Dreams Are Unexpected
His father, if you don't know, is Harun Al-Rashid, whom I had mentioned earlier. Before he died, he held some Rites to decide who would rule Shapeir after him. My father won, without a doubt. He was Harun's most favored Guard, and everyone respected him, and still do. Harun had died, after announcing my father as Heir, of a heart attack. Shapeir hasn't changed much since my dad took over. He rules in the way Harun would have wanted him to, Honorably. That night, I fell asleep wondering why I had dreamt about Orion, the King of Silmaria.
My name is Erik. I am 16, blonde, and a 'very fine looking young man,' as my mother tells me. I'm not sure if it's true, I hope it is. Maybe it's that mother-way of making you feel good. Anyways, I am a recent graduate of W.I.T., Wizards Institute of Technocery, but decided not to stay. Twenty years of isolation. UGH! I started studying to be a magic user at the age of ten, two years before I should have. I had recently taken a lot of time and effort to make my familiar. She was once my favorite steed, a black stallion with a white mane and tail. Her name is Morning Glory. I had chosen to make her my familiar instead of doing it the hard way. During the process, she grew wings! Now she resembles Pegasus, the horse of legend and myth. She also has the ability to talk. My favorite thing that she can do is turn into a golden horse trinket, which I wear around my neck.
The next morning I woke up with the hot desert sun glaring in my face through my bedroom window. I got out of bed and did my routine of fixing my bed, bathing, just normal stuff you'd do in the morning. I opened my bedroom door and was surprised to see my older sister, Alexandria, standing outside my room.
"Hey runt," she said, "Dad sent me to get you. He wants you for something. He told me to have you meet him in the conference room." She walked off, all six feet of her. She's more like a tomboy, since she is training to be a Warrior. She has dark, waist length hair, and a very thin body. At first glance, she may seem like a normal princess, but she could easily take on a pack of Jackalmen, with a dagger.
I headed down the stairway to the conference room. Everyone was staring at me. I couldn't help but wonder what dad wanted me for. I approached the doors and two guards opened them for me. I walked in.
"So glad you could make it." Dad said. I notice the middle-aged, bald, muscular man sitting at the opposite end of the table. He looked vaguely familiar. "I have purchased for you, Issur's finest sword," he said, motioning to the man. "I have decided it would be best for you if you would start taking weapon lessons. With your expertise in magic, combined with some weapons knowledge, you could become a better Warrior then your sister could ever dream of."
"Me, with a sword. You've got to be joking." I asked, not expecting anything like this. "I don't know how to use a sword, I haven't even held one!"
"That's the purpose of the training, my prince." Issur told me. "I have volunteered to teach you the basics, then I must get back to work making my weapons."
"I don't know. It sounds like a good idea, but I'm still not sure." I said.
"I suggest you get used to your new sword," Dad said, "Your training begins in an hour." He motioned to Issur to hand me the sword
"It has the fury of the Dragon in it," Issur started telling me about my sword. "When used correctly, and by the right person, it can wreck havoc on anything. In this case, the right person is you. This sword was crafted especially for you, there is none like it, nor will be ever again. I have taken the liberty of carving your family crest on it. The magic in it will bind it to you forever. It's blade will never decrease, but will always increase. The sword has a mind of its own; it can tell when excessive force is needed to overcome an obstacle, and all you need to do is swing. This sword is yours and yours alone. Only you may use it. It will not let anyone else swing it. It will not harm you if you slip up at first, nor will it ever draw your blood. If you wish it not to harm someone, it will not harm him or her, so it is safe to practice with it, also. Get used to having it in your hands, you have 55 minutes until your lesson begins."
Issur handed me my sword, which I had name DragonFury, since Issur had said it had the fury of the Dragon in it, it seemed fitting. As soon as the sword was in my hand, I felt a surge of magic flow throughout my body. The sword knew who I was. I was so relaxed holding DragonFury, I felt like I had been born holding it. I swung it, my hand slipped, and the blade fell cutting right through my shoe. I felt DragonFury against my skin, but I didn't feel any pain from being cut or anything. I walked over to the nearest chair and sat down. I took off my shoe; my foot didn't have even the slightest indication that I had just dropped a sword on it.
"Looks like you should practice on that swing!" Issur laughed, sounding successful that this perfect sword didn't cut my foot off. He did say 'It will not harm you if you slip up at first, nor will it ever draw your blood.'
I left the conference room and headed to my bedroom. When I opened the door I noticed a package wrapped in gold on my bed, I went over and carefully unwrapped it. It was a sheath for DragonFury. I looked at the wrapping. There seemed to be some writing on it. It was barely legible. I was thinking about it, and then cast Detect Magic. The first thing I noticed is that DragonFury was glowing, not just the blade, but the handle too. The writing became legible on the wrapping. The rest of my room started to glow. It was because of the protection spell I cast on my room last year. I picked up the wrapping. There was a spell written on it in silver letters. It was still hard to read. I'd like to see you read silver letters on gold, its not that easy. As I read the spell, the letters began to disappear. I realized that I now knew the Speed Spell. Then I realized that had been the spell Orion's dad, Merlin had used in my dream. It seemed too unreal to believe. I started to think about my dream, and why I had the dream in the first place. Then I heard a pounding at the door. I put DragonFury in its sheath, and put it around my neck.
"Open up!" It was Alexandria. She probably wanted to know what dad wanted me for.
"Hold on!" I yelled. I ran for the door.
"I see you got my gift?" she said as I opened the door.
I was speechless. Alex has never bought me anything in her life.
"I figured you'd be able to use that," she said.
By now, I was really scared. Alex hardly ever talked to me, she thinks Wizards are wimps. Maybe training in the ways of the Warrior will be good for me. I might be able to train with Alex."Don't tell me I bought you the wrong spell! I meant to buy you a spell to make you run fast, but I guess I must have gotten you one to make you shut up," she remarked.
I made a pathetic laugh. "Thanks for the sheath, I think DragonFury likes it," I joked.
"You named your sword already! It took me a week before I named DeathBringer. Oh, just to let you know, you're training at the same time as me today. I want to see how good you are at weapons. See you at training." She started down the hallway to the stairs.
"HEY ALEX!" I yelled at her.
"What?" she yelled back.
"Thanks for the Speed Spell."
"No problem, see you at the Guild." She reminded me.
"Yeah, ok." I said.
I left the Palace, and opened my Magic Map. I thought about going to Fountain Plaza. I started to hear the sound of water hitting water. I opened my eyes, and saw the entrance to Keapon and Styll's Magic Shoppe. I walked in, Styll greeted me.
"Greetings, my Prince. What do you seek today?" Styll said. He looked similar to Keapon, his younger brother. "Hello!" he said, wide eyed. "What's with the sword? You're not quitting being a Wiz, are you?"
"No, my dad wants me to become a mixed class Wizard, or Warrior." I started to explain to him. "I came for another spell, maybe one for DragonFury, my sword."
"Um," he said, I think he was uncomfortable with the thought of me with a sword, "we have a electricity spell for weapons. No, wait, I think we have two. KEAPON!" he yelled.
"Yeah, whadayawant?" he yelled, his voice coming from the trick passageway.
"Come here, NOW!" he yelled, sounding nervous. I don't blame him, I was too, walking into a Magic store with a sword.
"I'm coming, I'm coming," he said, sounding peeved about Styll rushing him.
He came out, floating on his cloud, as usual.
"WHOA!" he said, as soon as he looked at me. "Hello! Goodbye!" he said as he put his cloud in reverse.
"KEAPON!" Styll sounded very strict as he called him.
"I think it would be better if I came back some other time without DragonFury." I said to my friends.
"Um, no need to," he said, I started to put DragonFury out of sight of them. "Snap out of it Keapon," he said, smacking his face. "So, Erik, what do ya need?"
"A spell for his sword." Styll said, sounding more comfortable with me now.
"We have Zap, which is a Level One Spell, and Electric Force, which is Level Two of Zap. We also have Boomerang, which allows you to throw your sword, and have it return safely to you."
"I'll take Electric Force and Boomerang. How much would that be?" I asked. "I only have 15 minutes until my first lesson."
"100 Dinars, but for you, my Prince, I shall give them to you for free. If your father wishes for you to use a sword, so be it." Styll offered.
"Gee, um, thanks, I guess." I said, sounding baffled. They usually just give me a twenty-five percent discount.
"Forces of Fire
Power of Peace
Bring these powers
For this Power."
Styll chanted out his spell of summoning. The two scrolls appeared floating above an intense flame. "Here you are, Erik," he said. I took the scrolls and read them.
"Are you CRAZY!? I agreed with the 25 percent discount thingy, but FREE, YOU'RE INSANE!" Keapon said.
"Hey, Keapon, remember his dad can kick us out of Shapeir forever. Besides, he's our best customer."
"Ok, just this once."
"Hey guys, I'd like to stay and chat, but I have to get to Fighters Plaza in ten minutes, or my dad will kill me."
"Yeah, Yeah, Bone Sewer!" Keapon said. It was the first time he had laughed since I had entered the shop before.
"Farewell Prince!" Styll said.
I walked out of the Magic Shoppe, and opened my map. I went to Fighters Plaza. Instead of the peaceful nature the Plaza is usually in, I heard cheers. Little kids yelling "WOW! LOOKIE MOMMY, IT'S THE PRINCE! WOWWIEWOW! I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO MEET THE PRINCE!" I opened my eyes, and everyone started to clap. I didn't do anything that special, all I did is use my map. I bowed at the crowd, and walked into the Adventures Guild.
"Well, I've never thought I'd ever see you here." Miroshi said. She is a WhiteTigertaur, kind of like a Liontaur, only she's a white tiger. There are also Tigertaurs, who are orange and black instead of white and black. Her Lifemate, or husband, Sherem runs the Adventures Guild. "Issur is in the Weapons Room," she said as she pointed to the open doorway to my right.
"Thanks Miroshi!" I said, and walked into the room. Alex trains with Sherem. They had already started. They stopped as I walked in. I felt a bit out of place.
"Well, are you ready?" Issur asked me.
