I'm glad that I'm on spring break, I can finally get some writing done! _
Thanks to the reviewers: Monkey Girl xD, s2Teennovelist, SkaterGirl246
Disclaimer: I do not own YuGiOh!
A Fairy Tale
Gotta Start Somewhere
Yami smirked. "I guess learning magic couldn't be that bad."
Solomon grinned. "I hoped you would say that. But before we go back to my home, I would like to see this phoenix egg that Ryou found." The old man knelt before the fire. "Hmm. The temperature seems right. Come here, Yami. It would do no good for me to teach you how to use magic if I didn't teach you about magical creatures. I might as well start with phoenixes."
Yami nodded and cautiously knelt before the fire, next to Solomon. The burn was still quite fresh in his mind and he had no intentions of repeating the incident.
"Phoenixes are rare and elusive birds. They were hunted to near extinction during the time of the human mages, for their magical properties. In fact, we thought only two survived."
"Hunted?" Yami asked. "From what I've heard, phoenixes are immortal birds."
Solomon nodded. "They are, for the most part, but if their dieing flames are put out before they can be resurrected, they will die permanently . Humans, and other races, liked to use their feathers for magical devices. Dwarves in particular like to light the feathers on fire and put them in lanterns as a light source. The feathers will burn forever if the flame is not extinguished."
"So they would kill them just to use the feathers? That seems a bit extreme, and ridiculous."
"Well there were other reasons. Some of the most powerful mages were able to bond with the birds and had them as familiars. Any mage can acquire a familiar, but only the most gifted and powerful can control a magical creature like a phoenix. Also, having a magical familiar can boost you magical potential. Phoenixes and dragons would boost it the most, but dragons are quite dangerous, so many mages went with the easier route."
"So, your saying that the mages killed off phoenixes so that they couldn't boost another mages power?" Asked Yami.
Solomon sighed. "Yes. It is sad, but that is what happened. The only two phoenixes we know of won't even go anywhere near anyone, because of this very reason. They are very intelligent, on par with elves and dragons and they have long memories. The two birds remember being hunted and hurt by humans and, therefore, refuse to have anything to do with other intelligent races."
"Elves and dragons? What about humans?"
The old man laughed. "Humans are smart, but no where near as crafty as an elf, or as witty as a dragon. But humans aren't dumb, like trolls." Everyone around Yami laughed, but the human just stared at the large egg in the fire. It was sad that he would probably never see an actual phoenix, or a dragon for that matter.
Solomon stopped laughing when he noticed Yami's forlorn expression. He stood and put a hand on the boys shoulder, causing everyone to become quite as well. "Tell me what is troubling you."
"I suppose I fell bad for what my ancestors have done."
Solomon chuckled. "Do not concern yourself with the past. What happened, happened and there is nothing we can do but remember and learn from others mistakes. Your sympathy in this matter only confirms my choice to train you in the ways of magic."
Yami looked up. "It does?"
"Yes! You are the first step in reintegrating humans into magical society. You will be an ambassador. Although it is highly likely that only humans of later generations will truly be able to experience this, I have high hopes for you, Yami."
Yami looked into the fire once more. Could he really change the way humans have lived and thought for hundreds of years? It seemed very unlikely, but this old man acted as if it was very much possible. "I don't know if I can live up to your expectations."
"You don't have to live up to anything. Just be yourself and everything will work out. Come, I have a few people I would like to introduce you to."
-oOOo-
Sorry for the shortness, but I honestly couldn't think of anything else to add to this chapter. It was mostly supposed to represent that there is more to magic then saying a few fancy words, sort of. Yami's 'education' will also deal with the different magical beings he will be around, such as fairy customs, the elven political system, and basic information on magical beasts/animals to name a few.
The next chapter should be longer!