Chap. 12
Re-Evaluation
What happened after that is a pain best left alone. There is only so much that a story can tell, and there are pieces that can only be known to those characters who live them. What I can tell you is that Brett and Sara comforted their child as best they could, for as long as it took for her to calm down. Eventually, Raven was able to regain her composure, and that is where we will pick up…..
"I just don't understand." Sara said from her chair. Across from her, Raven sat on her bed, her head down. She was still dressed only in her cloak; her mind was just really coming to grips with what had happened. Brett stood to the side of the bed, the book they had found in the library in his hand. "He seemed so….. peaceful." Sara continued. "He had such respect for all of us, such mercy for everyone." "He wanted to show his love for me." Raven whispered from the bed, causing both parents to look at her. "I know." Brett said gently. "But Rorek only has one love. And it's one that he will sacrifice anything and anyone for." Raising the book up, he said, "BB, Bart, and I found this in the library. It's a journal from Yemr, the wizard that kept Malichor in his cave before Rorek came." "What does that have to do with anything?" Sara asked. "Everything." Brett said. Opening the book, Brett flipped through the pages, until he came close to the end. Having reached his destination, he began to read aloud….
The dragon's power is growing again. He actually came down from his castle today, and attacked the village. He has never dared to challenge my power before. I wonder what will happen if I falter now. I cannot let that monster destroy my home, but I was barely able to press him back this time. I am growing old, and my magic is weak. Soon, I will not be able to defend my home. I must find help, some way to banish the dragon once and for all.
Praise be to the gods! Today, my hope for the future of the village has arrived. A young boy, skilled in the art of magic, arrived today, asking for a teacher. The villagers brought him to me, knowing of my skill. I have examined the boy, and he is powerful in the art, more powerful then I was at my prime. I asked him why he wished to train with me. He replied that he wanted to learn to serve the world. His reply pleased me. I took him into my confidence, and spoke to him of Malichor and the danger that he poses. The boy was horrified, and swore that he would slay the beast. His eagerness and potential may be just what is needed to destroy the beast once and for all. I only hope the name of Rorek will eventually be known as the dragonslayer.
"I think I can guess where this is going." Sara said. "Is there a bigger point to this Brett?" "I'm getting to it." Brett said. Flipping through the pages, the bat came to the final entry….
I lay here, in a growing pool of my blood, writing my last words. I curse my foolishness for what has happened. Rorek, my gifted student, the one I trusted with my power, my secrets, has lied to us all. Yesterday, I taught him the final spell, that I have worked on for the last twenty years. It is this spell, I believe, that could lead to the death of the dragon. But once he had mastered it, the young traitor turned on me, using his magic to carve a hole into my flesh. The blood began to pour out at great speed, and no magic I have could heal it. As I collapsed, he laughed at my foolishness. He never cared for the world, or the people in the village. He wanted the magic that I could teach him, and the power he would gain from killing the dragon. He will go gain it now, and the world will know him as the dragonslayer, until he destroys it. My only help is the failsafe I placed on the spell, that even he does not know about. If it works, both Malichor and Rorek will be drawn into the spell book. Perhaps that will earn me forgiveness for my actions…..
With a sigh, Brett closed the book. Looking up at Sara and Raven, he said, "He never wanted to help. He was biding his time, waiting until the moment was right. What happened today…." "But why did he try to… do that? Why didn't he just try something else?" Raven asked. "I thought of that. Apparently, the easiest way to take the magic of a female half demon,…. Is close physical contact." "So he never cared about me. He cared about my power." The bat nodded. Raven sighed, closing her eyes tight. "Do you want to.." Sara asked. "No." Raven replied, with a strange coldness. "Could you just leave me alone for a while?" "If that's what you want." Brett replied, tucking the book under his arm. Sara got up from her chair, and the two of them walked out of the room.
As the door shut behind them, the two Elementals suddenly heard a scream behind them. Then the sound of objects slamming and shattering against the wall were heard. "Sounds like she's getting out some steam." Brett said. "Should we stop her?" "No. I can't blame her and frankly, it can't hurt her to be angry right now." Sara said. "She'll smash some stuff, then burn out." The fox sighed then, and said, "Of all the things that I though would happen when we adopted her…" "I know. I don't believe it either." Brett said. "And this book didn't make things any better." He said, looking at the tome in his hands. "Where was that in the library anyway?" Sara asked. "Don't know. It was in a pile Beast Boy made." "You let him in there?" Sara asked in surprise. "More like he let himself." Brett replied. "He figured out where the key was, and started doing research before Bart and I arrived. He was going to get to that book before Bart did." "Wait, you mean Beast Boy actually broke into a magical library, and read books?" Sara asked in amazement. "Exactly." Brett replied. Rubbing her chin, Sara said, "That's way too industrious for him. Why would he do it?" "I might have a theory." Brett said. "And that would be?" Brett would have answered, but than a loud crash was heard behind them. "This may not be the best place." Brett said, as he put his arms around his wife's shoulders and began to lead her way.