In the Beginning - prophecy and Chap 1

A prophecy was written hundreds of years ago and forgotten except by a few.

From the shadow of the crazed king's reign,
Where hope is an echo from a once appeased domain.
The land, once fertile, now bears the scars of desecration,
A canvas marked by the lashes of his insane decimation.

Ages shattered beneath his every whim,
Spirits crushed, no songs or hymns.
Mother against daughters,
Whole villages sent to slaughter.

Three events are coming to pass,
Events so obscure, none seen by an hourglass.
Fires in the sky- foretelling changes to gain,
Of a time when Madness shall be slain.

A simple lesser noble's son of a forgotten line,
Blessed with a gift so deadly, yet so benign,
A Wizard's curse, in his veins, a power concealed,
Causes even the mightiest to bend the knee and yield.

The Last Heir- Cursed to a Legacy of Doom,
Sworn to Preath, the goddess of the Moon,
In Her Light, he finds the strength to vanquish,
The burden of fate he'll suffer to languish.

The Assassin, born of Daemons' blood, so it's claimed,
Her soul, a battleground, forever flamed,
Her blade sings a song of vengeance untamed,
Yet within her heart, hope is reclaimed.

Together, they rise, united by fate's strange hand,
Three heroes, bound by a destiny so grand,
With Fate, they stand, the last hope of the land,
To conquer the crazed king's unjust demand.

Through trials and battles, they forge their way,
Guided by stars that shimmer in the fray,
Each step is a verse in the epic they play,
Against the night that seeks to hold them at bay.

If any should fail or falter within their deeds,
Evil shall and will most certainly succeed.
The Convergence must be uninterrupted,
For the New Order to be Reconstructed.


As copied from the windowless cell walls after the Abbott's escape, written in her own blood.

PART I

Norric

Candle Flies

          When a private tutor taught Norric, he always asked questions. This behavior was frowned upon as tutors made pupils listen, not ask. Norric's parents hired many tutors, and many left after a few weeks. When the parents felt they could do no more, an elderly Elf woman, Imizael, came to them and applied, stating her family had all moved away, so she had no one to take care of. Jastrina and Evindal were elated to have someone who wanted to watch little Norric, and they hired her on the spot.

         Time passed as Imizael and Norric became fast friends. They had a nightly routine of visiting a scroll repository, taking a stroll through the Candlefly meadow, and being home in time for freshly made biscuits, honey, and buttermilk. After they ate, Norric read the story scrolls to Imizael until the early morning before sunrise. She would bid him a sweet goodbye, see him tomorrow, and promise another trip to the scroll repository.

         Their familiar ritual would continue for years until Norric was ready for the Academy. A month before the Academy was to start, Imizael did not arrive. Her absence was the first since the day she began. Norric and his parents became worried and visited her at her home.

         As they arrived, they saw a small cottage with a neat little garden with a white picket fence, a flowered yard, and a pink rocking chair by the front door. The inside curtains were drawn in silence.

         Approaching the door, Norric knocked urgently. Without waiting, he opened the door. The cottage was quiet. The parents immediately knew Imizael had moved on, leaving her shell behind. They attempted to restrain him, but he rushed to bed before they could. He tried to wake her, but he couldn't.

         After burning the effigy, he goes to the Academy to begin his studies. He was more withdrawn than he had been, quieter. He initially fears making friends because he doesn't want to lose anyone again. His calm demeanor and studious traits are due to Imizael and her love of learning. He excels in all his studies and is progressing through all his classes at an accelerated pace. His curiosity for learning overcomes his shyness. He constantly asks questions in the classroom, so even the proctors don't know the answers to all his questions. As a result, they referred him to the knowledge repository and removed him from the classroom.

         Norric never forgot Imizael or Candle Flies.

Graduation

         As a newly appointed Liaison, you must report to the Liaison Front Office for duty."

         "The Liaison Front Office? Yes, sir. Right away, sir."

         "Sir?"

         Irritated from being pulled from her schedule, Erissa snapped, "What is it, Norric?"

         "Where is the Liaison Front Office?"

         "Where is the. .? The Liaison Front Office currently resides at the Snow Dwelling. If you failed Beginners' Sanskrit for Gnomes, it's on Klantoka Mountain. You are dismissed."

         When Norric returned to his Mushroom Niche, he marveled at the Magicks the Titania Academy of Magicks and Higher Academics had in place. While Norric was shorter than the average elf, not measuring over six wings tall, everyone was the same height due to the Normalcy Spell cast over the academy. There is also a Passivity Spell. No one has the urge to follow their instincts to eat or attack others while on the academy grounds. Isn't Magick incredible?

         As he prepared for his departure, some unwelcome faeries arrived to taunt him, as they usually did.

          "Well, look who came back from receiving his assignment. Ol'Thistle Bottom himself. Going anywhere is important?" Smirked Blackberry Silverglitter, a mean-spirited Naiad.

         "I bet he will be the Lead Inspector for all of Fey Hills." Scoffed Petal Cornleaf, a Brownie.

         "No, I know. Norric will be the Queen's representative to the Seelie Court." Snorted an Elf named Solara of the Wildshine sarcastically.

         Staring straight at him, the Elf Tiana Dimpleshine sneered, "I got it. He didn't pass and must retake all his lessons with the baby faeries."

         With the last comment, all four faeries sauntered out, giggling, leaving Norric alone with a red face.

         "Don't let the freaky foursome bother you. I know you passed. I know you passed with the highest marks in our class. The highest in the academy's history. Why didn't you say something?"

         "Oh, hello, Phorus. They wouldn't have believed me. They never do. Even when Troll Proctor Bei announced my highest scores in the class, they thought she was kidding. Why am I being sent so far away if I did so well? Shouldn't I have the responsibility that merits prestige or something? Have you heard of The Liaison Front Office? Additionally, in Beginners, Intermediate, and Expert Sanskrit, Snow Dwelling is not mentioned, particularly on Klantoka Mountain. The Proctors didn't cover where it was. Where are you being sent?"

         "I, along with two others, am going to the Land of Eternal Autumn, located between the Dark Forest and the Badlands," Phorus answers pensively.

         Phorus, having a Da who was a High Elf and a Moon Elf Mem, chose to come to this academy instead of the one his Mem wanted him to go to. He was more like his Da, an Elf warrior killed by the cursed race just before Phorus's one hundred fifty-third season. This academy was nestled and protected deep in an enchanted forest.

         "That sounds like a great place to go, Phorus. Why do you sound glum about it? I'll trade you."

         "The fey of that region takes the Hunt to an extreme. Only through Hunt are the genuinely worthy left alive. The resulting bloodbath is a cleansing that purges the world of unworthy essences. Or what do they consider unworthy? I understand it's challenging for a faerie to survive more than three seasons.

         "Wow, Phorus, I didn't know. I am sorry. How soon can you apply for a transfer out of there?"

         "I need to be there for two seasons, and then I will be eligible for a transfer. I only hope I can last that long. It depends on the Sector's location and whether it's behind enemy lines.

         "You do have it worse than I do. When are you leaving? I'm going to the Ring tomorrow."

         Wow, you're shipping out so soon. I leave next week, and everyone I have talked with is going next week or later./font/cfont: timesThe Front Office/fontc: greyfont: times must require your presence. I wonder what happened to the last inspector."

         "No idea. You know the command is tight-lipped about those things. I had no idea how long they had needed someone.

         "Changing the subject," Phorus stated, "since we have a New Moon tonight, let's forget about tomorrow and our assignments and enjoy the music, feast, and drink. I hear the Sprites from the Glenn will sing tonight by the Falls. If we hurry, we can get good seats."

         "You're right. I will come along. We could meet up with others and have an enjoyable time. It would be nice to have a relaxing last night here. Is Gwenyir joining us tonight?"

         "No. Gwenyir didn't want to be with me tonight. Well, rather I didn't want to be with her." Norric didn't pursue it.

          They arrived at the concert in time to secure good seats and ordered the house's unique, chilled Flower Nectar Mead. The evening was hot, so they called for the Flower Nectar Mead several more times. Due to the young faeries' weak constitution, the Flower Nectar Mead was quite intoxicating. By the concert's end, both faeries were merry and trying not to show it.

          "Norric, I need you to tell me something seriously. Be serious." Said Phorus, trying to focus on his friend.

          "Sure. Anything thing for a friend. You are my best friend, Phorus. I would do anything, anything for you."

          "Good. You need to tell me why there are two of you sitting in one chair. Did you drink another duplicating potion from the Dryad? I told you she liked you when you watered her tree."

          "Shsh! Don't say that. That's not true. Her boyfriend, a Brownie, will hear you and will want to fight again. He nearly stepped on the last poor bloke who upset him. Shshshsh."

          "Well, now, what do we have here? Two wee lads out on the town unsupervised and slightly under the table." The sound of Mr. Eamon Declan, Proctor of World Events, and Interactive Magicks's Irish accent with a slight lilt of humor immediately attracted Phorus and Norric's attention. Both tried to function as if they had not drunk any Flower Nectar Mead, let alone five each. Both failed miserably.

          "I'm surprised ye lads are even sitting upright. Well, partially upright. Ye be steamin, no doubt. Don't worry too much, ladies. But oft! Yi be hurtin' something fierce in the marrow."

          As the old Leprechaun left, he began to laugh to himself.

          With his head on the table, Norric states, "He's right. We should get back. I still need to pack stuff. I want to send all my belongings to my new residence at LasPort Sie, but I still need to sign the waiver for the new health policy. I'll never have time to mediate. Medicate. Meditate."

          "It's almost sunrise...Cock a doodle, doo! I'm a bunny! Oh, Shshshshs! Youse can't do too much now. Let's go back, rest, and medicate, and I will help you pack when the sun settles. We will have plenty of time to make it before you have to be at the Ring-a-ting."

          "Think so? I am not feeling my best right now and feeling like what Declan used in class several times. Laundry? No, langered."

          "I feel like I ate too many slugs and beetle potpies."

          "What? That's disgusting. Why would you eat slugs and beetles? What is a potpie?"

          Phorus answered, "You asked how I felt. That's how I feel. That's what I ate, lots of it. All are squiggling in my stomach all at once. We'd best be getting back. I suddenly don't feel so good."

          As the two were on their way to Norric's mushroom Niche, the four faerie girls who had previously insulted Norric walked by.

          "Oh, look, ladies," began Tiana, "if it isn't Phorus with his pet beetle. Oh, wait. It's Norric."

          All four tittered with laughter. Tiana was about to say more before Norric began addressing each in turn.

          "Why, Blackberry, you have something on your chin. No, wait. It's your beard."

          "I thought of you today, Petal. It reminded me to take out the trash."

          "My dear Solara, I love what you've done with your hair. How do you get it out of the nostrils like that?"

          Instead of saying anything, Norric walked up to their leader, Tiana, and, using both hands, grabbed her head, kissed her soundly, then said, "The other night was okay, but we can't do it anymore. You just weren't good enough for me."

          Norric turned and said to a wide-eyed Phorus, "We're done here. Let's go. It was a great night, one to remember."{/linespace

          Instead of saying anything, Phorus unceremoniously regurgitated his supper and drinks at the girl's feet, smiled sheepishly, and staggered after Norric.

          As they walked to Phorus's niche, Norric waited while Phorus attempted to pronounce his passwords correctly to undo the door's warding locks so Norric could pass unharmed. After several unsuccessful tries, Norric walked through the threshold without providing the correct releasing incantation.

          "Youse idiot! The poofy spell could've vaporized you - POOF! Then there would be a big puddle of you on the floor I would slip up on. You made me slip on you because you walked right through the poofy spell."

          "You nut. You never ever set the poofy spell thingy to go off. You always ferget and go away."

          "Nuh-uh, not this time. I set it; I did. I remember setting it. I did because I knew I would be inticksication, intoxipediacatide, not sober when I got here, and just wanted to make sure no one was waiting for me when I came back. You know why?"

          "Because you're a wizard? POOF!"

         "No. Well, I don't think so. My Mem wanted me to be one. I want to be like my Da. Anyway, the Threshold Alarm would zap anyone, not me. ZAP! POOF! Shshsh. You could have been poofified."

          "You must have forgotten. Don't worry about it. We're here and safe. Do your meditation, hey, I said it right the first time, and rest for tomorrow. Be over to my niche as planned, and we will finish packing my stuff." Without waiting, Norric turned and left.

          After watching Norric leave, Phorus walked to his cot to change his meditation clothes. Upon sitting down, he promptly passed out and fell sideways toward the bottom of his cot.

          Sometime later, an assailant who watched Norric and Phorus enter and saw Norric leave alone knew it was time to strike. Before entering, three small round objects were rolled over the threshold toward the room with the cot, bumping into each other until they were lost out of sight. After not hearing any noise, the figure in grey is confident that no one is awake. After witnessing the gangly youth enter and exit without harm and listening to the duo's conversation, the intruder is convinced that the threshold trap has been disarmed, and the occupant is sleeping. "This will be an easy twenty-five crowns."

          When his foot crossed the threshold, the assassin's first and dying thought was, "Wizard."