"I find you worthy. The rest is up to your partner. If she passes her challenge ..." The judge turned and left.
The guard reached out to Lorit to unlock the shackles. Before he could, the courtroom faded and Lorit found himself in the Council chamber, standing beside Chihon.
"You're safe. What happened to you?" Lorit asked.
"I was in the market. Grandma'am was there. She asked me if I would leave you, if you chose unwisely."
"Would you?" Lorit asked. He looked at her for any sign that she might leave him. He was worried by the mere thought that she might leave him and desperately wanted the truth, but he did not use his magic to determine if she was lying.
"No, I wouldn't, but I will give you hell if you try something stupid."
The doors to the hall opened and people streamed in. They were celebrating and shouting. Lorit turned to see what the fuss was all about.
"Hail the Master Wizards," the crowd shouted. "Hail the Master Wizards. The Council is restored. There is a new pair. You shall rule the Council wisely."
A man dressed in Wizard's robes approached them. "Please let us honor you. You have passed the challenge. You will take over the rule of the Wizards' Council."
He turned to the crowd and shouted. "Hail Lorit, Master Wizard. Hail Chihon, Master Sorceress." The crowd went wild with enthusiasm. They cheered and screamed and shouted their approval.
Another man stepped forward with a large scroll. He held up his hand to quiet the crowd. He waited until the roar died down and then rolled out the scroll and began to read loudly.
It was a list of Lorit and Chihon's accomplishments as they had journeyed across the land. At first Lorit thought they were embellished, but he soon realized that they were accurate and that he and Chihon might indeed be worthy of all this praise.
With each new accomplishment, the crowd went wild, shouting and whistling. They threw colored paper in the air and made all sorts of noise. Some beat drums, others cymbals, still others played wind instruments or strummed strings.
Finally, the crowd surged forward, falling to their faces before Lorit and Chihon.
Lorit watched in amazement. All this was for them? To celebrate their deeds? He felt a surge of pride in their accomplishments.
He felt a squeeze on his hand.
It was Chihon.
What was she trying to tell him?
She looked out over the crowd. She looked embarrassed. Lorit reached out to her with his magic to speak to her in private.
"What is it?"
"This is not right. We don't deserve this. We still need to free Zhimosom. We're not worthy of all this praise."
Lorit looked at the crowd prostrate before him. She was right, they had not freed Zhimosom, they were not worthy of praise and if they couldn't save Zhimosom, they weren't worthy of being on the Council.
He squeezed her hand back and spoke to the crowd. "Please get up. We don't deserve your praise. We have done only that which fate has placed in our path. We are nothing special."
The crowd remained bowed.
"Please. Get up," Lorit shouted.
No one moved.
"I said GET UP!" Lorit walked over to the first row of people and grabbed one of them by the arm, dragging the man to his feet. "Get up. We don't deserve this."
Lorit shook the man by the arm and watched him transform into the little golden man that had put them through the trials earlier. The crowd faded away with its noise and revelry.
The little man looked up at Lorit. "I see you've learned wisdom. You have found what you seek."
"I have not found Zhimosom," Lorit said.
"Oh, but you did." The little man motioned to him to lean down so he could whisper in Lorit's ear. "You know where he is, don't you?"
Lorit reached into his pocket and fingered the small silver star Rotiaqua had given him. "I do. But I don't know how to free him."
"You still need to challenge the one who holds him. Defeat him and Zhimosom will be freed."
With that, the little gold man disappeared.
"What now?" Chihon asked.
Lorit held out his hands and visualized the Summa Purus Magicae in his outstretched arms. A mist formed, and solidified. He could feel the weight of it as the book became real in his hands.
He weighed the book in his hand and then handed it to Chihon. "Take care of this. We need to challenge a Wizard."
Graduation
Lorit and Chihon stood before the Wizards' Council once more. Chihon cradled the heavy Summa Purus Magicae in her arms.
As the Council members arrived, Lorit greeted them by name.
"We have opened the book and studied its lessons. We are here to take our place on the Council and ask that the full power of this body be used to free Zhimosom - immediately."
Neussul laughed. "You dare disturb us again?" He rose from his seat and extended his hand to Lorit. "Have you not had enough demonstrations of my power? Do you still want to trifle with me?" Small sparks rose from his fingertips as he spoke.
"Where is Zhimosom?" Lorit said. He looked over at Chihon as she held the book. She was as determined as he was to see this through.
"What foolishness is this?" Neussul demanded.
"Where is Zhimosom? Where are you holding him?" Lorit looked from one Wizard to the next. Most of the Council members just sat quietly. Awbelser simply nodded his head, assuring Lorit that he was on the right path.
"Holding him? You think I am the one who trapped him?" Neussul asked.
"I know you are the one." Lorit raised his power, ready to take the Wizard on. "Where is he?"
"You wish a battle? Very well, then." Neussul waved his hand. Suddenly they were standing across from each other on a large competition field that was used for jousting. The field was split by a low single rail fence meant to keep the horses separate from one another during the charge.
Lorit stood at one end, Neussul at the other.
Neussul raised his hand and created a fireball. Lorit raised his shields and waited for the oncoming rush of the fire, but nothing came.
"Oh, really, did you think we were just going to stand here and throw fireballs back and forth until one of us tired?" Neussul called to him from across the field.
Neussul raised his arms, tossing the fireball into the air. It transformed into the shape of a dragon about the size of a large horse. It flew circles over Neussul's head, awaiting his command.
Lorit watched as the flaming dragon swooped in the air. He knew he had to come up with a proper counter to the fire dragon, but what was it? What could he send to counter the flaming behemoth?
Lorit reached out to Chihon. It was becoming almost automatic that when he was confronted with a challenge, he sought her help and advice. "What do you think? The magic of the Firebird? Burn brighter and stronger than his dragon?"
"I think he's prepared for a strength against strength challenge. We have to come up with something more subtle. Something that can counter the heat of his dragon."
"Water?" Lorit sensed her agreement and started the spell to create a creature totally of water. He recalled the shape of an eagle, imagined it made completely of water. He saw the outline take shape; the feathers glistened as they formed, their tiny ridges shaped out of waves that crested along its wings.
The shape grew steadily until it was larger than Neussul's dragon. Lorit concentrated on the eagle, pushed his will into it, and finally gave it a life of its own. It leaped to the challenge, streaking for the dragon, its talons out, grasping for the flaming beast; its wings beat the air sending sparks flying from its opponent.
The dragon launched itself straight up, as if trying to avoid contact with the watery eagle. Lorit felt the power draw that the eagle took as it reeled after the flaming dragon. The two creatures collided in a cloud of steam and sparks. They bit and clawed at one another, flaming wings beat against watery wings, sending a hissing cloud of steam into the still air at each contact.
They battled on, as the morning grew longer. A fine mist of water and ash settled over the parade ground, leaving the grass glistening like the morning dew. Lorit felt power draining from him with each renewed attack. If this kept up for too much longer, he knew he would be exhausted and exposed. He reached down, deep into the ground, until he found both a source of magical power and of heat. He channeled those powers through himself and Chihon, directing them towards his creation as it attacked the flaming dragon again and again.
In a final burst of strength, he reached out for the water nymphs' magic. He drew from them and combined their magic with the power he had infused into the eagle. It cried out, screeching so loud Lorit thought he would go deaf.
The eagle disengaged from the dragon and headed for the sky.
"Looks like your pet has had enough," Neussul called out. The dragon took up its previous station circling around his master.
Lorit stayed focused. The eagle turned, folded its wings, and plummeted for the ground, picking up speed as it came. Like a thunderous breaker, it struck the flaming dragon with the force of a mighty wave crashing against a stubborn cliff. The dragon shuddered, gave out one last terrible cry, and then exploded into a shower of sparks and flame, shedding ash all over the field.
The eagle screeched once more and came to rest near Lorit. It inclined its head first to Chihon, and then to Lorit, and then dissipated until it was just a cloud of steam that quickly vanished into the warm air.
Lorit looked back at Neussul. The Wizard looked slightly worse for the wear. He was disheveled and stood askew, as if the man himself had been beaten. He raised his arms wide and shouted at Lorit. "That was just the beginning."
The ground near Neussul's feet started to rise up as if something beneath it were struggling to escape. The grass bulged at first, and then broke apart as a mound of rich dark earth arose. It increased in size until it was twice as tall as the Wizard was, then started to take on the shape of a troll. Its muscles bulged, stretching at the skin made of earth until it glistened.
"Ideas?" Lorit quickly shot to Chihon.
"I don't know, but he's weakening. I can feel Rotiaqua more clearly, so his hold on Zhimosom must be weakening. Keep doing what you're doing. You have him on the run."
Lorit thought. What would counter the strength of the earth and the power of the troll? If he could conjure something made of air, it could dry out the earth and turn it to dust, but what form would be the best one?
The troll beat its fists against its chest and started towards Lorit. He had to think quickly before the beast was upon him. He reached down deep inside himself searching for the animal he needed to counter the Troll.
Suddenly, he had it. He visualized the Zilant, with its six pairs of wings and long snakelike body. He grasped the air, forming it into the shape he had ridden through the treacherous winds in the mountains high overhead.
It sprang forward, heading straight for the advancing troll. The troll swatted at it as it flashed past. The Zilant turned and twisted around as it passed the troll, striking the ugly beast on its massive shoulder. Large sharp fangs made of air plunged into the dark earthy flesh. When the fangs withdrew, they left behind a pair of dry flaky patches where the troll's skin turned to dust.
They kept at it, the Zilant twisting and turning in the air. It struck at the troll as it passed, sinking fangs into whatever flesh was exposed and slashing with its tail. The troll spun around, swatting the air. It caught the Zilant in the mid section as it flashed by, grabbing the thick snake's body in his earthen hand. He threw the Zilant to the ground.
The Zilant shook off the impact and leapt skyward. It attacked again, this time more timidly than before. Once again, the troll struck as it flashed past. It grasped the Zilant by the tail and slammed it to the ground.
Lorit could feel the power drain out of him with the impact. He reached deep within himself for more, tapping Chihon's power and anything he could use to fuel the battle. Then he remembered. He whispered the name "Kal'ryni." Nothing more. Nothing was needed. He heard Chihon echoing his thoughts as she called out on her own.
The magic of the mini dragon combined with his and rushed through him. Lorit guided it to the Zilant with renewed hope. The Zilant sprang to life, attacking the troll with strikes almost too fast to see.
The troll swatted at the Zilant, trying to make another grab as it flashed past, but it was too slow. The Zilant bit again and again into the flesh of the troll, each time leaving a new mark where its skin turned to dust. It whipped its tail around the troll as it passed, leaving large stripes of dusty skin where it made contact with the beast.
The troll slowed down in its counter attack. Its skin was dry and cracked, transformed from the glistening brown of the soil from which it had been formed into a dusty light-brown of parched earth. It cracked and shed dust and dirt with every move, as it fought. The troll made one last lunge at the passing Zilant and then shattered, as if it had been made of clay and struck with a hammer.
Clods of dry earth showered Lorit and Neussul as the troll disintegrated and Neussul crumbled to the ground.
Lorit walked cautiously to where Neussul lay. The Wizard looked like he had aged a dozen years during their fight. "You have him, don't you?" Lorit demanded. "Tell me how to release him and I'll let you live."
"You may have learned to defeat my conjurations, but you can't defeat me," Neussul said, his voice shaky and tired.
"Bring the book." Lorit waved Chihon over. "I think I recall a spell that will do just nicely."
"Here." Chihon handed him the book.
"You can't open that," Neussul said. "You said you couldn't."
"I can now." Lorit passed his hand over the lock on the book and it sprang open with a snap. He grasped the cover and felt the pages with his fingers, searching for the page he wanted; and he opened the book.
"This is the one I was thinking of." Lorit glanced over at Chihon, his finger pointing to the blank page.