I locked myself in the library, and stayed there for weeks, living off of water I took directly from the river. I read every book I could find on the magical arts, texts that were reserved, usually, for the mages and their apprentices. When I finished with them, I requested that I be permitted to visit the other three quadrants of our land, and my brother graciously complied with my wishes.
And so it was that I set out on what would become the most defining journey of my life. I paid for passage with a merchant ship that was heading south west, towards the mountains. By then I was thin and malnutritioned, but my mind was swollen with the acquisition of new knowledge.
The journey was long, but not unpleasant. The merchants seemed happy to have another hand capable of work, and they taught me all they could about the finer workings of the ship. One woman, Rista, even took me in as one of her own, if only temporarily, and fed me and clothed me as though I was the son she never had. She did, however, have two daughters – twins, both with sun-bleached locks of gold and eyes as blue as the sea upon which they sailed. They were only two years younger than I, and the three of us became friends. The first real friends I'd ever had.
However, that stage of my life came to an end all too quickly as we docked in the south-east harbour. I bid them farewell and headed into the city, towards their central palace. They had been expecting me, and I was led almost instantly to their library, as had been requested.
One night, as I sat in the huge room of books, the fire burning low and the candles almost extinguished, I heard a movement behind me. Whipping around, however, I saw nothing. Much as I strived to see further into the growing shadows, there didn't seem to be anything to see. So I turned back to my book, and jumped half a meter out of my seat.
A man was sitting across the table from me. He was old, though his deep black hair hadn't yet begun to turn grey, his face was lined with the wrinkles of time, and his eyes were dim and weary. 'Greetings, young prince Ji,' he said, his voice resounding eerily in the large, empty room.
'Gr...Greetings,' I stuttered back.
'So, you seek to learn the ways of the mage, eh?' I nodded slowly. 'Surely you must know that you cannot learn such things simply by reading of them in books!'
'I know of no other way to learn,' my voice had become defiant in face of this man's disrespect.
He shook his head. 'Of course you don't – but I know of other ways to teach, if you are interested.' A wide grin passed over his face, revealing oddly straight, white teeth that I found out of place in the smile of one so aged.
'You mean to say that you would teach me?'
'That's exactly what I mean.' His smile, were it possible, grew even wider.
'Wha – who are you?'
'My name is of no import. It was lost many years ago. Names don't matter much, when all is said and done.'
I was hesitant to commit to anything just yet, but then my sister's face loomed into my vision, her innocent eyes confused and frightened as their light drained forever. 'What must I do?' I demanded.
'Go into the mountains. Find the smallest peak. Halfway up, there is a cave. That is wear I live. I will wait for you there.'
'Why can't you just take me there yourself?' I asked.
'Because you move too slowly!' He laughed, even as he started to skip backwards towards the door. 'And I will not teach one who has not the courage and determination to make the journey on their own!'
And so it was that I set out on what would become the most defining journey of my life. I paid for passage with a merchant ship that was heading south west, towards the mountains. By then I was thin and malnutritioned, but my mind was swollen with the acquisition of new knowledge.
The journey was long, but not unpleasant. The merchants seemed happy to have another hand capable of work, and they taught me all they could about the finer workings of the ship. One woman, Rista, even took me in as one of her own, if only temporarily, and fed me and clothed me as though I was the son she never had. She did, however, have two daughters – twins, both with sun-bleached locks of gold and eyes as blue as the sea upon which they sailed. They were only two years younger than I, and the three of us became friends. The first real friends I'd ever had.
However, that stage of my life came to an end all too quickly as we docked in the south-east harbour. I bid them farewell and headed into the city, towards their central palace. They had been expecting me, and I was led almost instantly to their library, as had been requested.
One night, as I sat in the huge room of books, the fire burning low and the candles almost extinguished, I heard a movement behind me. Whipping around, however, I saw nothing. Much as I strived to see further into the growing shadows, there didn't seem to be anything to see. So I turned back to my book, and jumped half a meter out of my seat.
A man was sitting across the table from me. He was old, though his deep black hair hadn't yet begun to turn grey, his face was lined with the wrinkles of time, and his eyes were dim and weary. 'Greetings, young prince Ji,' he said, his voice resounding eerily in the large, empty room.
'Gr...Greetings,' I stuttered back.
'So, you seek to learn the ways of the mage, eh?' I nodded slowly. 'Surely you must know that you cannot learn such things simply by reading of them in books!'
'I know of no other way to learn,' my voice had become defiant in face of this man's disrespect.
He shook his head. 'Of course you don't – but I know of other ways to teach, if you are interested.' A wide grin passed over his face, revealing oddly straight, white teeth that I found out of place in the smile of one so aged.
'You mean to say that you would teach me?'
'That's exactly what I mean.' His smile, were it possible, grew even wider.
'Wha – who are you?'
'My name is of no import. It was lost many years ago. Names don't matter much, when all is said and done.'
I was hesitant to commit to anything just yet, but then my sister's face loomed into my vision, her innocent eyes confused and frightened as their light drained forever. 'What must I do?' I demanded.
'Go into the mountains. Find the smallest peak. Halfway up, there is a cave. That is wear I live. I will wait for you there.'
'Why can't you just take me there yourself?' I asked.
'Because you move too slowly!' He laughed, even as he started to skip backwards towards the door. 'And I will not teach one who has not the courage and determination to make the journey on their own!'
