Chapter 2

"You were lost from the errand." It wasn't a question that's for sure, when it was directed towards Calen. "Yes" he knew better than trying to explain why they only arrive after dusk that he and Meg was suppose to arrive some time in the late afternoon. He would check on Meg tomorrow. He's sure she was also having a scolding sermon, well not as bad as he was getting now but sermon nonetheless.

He arrived at Serek's lounge, only to find his master behind an oak desk, doing who knows what. He doesn't look angry. His stoic face revealed nothing – no surprise there – and his busier than ever. The poisoned soldiers were not recovering from their wounds. At least they were being kept from dying. And that's a good thing , right? A progress?

"How did you skinned your ankle?" Calen was surprised with his master's concern for his well being.

"Ankle?" He looked down and still it was bleeding, but not as much as a while ago in the forest. Oh! So that's where my wound is. I wonder why I did not feel anything.

"You are not aware I take it?" Serek ask in his monotone voice. He stood up after seeing his apprentice nod and prepared for the examination of the wound. Its not lethal to warrant a trip to the medical ward but deep enough to give a physical check up. Serek ordered him to sit on the desk and rest his wounded ankle on a chair. Calen should have used a healing spell, to Calen's embarrassment of oversight, but Serek hummed in confusion and contemplation when he tried to heal it himself, to much for surprise in Calen's part. It did heal, but slower than expected. Really, his master is just unpredictable in the best of times. Why did he do it when he knows it's a simple wound for Calen to use his own healing spell? Its not like it could kill or anything. Right?

"How did you get that wound?" Serek asked his apprentice once again.

"I tripped" Calen said sheepishly and blushed. Serek just raised his eyebrow, as if to tell 'go on'. "with this" Calen reached into his pocket and withdraw the weird object and held out in front of Serek. Serek stood and took the object and inspect it. It did not escape his notice of blood stained on the sharp triangular area and cracks on the periphery of the semi circular area.

Serek just hummed "I'll hold on to it for a while". Before Calen could protest, Serek send him a meaningful 'Don't argue with me' glare. Calen just puffed and pouted before asking if he could go to bed early and if he could also skip dinner. Serek just nod his head once and gestured the boy to leave him and do so his wish.

Calen did not sleep right away that night. He was staring at the ceiling absentmindedly. A single question echoed inside his mind, depriving him some necessary sleep. Where did those dancing snake go? It was there when I was holding it, when he took it, it was gone. Where did it go? Where?... Where….

It was some time in wee hours that he was finally claimed by Morpheus and succumbing to slumber, the question still remains plaguing his mind:

Where…

Serek watched his apprentice retreat to his room before returning his gaze at the strange object. He deposited the ancient object on the table. Lymerone perked up and stared at the table. Serek saw this and he knew right away that the object has magic residue. He browsed his vast colletion of his successor's library and searched for any information about the strange object. Hours of reading and still no information can be found about it.

He started to form his identifying spells onto the object but it got repelled. It seems the object resistant to magic. So that must be the reason why when it wounded Calen, it took Serek a lot of energy than necessary to heal a simple wound.

When he held the object when Calen showed to him he noticed the widening of the boy's eyes. As if he saw something that he missed. When he told to the youth that he will keep it he glared at Calen before he can start to argue. He was surprise to see his young ward retreat to his own chamber, as if pondering something, without any further protest. What more, Calen loves food. He doesn't just skip dinner. Frankly, this is the first time to skip his dinner. And at that moment he knew something, saw something that isn't there for Serek to see plainly. Calen must have seen it through his 'inner eye' as he called it. He will talk to his apprentice tomorrow, but right now he must know what this object is.

It interested him. Somehow Calen never cease to surprise him. Even to Calen's ability to attract strange things.

What trouble did he put himself now?

So guys, what do you think? This was actually pre book 2: Princess of Trelian

Please R&R !('3')!