Two - Drizzle

Chapter 2

Unfortunately, I dreamed.

It was about eight years ago. Back where I was born. A city way far from here. We lived in confluence with magic and the natural forces. We mastered on elemental techniques passed on by generations of warlocks.

The world was once a free realm for magic.

I remember hearing about people from all around.

The desert nomads from Varenham on the north. They are able to transform the sand and the rocks into giant golems and vehicles. They traverse the sands like they are the wind themselves.

My grandma once met them when she was on a trading expedition.

There is also elves on the western forest of Skyfold. Close to where I lived. They know anything about the present, the past and the future. All together. They are nice. But never full believe on what they say. Being specialized in clairvoyance can mess with your head. They make you even more confused than they are.

Even the Capital. When there was no eternal rain. Citizens from various parts of the globe would congregate to trade and exchange knowledge. It was not even a capital per say. Just a big city full of life.

There was no central command. No one ruled.

I was born in WayDek. A small town. Just beyond the forest's edge. Skyfold received its name due to the giant threes that could fold the sky.

The elves lived on top of the threes and deep down the forest. We were on the plains where we developed agriculture and livestock farming.

Hundreds of humans.

School went up until we were sixteen. We learned magic and mathematics; how to write and read; how to hunt, raise and cultivate our food.

My best friend was Roger. He was one of the people that could not do magic. Some people can not do it. That do not make them lesser.

He was the best hunter at my class. Agile, strong and very precise. His aim was like no other. A master in hiding and tracking. No one messed up with him. He would beat you before you could cast any spell.

His father the elected Communicator. Roger used to say that with his bow and knife skills together with his father’s word his family could cut through everyone’s heart. Literally and metaphorically.

The most fundamental thing we learned in school was: never take more than you give, keep the balance and the balance will keep you.

When we were on trade missions with the elves, Roger was always the leader of our team. We did the rout every fifteen days or so. We had grains and fish that they did not have into the woods.

They traded some medicines, herbs and animals pelts that they hunted on their territory. They only killed to defend themselves. When the enormous animals that got lost and accidentally entered their dominion. Their diet was solely plants based, so there was no use in killing.

The tusks, pelts, nails and meat served as tools and different kinds of food for us. Monsters like these would never dare to come outside the forest.

The elders of the WayDek were the council responsible for making the major political decisions. Roger’s father was the tie between the normal people and the elders.

That last year was supposed to be his last year as the Communicator. His sixth birthday would elevate him to became an elder. He was not excited about it. Roger was very nervous. His father wanted him to candidate for the replacement. He was more interested in the wild lifestyle. He was a free-spirit, a lovely guy, probably too smart for his own good.

I lived with my mother and grandmother.

A year or so, I would see my father. He was a far traveler and trader, like my grandma used to be.

My mother was not very skillful with magic. She only manage to do the basics. My grandmother was one of the best warlocks on the city.

She taught at the school and every student wanted to be her apprentice. Her classes were always full. I got everything for free at home.

When she turned sixty, on her Elder Ascension, the whole school made a giant ceremony. It seemed like she was dying and they would never see her again. She was just changing jobs.

Magic is not something. It is not divided into things. Like grandma used to say. It is just pure energy that we can see, feel, breath and use.

The same way we conjure fire, we can call upon the water and ask from the earth. It is a similar process with different intentions. Some people are more inclined to one type of intention. It varies with the personality and emotions. Stronger emotions can cast stronger spells.

There was never a rule of what magic was. We learned that it was just everywhere and we could call upon when needed. It was not infinite. It had its prices. Too much and you could end up dead. Consumed and drained of your own essence. Remember the foundations: ‘keep the balance and the balance will keep you’.

Even people that could not use magic per say. They felt it. Some studied as artificers. Using metals like rocks, bronze and iron to canalize the magical energy.

Some of this tools could do things we warlocks could not. Warlocks also studied artificiary. Nothing was forbidden. Nothing was outlawed.

Keep the balance and the balance will keep you.