride the great hippogryph, Seldwyneer; how to prepare food to impress even a king; how the stars significantly affected all our lives; the history of the ancients; even basic engineering concepts (useful for creating magical traps, I was told). And other things I'd rather not discuss, but just as significant to a growing teenager.
She also taught me many things about myself. That I was a half-elf for one, though I couldn't imagine an elven male desiring my ageing mother (I later discovered that elves seek much variety in their extended lifespans, maybe that explains it a little). And that I had an aptitude for the elemental side of magic, air in particular. This didn't surprise me greatly, it really only confirmed an unconscious yearning I'd always felt.
For some four or five years I studied beneath the elven mage. I changed my name to Hieronymous Zephyr when I came of age, as I always intended. Hieronymous Alchron Armetis was a brilliant mage I'd read of who'd met with an untimely death in the early stages of the Wizard War. Zephyr was given to me by Marina for two reasons. Clearly one was that it signified my air elemental nature. The other she asked me never to reveal. And so I shan't. Sorry.
I could go on and on about my apprenticeship, telling you all the interesting and exciting adventures that took place, but I'd be lying. It was mainly tedious, hard work, combined with hours spent memorizing alien concepts gained from dusty old tomes. Flying Seldwyneer, on the other hand, was a joy I wish I could share with you all. Flight is magical, no matter the means. I wish I'd been born a bird, at times.
All in all, my years with Marina were pleasant, but they had to end eventually. She grew bored, as elves do, and I began desiring more knowledge of the world. Not only that, Marina and I both knew that, as an air elementalist, I would need to gain more information in my area of expertise than she was able to give me. And so, after a suitable farewell to the lovely Marina, I exited the cottage for the final time and wandered over to the stable where Seldwyneer was housed. We'd grown quite attached over the years, and the intelligent creature knew, and felt sorrow for, my departure. I tousled his feathery main, fed him some rabbit meat, and left.
Strolling south down the narrow path, I turned for one last look at the cottage that had been my home for many years. But it was gone. Not a trace. I stood in wonder and awe at Marina's power. I had a lot to learn, that I knew. Would I ever match her skill? Would I ever see her or the hippogryph again? I felt I would.
Turning back south once again, I headed off towards the world beyond, my staff in hand. Staff? I didn't own a staff!
"You do now, my little Hieronymous Zephyr," came Marina's free floating voice. "Consider it a parting gift, such that it is. And yes, half-elf mage, we will meet again, no?"
She'd done it again. With my new staff held proudly before me, I set off to find new adventures, Marina's parting gift giving off a dull glow in the forest gloom, lightening my heart.
- Air Elementalist -
Now, I want you to all sit down, relax and try to get comfortable. This story may go on for a bit. Ready? Good.
Some 23 years ago, I was born into a large family of woodcutters known as the Trielopas. My mother named me Rimone Nicko Trielopas, after her uncle, for which I have forgiven her. It was a name I found rather awkward to relate to, so I vowed to change it when I reach the legal age of maturity. As you can tell, this I did.
The family consisted of 4 sons, 2 daughters, my mother Vera, and her husband Alfonso. You'll notice I didn't say father. This is because, quite simply, he wasn't. Though it was never said, everyone suspected I was not of his stock. A big, strapping man with brilliant red hair and a ruddy complexion, he contrasted with my unusual willowy build, dark hair and fair skin. My mother, bless her gullible heart, looked much like her husband (though I was told she was pretty in youth).
I was the youngest of the sons but older than the youngest daughter, Galianne. Of all my siblings, she was the only one I would call friend. The others were all too tough and rugged for my liking. They'd often call me a wimp when I'd not join in the head butting games, but rather read one of the few books I could find in our small cottage. Galianne, on occasion, would ask me to read to her. This I did gladly, happy to share the little talent I had with someone appreciative.
Conversation in the family seldom strayed far from the popular topic of tree felling. You'll never know how dull that can get! "What kind of tree did ya cut down t'day, dad?" "A cyprus, son." "Oooh, gosh! Can I cut a sigh- pruss one day?" "All in good time, lad." The times I tried to swing the conversation to something more intellectual were often quickly snuffed out by an elder brother, "You may think we live in a multi-dimenshunal quasi- real universe, but how many pines have you felled in a day?!" A real wit, that one.
But my early childhood days weren't all bad. Quite often, the whole family would gather the wood Alfonso had cut and take it to the village square in Holmsgate, to sell or trade. These outings were nothing particularly special in themselves, but they did allow me to hunt down new books to read. Some of the elderly, wizened residents actually had libraries of twenty, sometimes thirty books! They were thought of as intellectuals; I considered them friends.
The most important and fascinating of these village trips, however, was one that coincided with the visit of a group of travelling performers; a circus, if you like. They consisted of many acrobatic fellows balancing on tall poles while short, misshapen creatures played the fool to make us children laugh (I later realized they were called dwarves). But the most astounding and heart-pounding for me was the awe-inspiring winged creature looking like a cross between horse and eagle, being ridden by a lithe, darkly garbed man. I stood and watched the creature for well over an hour, transfixed by its beauty and self-restrained power.
Eventually I was forced to take my eyes away from the creature to eat a sweet that had melted in my hand. When I looked up once more, the creature stood just a few feet in front of me, examining my small form; the darkly dressed rider even closer. His somewhat large eyes, the only part of his body exposed, stared smiling into mine.
"You would like to fly the beast, no?" he asked, with a voice strangely muffled. "You seem the only one unafraid."
Excitement constricting my throat, I managed to force a slightly strangled yes. With that, he quickly picked me up and placed me straight onto the saddle atop the creature and deftly straddled the creature to sit just behind me.
The creature then turned, took a few brief trots and lifted into the air on its magnificent wings. The ground rushed away beneath me and I felt a small moment of unease. But not for long. The sights and sensations of flying totally overwhelmed any fear that may have tried to spoil the moment. I was hooked, no doubt; have been ever since.
We soared high into the blue, summer sky. The ant-like people of the village became difficult to distinguish amongst the varied colours of the landscape so far below. I was in heaven; I was king of all I surveyed; I was the invincible flier... I slipped from the saddle! Fortunately, my dark garbed benefactor grabbed my tunic before I got into any real danger. And not long after that, we headed back down to the dull, uninteresting ground.
After depositing me on the village green, the cloaked rider again looked into my eyes and spoke, "You are too young, I think... but you are the one, no less." With those mysterious words he jumped back onto the creature. "Until we meet again, small one. Train your mind and your body will follow."
And they left; flew off into the distance. I cried and I laughed. I was confused but ecstatic!
Alfonso and Vera severely chastised me for my foolhardy actions and promptly banned me from the village visits until the performers had left. Naturally, I was heart-broken. And equally naturally, I decided I'd run off and find them on my own. Of course I had no idea of where they'd gone, but I was determined none-the-less.
I told Galianne of my decision, knowing she'd understand at least. What I didn't expect was her determination to come with me. I was taken aback; she was far too young, and my unnatural, adult-like wisdom knew I couldn't endanger her life on a whimsy of my own. So I reluctantly decided to stay with the family and suppress my yearning.
Instead, I studied the books I had accumulated and uncovered references to the horse/eagle creature. It was a hippogryph; a rare creature indeed. But the pictures in the books were no match for the memory I retained of its majesty and beauty. And they made no reference to flying the beast, which frustrated me greatly. I wanted to gather as much knowledge as I was able, even though I was unlikely to see it ever again. Though I think deep down, I knew I would.
Several years passed by, ever so slowly. I reached my teens and was expected to help with the woodcutting. The thought abhorred me. What had the trees ever done to me, that I should want their destruction? Clearly our family had a lot to learn. Or maybe the financial side of things eluded me. Whatever, I wasn't impressed, but had to comply. Many a poor innocent tree fell at these hands...
On the few days I was given off, Galianne and I would sometimes venture down to the local river: the Elfwash. There we would sit on the bank and talk fantasies and dreams, wishing the day would never end. One day, to my ever-lasting torment, we stumbled across a small boat lying hidden on the bank. Galianne instantly dived into it, pushed herself out into the slowly flowing river and started jumping up and down, showing off.
It all happened so quickly, yet I remember it all in vivid detail: her little cherub face smiling with glee; the too-large frock she wore swaying around her small jumping body; the boat rocking higher and higher with the movement; the sudden look of terror on Galianne's usually smiling face as the old craft capsized beneath her; the even more frightening sight of it flipping on top of her; and finally the view of the boat, with Galianne trapped beneath it, suddenly, unnaturally, sink (almost dive) into the deep river.
I rushed into the river after her, even though I was a lousy swimmer, and tried to dive down to save her. Ten, twenty feet I went, until I could feel my lungs trying to burst. There was no sign of Galianne or the boat. Thirty, thirty-five feet down. Pressure, darkness, no air, and the sound of my heart pounding in my ears. Still no sign. I had to return to the surface. But it was too far. Halfway back up, I felt consciousness trying to leave me as the lack of oxygen took hold. The world looked suddenly all red and blue as my mouth opened and the Elfwash entered my lungs. I vaguely remember breaking the surface as I lost the battle. And Galianne. I never saw her again.
The next few days I spent convalescing and weeping for my only friend. The rest of the family, though somewhat quiet, hardly seemed to notice Galianne's absence. Heartless, I thought. What was wrong with these people? I just couldn't stand to be with them any longer. Within two weeks, I ran away, leaving them far behind. Forever.
* * *
For many weeks I wandered aimlessly in the forest between the villages of our land, sorrow weighing heavily upon me. I'd often go for days without food, just drinking the morning dew off large leaves in the forest, nibbling at berries and mushrooms when hunger became unbearable. I thought I'd had little purpose in life as a woodcutting Trielopas, but now I had none. What was I to do? Where was I to go? Should I go home? Should I seek out a large town to start a new life? Then it struck me: the hippogryph! I would search out the beast and its rider, plead for a job mucking out stables if need be, and travel with them!
Yes, that was it! I picked up greatly after that, my only regret being that Galianne couldn't be with me. Maybe I should have taken her with me when I first decided. Maybe she'd be alive today if I had. But before I could start feeling too guilty, I was disrupted by the rush of strong wings and pounding hooves as none other than the hippogryph and rider swooped down before me. It had to be more than coincidence.
"Little one, it seems it is now time," the rider said as he leapt lightly to the forest floor. "You look not at all well, here, take my cloak."
The rider then unhooked his cloak at several points, allowing the dark covering to spill across his arm, revealing for the first time, his face. Her face! The rider was a woman! And not human either, for the ears were long and pointed. But not unattractively. In fact she was quite gorgeous. Now that the cloak was removed, I could see much of her obviously elven figure. Suddenly I didn't feel cold anymore.
"Come with me, half-breed, I take you as apprentice, no?" And she placed the cloak around my shoulders (it fit as if tailored for me) and, as she had in the village so long ago, plucked me up and placed me onto the hippogryph's back. "We ride!"
Again, the beautiful beast (that's the hippogryph, if you're wondering) took to the air. The pure exhilaration of flight took my breath away once again, but didn't quite manage to distract me from the close presence of the gorgeous elf. I think all these sensations, combined with a weakness brought on by hunger, caused me to drift into a blissful, if precarious, sleep. How or why I didn't fall was, and still is, a mystery.
I awoke sometime later, it may have been hours or even days, I don't know, to find myself lying naked beneath many furs in a small house or cottage. My senses were suddenly overwhelmed by the plethora of scents drifting through the room. A mixture of the furs and some other quite alien aromas, possibly coming from the collection of bottles and jars sitting atop a large wooden table not far from where I lay. Sunlight, too, was filling the room, highlighting the drifting dust stirred up by my movements.
"So the little one has aroused, I see," said a voice. It sounded like the elven rider's, but I couldn't be sure. No one was visible within the room.
"I-is that you?" I asked, not really knowing who you was.
"Yes, my little Rimone, it is I, Marina." And before my fascinated eyes, I beheld the motes of dust swirl and coalesce into a shapely female elf.
Marina. A woman of many talents, one of which was magic. From that day on she taught me many things. Not just spell craft, but how to ride the great hippogryph, Seldwyneer; how to prepare food to impress even a king; how the stars significantly affected all our lives; the history of the ancients; even basic engineering concepts (useful for creating magical traps, I was told). And other things I'd rather not discuss, but just as significant to a growing teenager.
She also taught me many things about myself. That I was a half-elf for one, though I couldn't imagine an elven male desiring my ageing mother (I later discovered that elves seek much variety in their extended lifespans, maybe that explains it a little). And that I had an aptitude for the elemental side of magic, air in particular. This didn't surprise me greatly, it really only confirmed an unconscious yearning I'd always felt.
For some four or five years I studied beneath the elven mage. I changed my name to Hieronymous Zephyr when I came of age, as I always intended. Hieronymous Alchron Armetis was a brilliant mage I'd read of who'd met with an untimely death in the early stages of the Wizard War. Zephyr was given to me by Marina for two reasons. Clearly one was that it signified my air elemental nature. The other she asked me never to reveal. And so I shan't. Sorry.
I could go on and on about my apprenticeship, telling you all the interesting and exciting adventures that took place, but I'd be lying. It was mainly tedious, hard work, combined with hours spent memorizing alien concepts gained from dusty old tomes. Flying Seldwyneer, on the other hand, was a joy I wish I could share with you all. Flight is magical, no matter the means. I wish I'd been born a bird, at times.
All in all, my years with Marina were pleasant, but they had to end eventually. She grew bored, as elves do, and I began desiring more knowledge of the world. Not only that, Marina and I both knew that, as an air elementalist, I would need to gain more information in my area of expertise than she was able to give me. And so, after a suitable farewell to the lovely Marina, I exited the cottage for the final time and wandered over to the stable where Seldwyneer was housed. We'd grown quite attached over the years, and the intelligent creature knew, and felt sorrow for, my departure. I tousled his feathery main, fed him some rabbit meat, and left.
Strolling south down the narrow path, I turned for one last look at the cottage that had been my home for many years. But it was gone. Not a trace. I stood in wonder and awe at Marina's power. I had a lot to learn, that I knew. Would I ever match her skill? Would I ever see her or the hippogryph again? I felt I would.
Turning back south once again, I headed off towards the world beyond, my staff in hand. Staff? I didn't own a staff!
"You do now, my little Hieronymous Zephyr," came Marina's free floating voice. "Consider it a parting gift, such that it is. And yes, half-elf mage, we will meet again, no?"
She'd done it again. With my new staff held proudly before me, I set off to find new adventures, Marina's parting gift giving off a dull glow in the forest gloom, lightening my heart.