This is a work of fiction; any resemblance to real people, living or dead, or to actual events is purely coincidental. All characters involved in any sexual activity are over the age of 18. Medical references are fictional and contrived to enhance the story. It is obviously fantasy, please suspend reality when reading this. I hope you enjoy this story. Constructive criticism is always welcome.
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It's just magic
My parents divorced when I was only a toddler and my Mom never let me have anything to do with my dad. She said that it was an arranged marriage that her parents had forced her into, and he had been an abusive partner. Her parents sided with him and did not support my mother. As a result we never had any contact with her parents either.
As I grew up, that was just the way it was, and I really didn't question it. Mom had never remarried or even dated, although she was still a fairly attractive woman, for a mom. So it was just the two of us.
I did fairly well in school; I got mostly A's and B's. I ran track and cross-country, but wasn't really a jock. I had a few friends, but I didn't fit in with any of the cliques at school. I was a Boy Scout, but that wasn't a social draw. But I did like science. I was basically a nerd.
I was fascinated by how, with the right ingredients and the right process, one thing could be transformed into something else. I studied chemistry and physics with a passion. I didn't join the science club or anything like that, I just wanted to understand how you could do things like that.
And that led me to read about the alchemists in the middle ages and such. I was talking about all of that stuff with Mom one evening at dinner when she got all upset. "I don't want you wasting your time on all of that superstitious hocus-pocus!" She exclaimed as she stormed out of the room. What was that all about? I wondered.
Several months later I was over at a friend's house and they were watching Penn & Teller, the magicians. It was amazing. I couldn't see or even imagine how they did any of their tricks. The next day when I mentioned it to Mom, she blew up. "I don't know why you waste your time watching garbage like that! It's all just a con."
My mom was usually a very level headed person. But she had blown a gasket about alchemy and magicians. It was very strange.
I was accepted to the State University and had some scholarship money for financial aid. But I knew that Mom's budget was already tight and it would be hard to give me very much for tuition and stuff. But she was insistent that I go; maybe I would become a teacher or something.
I was 18 and legally an adult. I was curious about my father: who was he? I knew his name, of course. But I didn't know where he lived or why he had never made contact with me, what he did, or anything. There had to be more of a story than what Mom had told me.
I was working at a big box electronics store for the summer, trying to save money for the school year. We had an old crappy computer at home, but I would need a laptop for college, and I could use my employee discount to save a bunch of money, so I bought a good one. But I wasn't much of a computer geek, so I asked one of the guys in the computer repair shop for some advice. I told him the bare bones of the situation with my dad and asked if there was a way to find him.
With my birth certificate and a few other things, he gave me some tips for internet searches. After many hours of research, I discovered that a man who appeared to be my father lived in the town where the State University was located. I decided right then that I would find him and learn more about my past.
Over the summer I worked as many hours as I could. I picked up extra shifts if someone called off, or if they needed anything. Mom knew what I was doing, and she was proud and appreciative.
Summer came to an end and I headed off to college. A couple weeks later, after I had settled in at the dorm and had a feel for my classes, I decided to try to find my dad. I had an address, so I took the bus (and three route changes) to his house.
It looked like a mansion! Mom and I lived in a very small two bedroom house that was probably less than 600 square feet. This place had to be over 4,000 square feet! I double checked the address, but it was the right one. I rang the doorbell and waited.
I heard footsteps. What was I going to say? When the door opened, a tall distinguished man stood there. "Matthew, I was hoping that you would come."
He knew my name? He was expecting me? How? I hardly knew that I was going to do this, how could he?
He led me down a hall to a comfortable study and offered me a seat. "Would you like something to drink? Soda? Water?"
He seemed totally at ease and not at all surprised by my presence. I, on the other hand, was totally bewildered. I asked for water, I was really thirsty after spending a couple hours on the bus ride.
When he returned with my drink and was seated, he began, "I'm so happy that you came over. I had promised your mother that I would never make contact with you, but I hoped that when you came of age, you would reach out to me. And here you are."
"How did you know that it was me?"
"It was clear that it was you. It was as if you were wearing a beacon saying 'I am Matthew, looking for my father, David.' So of course I knew that it was you. Now, you have questions. But some of the answers are going to be difficult for you to comprehend."
"Where have you been all these years?"
"Watching from afar. As I alluded to, your mother insisted that I would never make contact with you. And I have kept my promise. But I have kept my eyes on you, knowing how you were doing in school, running track, camping and hiking and all of that. I occasionally intervened when financial stresses were too great, like the job at the electronics store."
"You got me that job? I saw the ad and applied."
"I simply placed a suggestion and they chose the right application."
"What do you do?" I asked.
"I do many things, but my most formal position is as faculty in the Medieval Studies department here at the University."
"You teach at the University?"
"Yes, and as my son, you are entitled to free tuition. But your mother should not be made aware of anything like that. However, it would undoubtedly reduce the financial burden immensely. I will contact the administration to have your financial aid applied to expenses other than tuition.
"What happened with you and Mom?"
"It was most unfortunate. Both her family and mine are ancient lineages, and when we were first born our parents made a pact that we would be wed and our blood lines would be joined. You may know that your mother can be very strong willed, and she went kicking and screaming to the altar. But her parents held great power and compelled her to marry me, so we were married and soon after, you were born.
"Your mother is a beautiful woman with a strong personality. Given time, we might have forged a sustainable marriage; but that was not to be. Her parents' power over her was gone. Shortly after your birth, she told me to leave and to never ever make contact with you. She was adamant that she and I would divorce and that I would never have any contact with you.
"I have followed her wishes to the letter. I have watched from afar. You made contact with me, not the other way around," my father said. "I have not broken my covenant."
"What's with the ancient lineages stuff? Is this like rich old people?"
"Oh, it's far more important than money."
"Money, land, power? What are you talking about?" I asked.
"Magic."
