The Grand Sage

“I’m telling the truth, Edith, he really did speak!”

“You're saying Osric said your name at three weeks old, and he hasn’t made a noise in the six months since?”

Osric peers down the stairs at Catalina and Edith arguing at the dining table.

“Yes! He doesn’t even cry!” Catalina’s shrill and shaky voice rings out as she stands up from her seat. “Please tell me there’s nothing wrong with him.”

“I delivered a healthy baby boy,” Edith says in her mature voice. The deeper, calming tone soothes Catalina, and she plops back down into her chair.

“I can guarantee that as the best midwife in Lumora.” Edith pridefully holds her hand to her chest. “Are you sure these are not just the delusions of a new mother?”

Poor Catalina... Edith thinks she's losing it. I know it's weird for a baby to talk, but maybe I should just say something for Catalina’s sake. “Uh—I actually can speak.” Osric’s infantile voice cuts through the argument.

Edith, startled, knocks over her chair as she stands, spinning around to Osric. Catalina’s face fills with excitement.

“I knew you could talk!” Catalina rushes up the stairs, scoops Osric into her arms, and the two of them start spinning in celebration.

“Hey, can you speak again.” Catalina eagerly awaits a response.

This might not have been the best idea… there's no going back now. Osric swallows hesitantly before opening his mouth.

“He—hello,” Osric replies sheepishly.

“By God, a baby that speaks, with glowing red eyes. The King needs to know about this, we should—” Edith exclaims.

“Edith, we don’t plan on telling the King about this,” Randolf interrupts her as he enters through the front door.

“But what of the prophecy?”

“I know, but we talked about it and this is what Catalina wants.”

Catalina, unaware of the talk happening downstairs, merrily spins Osric around while humming.

Osric strains his eyes, trying to see down the stairs. What's going on down there. I can’t see... Catalina needs to stop with the spinning.

Osric’s face begins to look sickly; he vomits onto Catalina’s dress. Some of it splashes and hits him in the face.

“Sorry, my sweet. I got too excited. Let me clean us up.”

>>>

Randolf, Catalina, and Osric walk along the village’s main dirt road. Randolf leads the way, while Catalina follows behind, holding baby Osric. Osric, for the first time, gets a good look at his village. Long sprawling grassy fields go on as far as he can see, only interrupted by dirt paths. The path they walk, wide enough to accommodate several horse‑drawn wagons, branches into many smaller winding lanes leading to half‑timbered houses. Their wooden beam frames are filled with stone‑like plaster. Off to the side of some of these houses stand smaller dilapidated wooden cabins with thatched, moss‑covered roofs.

Osric's head swivels back and forth. Examining the buildings. I really am in a fantasy world. The houses look like they're straight out of a starter village. Our house is bigger, though.

“So, where are we going?” Osric asks.

“We're going to the church to have you blessed, and to thank God and the Grand Sage for bringing you safely to your first birthday.”

Osric tilts his head. Grand Sage — Who is that?

The three pass a wheat field where a wolfman swings a scythe, harvesting it. The wolfman, similarly dressed to the others Osric has seen, wears a metal collar around his neck and a tattered tunic. A human man wearing much nicer clothes stands at a distance watching the wolfman work. He turns around to greet Randolf.

“Good morning, lord Randolf”.

“Good morning.” Randolf waves back.

“Father, you’re a lord?”

“Your father is a great knight. He was given this land by your grandfather as a reward for his valor.” Catalina smiles proudly at Randolf in front of them.

"Don't call me a knight anymore," Randolf interjects.

“Dear, you're still thinking like that?" Catalina asks.

Randolf is silent as he speeds up his walking pace.

I’m curious what that was about. It seems like a touchy subject, I shouldn’t pry.

The three of them arrive at the church. The building is so grand that it stands out in the village. The intricately stacked stone bricks lead up to a long, pristine shingled roof. The impressive steeple makes it the tallest building in view. A golden figure resembling a wizard’s staff sits atop the steeple, glistening in the morning sun. The prominent wooden doors tower over them.

“Osric, please don’t talk while in the church.” Catalina asks earnestly, Randolf nods in agreement.

“Okay?” Osric furrows his brown in curiosity. I wonder what that is about?

The inside of the church is as magnificent as the outside. The many rows of pews are bathed in colorful light splotches from the stained-glass windows. Each window portrays a staff in the middle.

They walk between the pews to a wooden podium in the back. An old priest in white robes stands behind the podium. Behind him stands a towering statue of a black robed man, his hood covering his face. In his hand, he holds a staff much like the others pictured throughout the church.

“The Hann family, congratulations, your child looks very healthy,” the priest greets them with a friendly smile.

Randolf shakes the priest's hand. “Thank you, Father Caleb.”

“Oh, look at those bright red eyes, just like the legend.” Father Caleb reaches out to hold Osric.

“Yep—what a coincidence. Now, here, start the blessing.” Catalina moves Osric away. She picks up a golden staff off the ground and thrusts it towards Father Caleb.

“Yes, I should probably hurry before the church service starts.”

The priest points the end of the staff towards Osric's forehead in Catalina’s arms.

“We would like to thank you, God, for letting this babe reach one year of age. Please allow the Grand Sage to watch over him. Please bless this child.”

The tip of the staff emits a faint golden glow.

Is this magic? Please tell me there really is magic here, I want to be a wizard so bad! Osric stares at the staff intently.

“Thank you, Father. We must go.” Catalina briskly walks to the door, pulling Randolf by the wrist.

“You’re not going to stay for the—?” His voice is cut off as Randolf closes the doors behind them.

“If you’re worried about the prophecy, we didn’t have to bring him.”

“That's not an option, Randolf, all babies need a priest blessing to live a long life.”

Randolf sighs, shaking his head. He speeds up ahead of Catalina on the dirt path.

“Randolf!”

>>>

Later that night, Osric sits in his highchair at the dinner table. He watches as Randolf and Catalina prepare dinner. Osric notices two extra plates are set out.

“I think you set out extra plates, mother.”

“We have guests tonight,” Catalina replies.

The gallop of horses can be heard from beyond the front door.

“That must be them.” Catalina opens the front door.

An older man wearing a vivid purple coat and shining silk burgundy trousers barges through the door. He's already looking towards the table. His long gray hair flows as he approaches it.

“There's my grandson, happy first birthday.”

The man picks Osric up, pressing him up against his ruffled undershirt.

“My, you really do have glowing red eyes."

“Father, you can’t just come barging in!” Catalina whines from the front door.

Edith steps through the door. Osric looks up at her. Why is Edith here? I assumed my grandmother would walk in next.

The man puts Osric down and looks at Randolf.

“Randolf, how are the villagers treating their lord these days?” The man in purple sits down next to Randolf.

“Great. They love that I'm around more often now," Randolf replies.

Catalina leads Edith over to the table. Everyone is now seated.

“Angus, are you not going to greet your daughter?” Edith scolds him.

“Sorry, my dear, I just wanted to see my grandson. I’ve just been so busy—you know how it is for a lord, right, Randolf?”

“Good Evening, Catalina — say it, dear.” Edith seems to stare a hole through Angus.

I’ve got so many questions to ask these two — I’ll just ask before Edith gets too heated. Osric clears his throat. “I don’t want to interrupt, but I’m curious now, is Edith my grandma?”

“No, dear, I’m not—”

Angus chuckles. “My word, your enunciation really is good.”

“Angus, please!” Edith sternly shuts him down.

“Your grandmother has passed, I am his second wife,” Edith says gently.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Osric meekly replies.

“No need to be sorry,” Angus interjects. “She lived the life she wanted.”

An uncomfortable silence follows his statement. Osric picks at the roast meat on his plate. I’m always awkward in serious moments like this.

Angus’ wrinkled face turns from gleeful to serious in an instant.

“I know you won’t agree, Catalina, but we must discuss this.”

Angus continues, “Reports are coming in that demons have been spotted in the Serpentspine mountain range. The King is getting more and more paranoid of another attack. If Osric truly is the—”

“Father, I wish for him to live a peaceful life here in this village.” Catalina cuts him off.

“Catalina, the whole kingdom could be in danger. Did you even discuss this with him?” Angus remarks.

Catalina looks down at her plate. “No.”

“Hold on, what are we talking about?” Osric questions.

Angus leans in and stares intently at Osric across the table.

“Osric, have you heard of the legend of the Grand Sage?”