PART TWO: The High Sorcerer (And the Farmer)

Backstory:

The High Sorcerer, as gruff and recluse as he was, welcomed questions –as long as one was willing to answer one of his in return. The only exception was during lessons; Baradun could ask questions pertaining to the lesson, but no personal ones. Those would only be answered if asked during a meal. The High Sorcerer –called Rivian, insisted the morning and evening meals be taken together. Lunch; if it was remembered, could be eaten alone.

During his first few years of Apprenticeship, Baradun only wanted to know about Magic and the World. He wasn't in a hurry to learn about his teacher, or to have his teacher learn about him.

Most of the lessons were focused on learning to use what the High Sorcerer Rivian called "gaymkod"; the magic that created Azerim. "The ones and zeros" his teacher would also say about them. It was only magic for the Three High Magi. While there were very few uses for it, the power was formidable and not to be misused or taken for granted. Rivian was teaching Baradun how to access the powers of gaymkod; the ability to use which had been given him in the "patch" Baradun got when he first came here; he was learning how to use it to portal himself and others anywhere he wanted. Normal magical portals could do the same –as long as one had already been to the destination; but if one got distracted while channeling said portal, it could send a person to the wrong place. Portals with gaymkod had no such negatives. As long as the place existed, one could go there. One could even use a person as a focus to get somewhere the traveler had not been to. It also needed less concentration.

It took Baradun a week to even be able to access this "gaymkod" magic to focus into making a portal. He was not used to taking so long to get results out of magic. He found using this "world design" magic difficult and resented it. His teacher kept encouraging him, however, and never seemed concerned at Baraduns apparent slow progress. In fact, when Baradun had his first success, the High Sorcerer was surprised and very pleased. He even had Baradun open a portal by just thinking of one person.

He used the first person to pop into his mind; the portal cracked open and he and his teacher went through the rip.

They appeared at the outer boundaries of one of the magical Temples –in fact one of the Temples of the Three. Morisanore: The Temple of Divine Magic sat near dead middle of a very large valley between several mountain ranges. It was said this land was the most fertile on Azerim; their legends told it was one of the Nine birthplaces of life in Azerim.

The High Sorcerer looked over at his student. "Why are we here? Who was it you thought of?"

"A… friend… from Carlabor." Baradun answered a bit unwillingly. "Shouldn't it have taken us right to her?"

"Each temple or tower dedicated to the three magic's has shielding that prevents anyone uninvited or uninitiated from portaling straight in." Rivian explained, slipping his hands into the opposing sleeves. "It has been a very long time since I've seen this place." He mused, his gaze travelling passed the elegance of the palace like temple before them. "Not since she bade me leave…" his old and deep voice trailed off reminiscently.

Casting a glance at his master, Baradun found himself finally wanting to know more about the man he would someday replace.

~. ~. ~.

It was several days later that Baradun got up the courage to ask his mentor a personal question. He decided that it would be while they were having their evening meal together.

The High Sorcerer could feel his protégé's eyes on him. After a few mouthfuls of stew, he leaned back and studied Baradun. "We can stay at this table all night if it would help the question to come out."

Baradun grinned a bit sheepishly. "Sorry, Master. I was just wondering…"

"Yes?"

"Are we allowed to have families?" he rushed the words out of his mouth before he lost his courage. Baradun wasn't even sure why the question had become important; it sounded insane to ask even as the words were leaving his mouth.

Positioning his hands in a steeple, the older man took a breath. "In your case, after you become the High Sorcerer, you may; but I advise caution, as the strong magic's that come with the position will extend your life many fold," he cautioned.

"Oh." Baradun shifted his food around. "Do you have a family?" He forced himself to continue to eat while waiting on the answer.

Rivian's brows rose, and it was his turn to pause. He picked up his spoon once more, but did not scoop more stew. "I did. A wife, a son, and a daughter."

"What happened to them?" asked Baradun, noticing the tense used.

"Well… my wife died before I became High Sorcerer, my daughter became a druid, and my son went off and had a family of his own."

Baradun was about to ask how old he was, but kept the words in, not wanting to insult the man who he actually admired; no easy feat.

The High Sorcerer saw the question nevertheless. "I am three hundred and two years old. I was seventy four when I became High Sorcerer. The oldest to even be given the chance by my predecessor." He said proudly. Rivian gave his student a shrewd look. "As you are the youngest. I had to apprentice and Journey many more years than you to wait for my eventual call to becoming High Sorcerer. Consider your timing lucky." He chuckled, twirled the spoon in his hand and put it in his bowl. "What of you, my Apprentice, have you family?"

Looking down, Baradun moved pieces of stew around in the bowl. "If you mean parents, I didn't really have any. The closest parental figure I had was the man who says he bought me as payment for my parent's debts." He sighed, "Then, at ten years old, I did magic while trying to get away from a Sorceress I'd pick pocketed. She caught me and took me to Carlabor. Haven't looked back since." He answered in a defiant tone. After a moment he looked up to see his Master still studying him. "What?"

"How much of that was truth?"

Baradun grinned. "Enough of it."

At that High Sorcerer Rivian chuckled. "Eat, Baradun, the night is clear and we should take advantage of the starlight." He instructed and the two of them continued their meal.

~. ~. ~.

High Sorcerer Baradun hadn't been to the Temple of Carlabor since his Ascension Ceremony to High Sorcerer of Azerim. That was nearly a decade past. Nor was he here on business; this was something personal. The Tower kept records of every high status magic user and their family line.

There was something he wanted to do for his late teacher.

~. ~. ~.

Azerim was his to explore and protect, and the High Sorcerer was determined to see as much of it as he could!

Baradun was strolling confidently down an old dirt road when the sounds of metal on metal came to him. So he sauntered towards them in hopes for something more interesting than gravel. Sure enough he came upon a man fighting several monsters with no weapon but a small sword and a flimsy shield. The man was about to get flanked by one monster when Baradun decided to even the field. He threw a fire bolt at the creature, setting it ablaze. It ran off squealing, the sound eventually cutting off after another fire bolt hit it.

When Baradun turned back to the main fighting, the rest were already scattered on the ground and the man was drinking a potion. "Well done Adventurer!" he complimented while going up to the man.

The man himself seemed just in his prime, but certain wrinkles suggested he was older than he looked. "Thanks for the assist, my lord! But I'm no Adventurer. Just protecting my village from these brutes!" He emphasized his words by kicking the nearest corpse before turning back to the sorcerer. "May I have the name of the man who saved me from being skewered by a dishonorable villain?"

After taking a moment to keep from laughing at the way this man talked, Baradun obliged. "I am High Sorcerer Baradun, at your service sir!" He added a sweeping bow just to match the level of eloquence and fan fair this man had in his speech. Straightening, he found strangely familiar eyes studying him.

"High Sorcerer hu?" The man sheathed his sword and held out his hand. "Name's Caedous," they shook each other's hands, but Caedous' strong grip didn't release, "I'm the grandson of the High Sorcerer before you."

The moment the man had introduced himself, Baradun already knew who he was. He was just not expecting to meet Rivian's family under these circumstances. "Yes… your father was Gerald. Master Rivian told me." He took stock of the bodies around him before back to Caedous. "My condolences for the loss of your grandfather."

Caedous shrugged. "Becoming High Sorcerer didn't give Rivian much time for family; and we did all right without him." He let go of the new High Sorcerer's hand. "Come, please let me give you the hospitality of my home and table to pay you back. You didn't have to intervene."

"Oh, I couldn't impose…" He was sure there was better foods waiting for him at his Tower anyway.

"Please." Caedous entreated. "My son and his wife would love to meet you. I'm always telling them of my adventures, and I'm none too sure they believe me. You can set them straight." He said with a laugh.

Baradun relented. "Where is your home?"

"Just beyond the river in the town of Honeywood. Come."