PROLOGUE:
THE TREE
“And so the Mage King went about, and as he walked his subjects looked at him in awe. And the people said that he was their lord, and they ransacked the Temples of Xlapotec, and worshipped the Mage as a god. The Mage King ruled over all the land, and he erected a great Pyramid in honour of the land. And under his rule, the kingdom flourished. Crops grew like never they had before, and more and more people became the Mages, powerful humans bending the world to their will. And so the land flourished.
“But there were those who opposed them. The sorcerers were angry, and wished to rule the beautiful land. They were those who had aspired to become Mages, but had failed. And they attacked the land constantly.
“They were a large threat. But there was something even more dangerous, which all but the Mage King had forgotten. The God of Vengeance. Xlapotec.
“The King was the first to understand. One of his courtiers was struck by lightning. So the Mage placed great magical barriers around his palace. Xlapotec struck continually at the land for six years. Then it happened.
“The sky went dark, and it did not change back. Bolts of lightning struck people viciously. And then Xlapotec summoned his army. They crawled out of the ground. Each was as strong as ten men, and they came in hordes. The Mage King, however, was equal with the gods. He went atop the Pyramid, and there Xlapotec focused all his power. For six days Xlapotec threw lightning bolts and such things at the Mage. On the seventh, the armies of Xlapotec reached the Pyramid. They set it alight, but the Mage continued to struggle, there atop the Pyramid. On the tenth day, the fire reached the peak. The Mage was set on fire, but he continued to struggle. On the eleventh day, the Pyramid crumbled under the flames. The Mage King fell. As he hit the ground, he uttered one word. He raised his hand. Then he fell, with green god-light dragged behind him. Every one of Xlapotec’s creatures died.
“And so the Mage King died, and pulled the spirit of Xlapotec into his grave. The Mage, in his spirit form, gave up passing into the afterlife, so that he could remain and hold the God of Vengeance underneath the soil, away from this land.�?/P>
The Elder stood.
“And that is how it happened. That is why now this land grows no crops.�?SPAN> He walked slowly out the door of his hut, with the young learners following.
“And that, is why this tree, is such a curse.�?SPAN> They stood before a withered tree.
“Why, Elder?�?/P>
“Because it grows on the very place of the Mage King’s grave.�?/P>
The learners fell silent. The tree emanated beating, humming energy.
Chapter One
Sorcery
Caristan hummed as he walked through the arches of the city. He walked into the Mage’s academy, and strode to his test room. He sat among the other aspiring Mages. Their teacher stood.
“As you should understand, since the passing of the Mage King, Mages are one hundred times weaker than they were before. However, we still wield extraordinary power. If you pass this test you will become one of us, the Mages. The test is simple, but difficult. Summon a red djinni. Then dismiss it without letting it harm anyone.�?/P>
Caristan stormed back to his home. He had failed. He had not summoned a red djinni. Well. If he couldn’t be a Mage, he’d be something better. He would be Caristan the Great! He would rule the world, like the Mage King had been so close to doing. But how? He would need all the power of the Mage King, plus more. He would have to think of something. But in the meantime, he could get his revenge on the fools at the academy. He carved a hexacle into the floor with his knife, then uttered the first words of summoning�?/P>
Screams echoed throughout the city. A huge black demon ripped its way through the academy, crushing everyone in its way. Caristan smiled, standing on his balcony. As the djinni smashed through the wall of the academy, Caristan muttered a few words. In the academy, the black djinni vanished. Caristan laughed, and went down into his cellar.
An hour later, Caristan could not control his glee. He was the mighty one! He had destroyed the Mage’s academy! These thoughts lulled the young man to sleep.
The next morning, Caristan waltzed onto his balcony, and then blinked. The academy was back. Of course. He should have known. But this time, he would burn the magical establishment right down to its ancient roots!
Fire coursed from Caristan’s blistered hands. His face was cut and torn, but it still wore an expression of mad glee. Whirlwinds of power cut through the Mage’s academy, and bolts of revenge whistled into the hearts of Mage teachers.
“Yes! At last, power!�?SPAN> Behind him, something shaped like a gate appeared. Someone stepped out. He gripped Caristan’s shoulder.
“Listen. You are powerful, by a Mage your age’s standards. But you are not a Mage. You are one of us. The Sorcerers! Come! We will show you the path to power, and revenge!�?SPAN> Caristan smiled madly, and dived through the portal. The Sorcerer stepped after him. The portal vanished in a shockwave of energy.
The Elder gazed deeply into the pond. He raised his head slowly.
“Sorcery,�?he muttered.
To Chapter Two >>
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