Kaijin managed to tune out the voices and continue reading. After the sun had set, the natural light ebbed from his room. With no other source of light available, Kaijin felt his eyes grow heavy. Eventually, he slumped over his desk and drifted off to sleep.
“Kaijin ... wake up, dear.”
The sound of his mother’s voice and the feel of her gentle touch on his shoulder roused him from sleep. Kaijin lifted his head from his desk and stared down at the open page of the thick tome, uncertain of how much time had passed. He scanned the room with sleepy eyes before acknowledging his mother and smiling softly at her. The dim light emanating from the candle she carried outlined the soft features of her face.
“Mama,” he mumbled, “am I still in trouble?”
Elianee set the candle on the bedside table. “No, dear.” She gently combed her fingers through his hair. “Your father and I thought it might be ideal to enroll you in a mage school. What do you think? Would you like that?”
Kaijin relaxed under his mother’s touch and pondered her question. “M–me? A m–mage?” He paused, his eyes drifting to the candle. “I ... I don’t know. Will you and Papa be mad if I don’t learn magic?”
“Of course, not. We were only thinking of your best interests.”
Kaijin kept silent, his eyes scanning the complex words in his book.
“You are a bright boy, Kaijin,” Elianee continued. “You know, much of my family studied magic at a young age, too. It is a common occupation amongst the people of Ankhram.”
Kaijin peered up from his book. “Really? Are you a mage too, Mama?”
“No.” Elianee smiled briefly. “Your grandfather, Ashai, was a master of the arcane arts. He tried teaching me when I was your age. Unlike you, I lacked the interest. But that is another story.”
Kaijin tilted his head to the side, furrowing his brow.
Elianee chuckled and ruffled his hair. “You don’t need to decide now, Kaijin. Perhaps it may be something to consider when you are a little older, yes?”
“All right, Mama.”
After hugging and kissing him goodnight, Elianee picked up the candle and walked out of the dark room, leaving him to his thoughts.
Five years and some months later, the night came in which the Sora family shared their final meal together. Kaijin and his younger brother, Rorick, now almost six years old, endured another of their father’s interminable lectures.
Kaijin pushed his empty plate aside, half-listening to the speech. Propping his elbows on the table and resting his chin atop his hands, he stared at the lit candle next to his plate.
I hope it won’t be too hard,
he thought, his heart pounding.
I can’t wait to come home again so I can show Mama and Papa my magic!
His eyes settled on Rorick, who ate slowly, appearing uninterested in the lecture. A curious boy whose own imagination was larger than his tiny, thin body, Rorick had also shown interest—though, mild—in the arcane arts. His curiosity, however, seemed to mostly stem from imitating Kaijin.
“... and I certainly expect you boys to behave yourselves.” Ramon directed his hard gaze at Kaijin. “That means leave the damn candles, fireplaces, stoves and anything else that’s hot alone.”
Kaijin snapped out of his silent musings and regarded his father.
“Yes, I’m talking to you, Kaijin!” Ramon continued. “You’re the oldest. You need to set a better example.”
“I do, Papa! I give him all my old books to read once I’m done with them.”
“Well, those damned books aren’t helping!” Ramon scowled. “I had to stop him the other day from burning himself with the candles.”
Rorick sat up in his chair, looking at his father with fear-filled eyes. “Papa! The fire hurt bad! I promise I won’t do it no more!”
Ramon sighed. “Well, it’s good to know there’s hope for one of you, at least.”
Kaijin’s eyes dropped to his lap.
“Kaijin,” Elianee said softly, “we ... we only want the best for you and your brother. I ... We hope that—” She seemed to swallow a lump in her throat as she choked up with tears.
Ramon huffed. “What your mother is trying to say is that it’s high time you start acting like a normal child for a change. Hopefully learning magic will curb these strange obsessions you have.”
Kaijin’s face fell. Elianee shot Ramon a dirty look.
Rorick swiveled back and forth among the three of them, confused.
Ramon locked eyes with Elianee and scowled before regarding Kaijin. “Look, just go learn some magic, all right, son?” He exhaled and rubbed his temples. “And learn a little more common sense while you’re at it.”
There was hardly any sleep to be had in the house, with the whole family knowing what the morning would bring. Kaijin woke before sunrise, got dressed, gathered his packed belongings and trotted down to the kitchen. While waiting for the rest of his family, he nibbled on an apple from the cupboard. He turned as he heard his father’s footsteps in the kitchen doorway.
“Well, someone couldn’t sleep last night.” Ramon chuckled, crossing his arms.
Kaijin stood when his father entered. “No, Papa. I’m ... I’m scared.”
“Things won’t be so bad once you get used to your new home.” He patted Kaijin on the head.
Kaijin turned to the doorway when he heard more footsteps. Elianee entered the kitchen, followed by Rorick, who clutched a handful of her skirts, his anxious brown eyes gazing at his brother.
Elianee touched Kaijin’s hair. “Dear, you need to eat a hearty breakfast before you leave. You too, Rorick.” She tugged the edge of her skirt from the younger boy’s grasp.
“That’s right,” Ramon added, “you two won’t be getting any more of her wonderful home-cooked meals for a while, so you better eat as much as you can.”
Elianee prepared a pot of the boys’ favorite breakfast—spiced apple porridge—which Kaijin and Rorick devoured.
“Mama,” Rorick said, once the table was cleared, “why can’t you bring us yummy apple porridge while we’re away?”
Elianee chuckled. “I would love to, Rorick, but your father will go hungry if I make all the meals for you two.” She nudged Ramon and smirked.
Ramon cleared his throat, trying to hide his smile. “Yes, that’s right. Besides, I’m sure you’ll get some good meals at your new home.”
“Not as good as Mama’s,” Rorick muttered.
Elianee smiled and looked at Kaijin. “Are you ready, dear?”
Kaijin sat quietly, staring at the candle in the middle of the table. He broke from his small trance and regarded her briefly. Several knocks at the front door drew his attention.
Ramon turned to the door. “Ah, yes, that must be him, now. Come along, you two. Let’s not keep the driver waiting.”
Without saying another word, the boys were ushered outside and loaded into the back of the supply cart. Once they were settled, Elianee approached the cart, reached over and showered them with hugs and kisses.
“I love you both.” She handed the boys some cloth-wrapped snacks. “Mind your manners, Rorick. And Kaijin ... be a good boy, and don’t play with fire.”
Kaijin forced a small smile.
She gave Kaijin a small pouch weighty with coins. “Be sure to give this to the driver once you arrive.”
Kaijin took the pouch and stuffed it in his haversack. “I will, Mama.”
Ramon embraced Elianee from behind and slowly pulled her away from the cart. “It’s time, dear.”
Elianee’s tear-filled eyes wavered. She relaxed into Ramon’s embrace and sobbed softly. “Kaijin ... Rorick ....”
“Mama!” Rorick reached for her as she was drawn further away. He began wailing uncontrollably.
Kaijin swallowed, attempting to maintain his composure. He was determined to not cry in front of his brother.
“Ramon,” Elianee whimpered. “I wish ... Why couldn’t we have—”
Ramon interrupted with a gentle, comforting kiss. “No. We’ve been putting this off for too long. This is the best option.”
“But, Ramon—!”
“We said we’d put a stop to it before Rorick’s habits got worse. This is going to help them both.”
“Yes, but—!”
“They’re going, now, and that’s final, understood?” Ramon gestured to the driver, sending the cart on its way.
Elianee sniffled and stared into her husband’s stern eyes. She nodded slowly then watched the departing cart.
As Kaijin watched his parents get smaller, he found it harder to hide the tears in his wavering eyes. He wrapped his arm around Rorick, who continued sobbing with his face buried in Kaijin’s chest.
“It’s all right, Rorick,” Kaijin said, trying to smile. “We’re going to learn magic, remember? It’s going to be fun!”
“But, I miss Mama and Papa!”
Kaijin patted his brother’s back. “Don’t worry. We’ll see them again. We’ll write letters to them every day!”
Their trip lasted over an hour. They rode out of the middle district through portions of the city unknown to them. The familiar tall, narrow cobblestone buildings that lined their street were soon nothing more than towering silhouettes in the distance. The scents of the bakery’s treats and the apothecary’s hanging herbs were gone. The throngs of people and bustle of the marketplace seemed non-existent in the far western district of the city.
The clip-clopping sounds of the horses’ hooves on the cobblestone street lulled Rorick to sleep. Despite his red and tear-stained face, the boy slept soundly with his head on Kaijin’s shoulder.
Kaijin watched his brother sleep, but the change in scenery soon caught his attention. He could see the city walls and portions of the outskirts and farmlands beyond.
The cart halted abruptly before a winding, pebbled path. Kaijin’s body jerked forward, and he felt Rorick slide off him. The younger boy awoke, startled, before rubbing his sleepy eyes.
“Where are we, big brother?”
“I’m not sure,” Kaijin replied. “Perhaps this is the school?”
Kaijin and Rorick stared up the path which led to a quaint, stone cottage sitting alone, partially hidden amid a mesh of trees and underbrush around its perimeter. A branch from which a bird’s nest could be seen hung mere inches from a second-story window on the side of the cottage.
“Kinda small for a school,” Rorick whispered. He glanced sidelong at Kaijin.
Kaijin thought for a moment. “Maybe ... Maybe it’s bigger inside. It’s magic, remember? Things aren’t always what they seem.”
“Really? How do you know that?” Rorick’s curious expression turned to awe.
Kaijin grinned. “I read about it in a book.”
After the driver helped the boys off the cart, Kaijin handed the man the money pouch. The driver disappeared down the cobblestone road returning to the heart of the city. The boys stood before the path in silence.
Kaijin noticed the closed shutters and murmured, “Looks like no one’s home.”
“Maybe we’re early?” Rorick wore a hopeful expression.
Kaijin smiled. “Maybe. Why don’t we go and find out?” After slinging his haversack across his shoulder, Kaijin took Rorick’s hand.
The boys traversed the long, cobbled walkway. The world around them seemed to change the closer they drew to the rosewood door. The trees and shrubs surrounding the house were neatly trimmed, giving the house an overall inviting feeling at first glance—and yet, something about the area disturbed Kaijin. The place was unusually quiet, as though they had stepped into another world. He could no longer hear the bustling sounds of the city or the peaceful sounds of nature. His ears were ringing; the silence was deafening.
“Kaijin, this place is scary. I wanna go home.”
Kaijin blinked in surprise and relief hearing his brother’s timid voice. Watching the frightened boy, Kaijin gave his hand an assuring squeeze. “It–It’s okay, Rorick. I’m—” Kaijin stopped in his tracks as they reached the stoop. He heard one of the nearby shrubs rustle.
Rorick cried out in fear at Kaijin’s surprise, and he wrapped his arms around Kaijin’s waist. “Ahh! What was that?!”
Kaijin’s body tensed as Rorick’s grasp constricted. He huffed and attempted to pry the boy’s fingers free. “It’s just a—”
Suddenly, the shrubs rustled again and a tiny, scaled creature skittered out and across the stoop, just inches from Kaijin’s feet. Its elongated tail was the last thing he and Rorick saw as the creature darted into another cluster of shrubs.
“Monster!” Rorick screamed, pressing his body against Kaijin’s.
Kaijin felt his own heart pound. He scanned the shrubs, but he exhaled as Rorick held him tighter.
The little scaled creature poked its head from the leaves, tiny black eyes staring intently at the two boys. Perched on one of the shrub’s branches, the creature jerked its head up and down, as if confirming the boys’ presence.
Kaijin narrowed his eyes at the creature. “Wait, th–that’s not a monster. It’s just a—”
“There it is, Kaijin!” Rorick wailed, squeezing him. “Let’s get out of here before it eats us!”
“But it’s not—”
“Kaijin! It’s coming closer!” He tugged at Kaijin’s tunic.
Kaijin stumbled backward. He caught himself before he could fall atop his brother. “Stop, Rorick! It’s just a lizard—a tiny little lizard! You like playing with lizards, don’t you?”
Before Rorick could answer, the front door flung open.
A middle-aged man dressed in simple brown robes poked out his head. “What in the hells is all that noi—” He stared straight ahead as if expecting to face an adult, but realized his mistake when he lowered his gaze and saw Kaijin and Rorick cowering in fear.
Kaijin and Rorick held each other, staring at the man. “W–wait a minute!” Kaijin exclaimed. “You–you’re that bookseller from the marketplace! Ja–Jar ... Jer ...
Jarial!”
Rorick continued shivering in fear, his head whipping back and forth as he looked between the two, while maintaining a tight grip on Kaijin.
Jarial’s eyes flared. “Let’s get one thing straight,
boy
.” His tone dripped with malice. “You will address me as
Master,
and
only
by that title. Is that clear?”
It was Kaijin’s turn to shiver. His mouth went dry, and he felt his face pale as white as Rorick’s. In unison, the boys replied with shaky voices, “Yes, Master!”