Chapter 4 Zabani's Reaction and Tony's Decision
"So, what exactly did you do that you're so sorry for?" Zabani mused tentatively.
"Well, um..., you see, um..., the thing is, um...-"
"Oh, just spit it out already and don't even try to lie to me 'cause you know I'll be able to tell." Zabani said agitatedly, as she was starting to get suspicious.
"I..., well I...; argh! Can I just write it out, cause I can't really say it to your face." Tony whined.
She sighed and then consented, "Fine, if you'll hurry up; I'm tired of not knowing."
He scrambled for a piece of paper, and when he couldn't find anything to write with Zabani tossed a pen at him. He grabbed for it and started scribbling as fast as he could, while Zabani started tapping her foot and looking up at toward the ceiling. She watched him write and cross out and mumble to himself and then finally put the pen down as he clung to the paper.
"Well?" She said, "Hand it over."
He let go and watched the paper flutter in the air toward her. When it settled at her feet she slowly bent down and clutched it in her quivering hand. She was now getting slightly scared of what she was about to read. Zabani slowly glanced toward the paper, very tempted to just throw this bad new away from her so she wouldn't have to know. In the end she began to read.
First off, Zabani, I really am sorry about this and I know I'm an idiot and I wouldn't blame you if you hated me and never talked to me again or anything. You have all rights to. I really do care about you and I really, truly despise myself now and forever for this. I'm the worst person on Earth; I'm worthless, I should be dead, I don't deserve to live for doing this vile thing! I'm very tempted to just kill myself so you and everyone else will never have to deal with me and my idiocy. I don't even deserve to be near you now and I just wish someone or something could strike me down so you won't be affected anymore by my ignorance. For you see, I have hurt you, not physically, but I have injured your mind and even though you may not realize it now but someday you will, and you will curse me and I will welcome it, because I know it's more than I deserve for you to even be thinking of me at all. My master said you won't be affected much for a while, but within a few years your mind will change and lose it's sanity and it might make you hurt yourself or someone else and you won't even be able to do anything, all because of me. But please just promise me one thing: If I somehow find a way to fix my folly, will you let me try to help my pride and my great shame to heal you from your one con that I created? Huh, Zabani-Chan?
Zabani fell back into the wall just shocked speechless. But not only that, she was shocked by how much Tony's words had touched her heart and flattered her so much that she went all teary eyed. She was about ready to just forgive him and not care about what he had done-wait.
'What he had done...' '"Your mind will make you hurt yourself or someone else."' Zabani slid down the wall till she was sitting on the floor. She pulled up her knees till they touched her chin and put her head into her hands as she started to cry at the thought of how she couldn't be around children or her family or friends... or anyone... 'cause she'd hurt them.
She wanted to hate Tony for this, but she couldn't really do it. She knew he understood what he had done and even was willing to heal her whether or not she would ever acknowledge him again. She wanted to hate him, yet she wanted to forgive him and just keep loving him. He was a great guy, but he was still human and everyone makes mistakes. But this was a big mistake that shouldn't be forgiven; at least not right away.
She glanced at him, but couldn't stand the sight of him; her heart was torn harshly in two and it hurt intensely just to see him. She tried to speak, but she couldn't even bear to say anything. After a few minutes she stood up and ran away; but as she sped past him she tossed a note toward him and looked into his greenish-brown eyes one last time, that she would remember forever.
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Tony would never forget that look on Zabani's face-it had been full of pain and anguish and also love and a slight bit of anger, as well as her many tears streaming down her face. He really wanted to die now-'but wait!'- Zabani had tossed a folded up piece of paper at him when she passed him. 'Where did it go!?'
"Ah, there!" He snatched up the note and quickly ripped it open and scanned the short letter.
I love you so much Tony, but I just can't see you for a while. I will wait for you to find a way to heal me. I can't face you till then though; it hurts too much. But I will be able to forgive you in time; right now I'm still trying to let all this sink in. But I do not want you to die or anything. I really care for you. So I will see you again, once this is all over. Au revior for now dear, dear, Tony-kun.
He almost fainted dead away at that. 'She still loves me, even though I'm a stupid, ignorant, fool. She really is the most amazing girl ever.
'Now I understand my master's meanings! I was being so childish! I need to become serious, just like Master. Now I wonder he's so powerful; he knows how to keep a calm head. Once I learn to be like that and I can cure Zabani I will be worthy to be in her presence, at least.'
Tony stood up and turned stiffly. It hurt him that Zabani had run from him and couldn't face him. But that gave him more motives to grow up and become a great man and mage and so deserve to see her again and heal her and fulfill his promise.
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Tony walked into his master's quarters and waited to be acknowledged. His master looked him up and down and a slight smile appeared on his face.
"You understand now, don't you?" Tony just nodded humbly. "I can see you are going to grow up very wise", his master mused.
"So, uh..., when will I be able to learn the technique that will cure Zabani?" Tony asked foolishly.
"You act as if you'll be learning it soon. Maybe you aren't as mature as I thought you were..., yet." His master said in a deflated tone as he sighed.
"Wha..."
"You won't even be able to attempt such a thing for at least 30 years or so into your train-"
"WHAT!!!" "... Uh, oh crud."
"Well, it seems you still have a lot of your immaturity buried in you. You better work on that before you even think about me training you for this." The master said with a trace of amusement in his voice.
"It'll really take that long, Master?" Tony said quietly.
"Yes, I'm afraid it will; so you had better be sure about this because you'll be spending a lot of your life working toward this goal, you know."
"Yeah.., I know; but I need to do this for Zabani.. And more importantly for myself," Tony said in a resigned voice. His master raised an eyebrow in surprise at that.
"This is a personal battle I must win." Tony said determined.
"Well, well, well; maybe you are a bit more mature than your were. You should go get some rest now. Your training will start tomorrow at three." The master said in a pleased tone.
"Three? As in three a.m.?!"
"Yes. You know that three is the most magical number and morning is the most peacefully spiritual time to train; so three a.m. is perfect." The master said simply with his voice full of amusement.
"Oh, right." Tony said defeated.
"Try to get some sleep will you; I don't want to listen to you complain all morning." Tony's master said teasingly.
"Sure." He said as he walked out the door dejectedly.
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"Sleep. Ha! Right, who could sleep at a time like this?" Tony muttered as he dragged his feet on the oak wood floor. "This is almost as bad as finding out that I'd hurt Zabani-Chan. If only there was a quicker way. Oh well, I guess this is just what I deserve. But I don't want Zabani to have to wait so long. Who knows what could happen to her in thirty plus years." He couldn't help but to sigh in depression. All Tony had wanted to do was learn enough to impress girls, especially Zabani once he had started crushin' on her. But now look what had come of his showoffy-ness.
"I'm never gonna showoff for a girl ever again." He strolled out into a courtyard and gazed at the stars as he chanted a rhyme he learned when he was young. "Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight. I wish I may, I wish I might, have this wish, I wish tonight-that there was a faster way to become a great mage and a powerful man to impress a girl for one last time."
Just then a strange voice came out of the darkness,
"Well I don't know about becoming a great 'mage', but for a small comeuppance I can make you a powerful sorcerer." The voice said ominously.
"Who dares to intrude on a mage-in-training in this private courtyard!?" Tony said outraged, trying to sound big and important; but only succeeding in sounding silly.
"Calm down, boy, calm down. I'm just here to help; unless you wanna waste thirty years of your life... or just a few weeks." The voice said with amusement added in at the last words.
"Wha..., are you serious? Weeks? Just weeks, really?" Tony said growing more excited by the minute.
"Yes", the voice hissed, "only weeks."
'Forget being a mage! I can be a sorcerer within a month! Hmm..., but would Zabani-Chan be proud of a sorcerer? They kinda have bad reputations. Well, maybe that'll impress! A good sorcerer! Yeah, using sorcery for good would impress her; and I could still study to be a mage so as not to insult my sensei. I could cure Zabani and be her guy again within a few months! Just what I was wishin' for; this is my lucky day!' Tony could hardly believe it.
As the mystery man watched this reaction he started to chuckle evilly; "Yes, this will be a great successor for me. Before long he will be more evil than I am and once I die I can watch him wreck havoc on the world from Hell."
"Huh, what?" Tony questioned him, "Did you say something? Sorry I wasn't listening; was it important?" He said, afraid to insult this man and not receive the training he needed.
"No, it was nothing. So, does this mean you accept my offer?"
"Most likely, but what was that comeuppance you mentioned?"
"Oh that; I'll tell you about it later, you don't need to know now and it's a delicate operation, everything is on a need to know basis at the moment, ya know?"
"Sure, but I really can cure Zabani within a few weeks?"
"Yes, yes; I know it sounds unfeasible, but don't worry. Within a month you will be able to do whatever you want." The man said creepily.
"Wow! Alright, when do I start training?" Tony exclaimed eagerly.
"Right now", the man said as he reached out of the darkness Tony's arm and pulled him out of the light.
"Ok..., but I have to be back by three a.m. to t-"
"You'll be back when I say so!"
"But, my sensei is expecting me and-"
"Well I don't care! If you wanna learn sorcery you will do it by my schedule or not at all!"
"Well, argh! Alright, I guess." 'Sensei's gonna ream me out for this one with another one of his tedious, extremely long lectures."
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The short man dragged him through the shadows till they reached a rundown, ramshackle building. He let go of Tony and shuffled to the beat up door. Tony sated and raised his eyebrows at the thing that barely fit to be called a house.
'How can a sorcerer live in a place like this? I thought all of them were rich. Man, I guess that was just some dumb rumor or something. Weird...'
"Are you comin' or not? It may not be like your big 'ol fancy house, but it's still a house and if ya wanna learn from me you're just gonna have to deal with it. Got that, Boy?"
"My name's not boy!" 'Who does he think he is to call me 'boy'?"
"I'm your new teacher, that's what!"
"Wha... Did you just read my mind or something!?"
"Huh, Whadda ya mean, or something? What else could I have done, Boy?"
"My name's not boy!"
"I'll call ya whatever I want! You're my student now and you're gonna start actin' like it!"
"Bu-"
"No buts! And I ain't gonna call you nothin' but Boy, till ya earn it and give me some respect!"
"Hmph!"
"Don't 'hmph' me, unless ya wanna start gettin' some punishments already."
"Punishments!"
"Yes, Boy! I'm not such a softie as your mage master and you really need to learn some discipline. You ain't gonna disobey me like ya do with that master; so ya better get used to it!"
'Uh! I can't believe this guy!'
"You better believe it and your thoughts better be more respectful too; or I'll just pile on the punishments. More fun for me!"
'Hmph!'
"Yeah, yeah! Hmph, yourself, Boy!" Tony twitched and clenched his teeth at that.
"Good! Your finally learnin' to shut yer' yap. Now come on!"
This was Tony's last chance to get away; he knew once he stepped into that house he would be stuck. He took a deep breath and cautiously entered as he heard the door slam magically behind him.
The man took off his ratty coat and scuffed shoes.
'Ugh!' Tony couldn't help but think.
"'Ey, this is my house and I'm a' gonna be comfortable whether you like it or not."
The man was getting twitchy as he was reaching the moment that would ensure his future for good. 'Once I get my power into this kid he'll be mine to control!'
"Now, come 'ere and stand still."
"What for?"
"Wha' for?'Cause I said so, tha's wha' for."
'Argh...'
"Oh, hush up and hold yer arms up." Tony raised his arms slightly, not sure if he even wanted to be here anymore. Instantly the man grabbed his forearms and clutched them tightly with a burning touch.
"Ahh...!" Tony cried out in pain.
"Oh, hush; this is the least painful part, ya know." The man said, irritated as he was so close to his goal.
"Least painful! What do you mean least! This hurts!"
"Well, if I'd known ya were such a wimp I would a' found someone tougher. If ya can't even take this, you'll never be a successful sorcerer; Sorcery is painful!" The man cried out in insane glee.
"Ahhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" It was excruciating, like fire running up Tony's arms, through his veins to his skull.
'Oh God, I'm gonna die here! But I can't, I have to help Zaban-'
"Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" His thoughts were cut off as more screams of agony burst out him. Everything started to go fuzzy as Tony blacked out and collapsed unconscious onto the rotting wooden floor with many items and garments of all sorts scattered around him.
'Zabani...' She was all he could think about when everything went dark.
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Tony awoke with a pounding in his head. His fingers went to his temples were a great pain was festering.
"Ya finally awake, huh? Took ya long enough, ya great wimp." The voice brought everything to the front of his mind as he winced at the thought of all the pain he'd felt. He slowly opened his eyes and squinted in the bright light of morning peeking through the broken window.
"It's morning? Last thing I remember is pitch darkness." Tony said, trying to straighten his thoughts in his head.
"Well, you could say it's mornin' but it's more like..., just about noon." The scratchy, low voice said with amusement. Tony jumped up and instantly fell back down as he had smacked his head into something. The man burst out laughing at him.
"At least yer entertainin' even if yer a coward." He said, still chuckling away.
"Uhhgg..., but wait! Did you say almost noon!?!?!?"
"Yep."
"Oh crap! I have to go! I'm so, so, soo late! My sensei's gonna merdalize me for this!" He yelled, scrambling around to make sure he had all his belongings and then wobbly headed for the door.
"There's no point in ya leavin', ya know? Ya don't even know where ya are, do ya?" The man questioned him.
"Well..." Tony tried to stay calm as he waited, "Where are we?"
"Oh, tha's not important. I can get ya home; I'm a sorcerer, ain't I?"
'I don't know what he is anymore.'
"I heard that! Do ya wanna try some punishments already?!"
"Crud... No, no, sorry, never mind. But by the way, who are you anyways? You do have a name, right?"
"A' course I do, but why should you know it? You can just call me Master..."
Tony clenched his teeth at that remark.
"Well, can I know your name anyways, just for reference?" Tony of course planned to go home and look up whatever he could about this mystery man.
"Hmm..." The man muttered to himself as he thought about it. "Well, I suppose it wouldn't hurt. Ok..., your great, master's magnificent name, Boy, is Samuel Baumbach! But most know me as Sorcerer Baumbach."
Tony wanted to rush into thoughts about this news, but had to force his mind to be silent as he remembered the man's mind reading power.
"So..., what do ya think of ya master's name?" He said in a gravely voice.
"Um..., well it's a very... intriguing name."
"Intriguing? Whadda ya mean Boy? I wasn't schooled like you were, I use simple English, so would ya mind speakin' as so from now on."
"Well, actually I would m-"
"Oh, never mind, that's not the point. I don't care if 'in you mind; yer a'gonna or be punished harshly if I catch ya using fancy, wimpy talk."
"Wimpy? How's it wimpy to be a good speaker?"
"If ya can't figure it out, I sure ain't gonna tell ya!"
"Why?"
"An' now yer whining! I won't stand for that, so cut it out! Yer so close to a punishment."
"Wh-"
"And didn't ya mention yer late? Shouldn't we be a' gettin' ya home now, to yer precious Sensei?"
"Sensei! Oh no! Crap, crap, crap!" Tony let that comment about his sensei slide as he was more worried about what that afore mentioned master was gonna do to him once he was forced to face him. He started fidgeting about with fleeting beliefs of getting away with this.
"Do ya wanna go back my way or not?" The sorcerer's gravely voice said in impatience.
"Yes, of course! Let's go!"
"Come 'ere and try not to scream; this might hurt a bit."
"More pain?"
"Yes! Didn't you hear me? Sorcery is painful!"
He sighed,"Great..."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah; come on."
Tony braced himself for the pain and tried to save what little dignity he had left by not screaming, but he couldn't hold it all in. But he only screamed a little. He heard then men (his new master) say,
"Good, yer adapting to it fast. If yer lucky that might make up for ya bein' such a yellow belly." Tony grimaced and ignored his master's chuckling as best he could.
The first he realized, when he could see straight again, was that they were in the 'video game room' his mage master had helped him set up.
His master had wanted him to have fun, but not to have the games in his room to distract him when he had work to do. But he was only supposed to be in here in his free time, which he so did not have right now.
"Why are we in here? How'd you even know this room existed?" Tony yelled out of shock.
"It's not like I chose what room we'd end up in, but if ya gonna be so impudent I'll give a little preview of my kind of punishments!"
Master Baumbach turned on a game and instructed the controller to fly into Tony's hands and then it yanked him down to the floor; which made it look as if he'd been playing for quite a while.
"What are you doing?!"
"You dare question me? Well, well, here's your precious mage master, right on time." Baumbach said chuckling away.
'That laugh, if you can call it a laugh, is gonna get annoying.'
Baumbach didn't seem to notice that comment as he backed away and then slowly made himself invisible; saying, as his mouth disappeared, "Now for the show!"
"Wha..." Tony started, but he then froze as he heard footsteps coming down the hall toward the door. 'He's not seriously gonna have me sitting like this when sensei comes in?'
'Oh yes, I seriously am.' Baumbach thought menacingly.
Before Tony could think or say anything else the door swung open and an exasperated master walked in stiffly as he looked at the sight in front of him. He started to shake in anger and shock.
"You... You..."
"Sensei, it's not what it looks like, just let me explain."
"Explain! Explain what? That you completely skipped your training and you've been in here playing games all night; in a room which I squandered my magic to bring from the future to create!"
"No, no, it's the sorcerer! He did it!"
"Oh, now you're a liar, are you!? I didn't teach you to be so impudent and if this is how much respect you have for me then maybe I shouldn't be your teacher anymore!"
"No! No! Sensei, please! You may not believe me, but I would never lie to you. You know that. Even though my explanation isn't very believable and can't be proved..." Tony paused as his sensei scoffed at this. "But it's the truth and I hope that someday I can prove it to you, but for right now this is the best I can do."
His master stared him down till he was ready to compromise.
"I see that you are truthful and even if I can't believe you yet, I trust you and I will let this be for now; but you have to start earning my trust and respect, for you, back."
"Oh, I will; I will master! Just please forgive me."
"I do," As Tony became relieved he added somewhat darkly, "For now..." Tony shrunk down to the floor in a heap as he could hear Baumbach still chuckling behind him.
"See you later, Boy!" Baumbach hissed in Tony's ear as he left the vicinity.