Well hello dear reader! The pre-exams are over and right now I am a free man ( or boy ) again. I hope the wait was worth it and I present you very proudly the third installment of the "Shaman Chronicles".
Sincerely
WorldWarWalther
P.S. I really want to thank you guys for the awesome feedback you gave me and I hope your mind doesn't screem "HARRY POTTER" anymore when you read my stories. Also I want to thank A.L. for editing and having my back. You really are the best :D
Now I have nothign more to add and I wish you a happy time reading.
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Jarko and Thorus hurried over the fields in front of the Academy-walls. Jarko couldn't hide his excitement. He was going to be a Magus! He spurred his black stallion to go faster. Soon he and Thorus were flying over the fields. It didn't took them long to reach a small village which was lying right in front of the Academy. Thorus stopped at a middle sized house, that was a little isolated from the village. It was wooden and had a small garden with various vegetables and herbs. Smoke was coming out of its chimney. Jarko and Thorus dismounted their horses.
"Welcome to my humble estate!" Thorus smiled. "I propose we let the horses rest and get you inside of the Academy. I promise my wife will take good care of..."
"THORUS!" a female voice yelled from inside the house, startling the big man. He and Jarko turned around to see a red haired woman come out of the house. She wasn't very tall but taller than most women. She was about thirty years old and a little chubby. And she clearly looked pissed.
"I am gonna beat you into a pulp you goddamn piece of shit! What were you thinking?"
Jarko looked at Thorus and saw something he had never guessed. The bearded giant was afraid of a woman he outweighed by nearly hundred pounds!
"How is that possible?" Jarko thought looking at Thorus who held up his hands defensively.
"You were supposed to be here days ago! If you're mother would be with us she would..." that's when she noticed Jarko. Flabbergasted she looked at the boy.
"Honey who's that?" she asked looking at Thorus.
Honey? She was his wife! Jarko nearly burst out laughing! His friend, armorer of the Academies guard and ex-soldier didn't wear the pants at home. Jarko had to stifle a laugh.
"Darling. That's Jarko, he needs to be in the Academy very soon because he is going to be a apprentice." Thorus said very carefully.
"Oh really?" Thorus' wife asked. Looking at Jarko questioning.
"And why didn't you tell me when you went to get him?"
"I didn't know back then..." Thorus said trying not to enrage her any more.
"Hmph." she said turning around and walked back to the house.
"You two better come inside I made something to eat. And by the way, I'm Bella" she yelled over her shoulder. Before she could get an arm's reach behind her Thorus grabbed her picked her up and planted a big kiss on her lips.
"I missed you." he whispered.
"Of course you did you big dork now let me down!" she laughed. "And you two better take a bath, you smell like horse shit!" With that she disappeared inside.
Thorus looked after her with a dreamy face.
"You know what's funny" Jarko said and the big man turned around.
"I always thought my father got nothing to say at home but you..." Jarko snickered.
"You're laughing now. I wanna see you laugh when we're training tonight." Thorus smiled, which caused Jarko to suddenly loose his smile.
"Now c'mon boy the lady said we're smelling. You don't wanna smell when you're tested now do ya?"
Jarko quickly shook his head and the two of them headed to the near river to take a bath.
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When the two of them were finished and smelled like humans again, they quickly got inside the house to eat. They sat down next to Bella. Jarko and Thorus were famished and wanted to start eating when they both received a slap on their hands with Bella's wooden spoon.
"Now now, you two had better tell me all about your journey and why you're so late."
Jarko wanted to protest, but he knew it would be a bad idea to piss of Bella AND receive the beating from Thorus tonight. The boy and the man sighed and started talking. Of course Thorus left out the fact that they had slept in a brothel and he and Jarko both didn't tell Bella about the bandits. Bella listened carefully. She definitely knew Thorus left something out. The boy was a mystery to her but she knew her husband long enough to notice, when he lied. She also knew he wouldn't lie without a reason and that he'd tell her eventually. He always did.
"So quite the uneventful journey. Or did you meet any new friends?" Bella asked seeing the two men cringe. Now there it is she thought to herself.
"Ok now let's eat so the boy can go to the Academy."
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When they finished eating Thorus took Jarko to the Academy. They walked through the village past the gates inside the Academy's territory. Jarko still couldn't grasp how BIG everything was. When they were inside he saw a wall right in the middle of the area separating two complexes except for the biggest tower that was standing at the center .
"Thorus, what's that wall doing there." he asked his giant companion.
"Well it separates the complex of the Magi and the Magae."
"Why would you do that?" Jarko wondered.
"Usually Magae are taught other stuff then Magi. For example Magi never learn how to heal since they really suck at it. Also the sleeping accommodations and research facilities are separated." Thorus explained.
"But why the wall?" Jarko asked.
"So no little Magi like you can seduce and corrupt some innocent noble Magaes." Thorus laughed.
They stopped in front of a big building.
"So in there you gonna be tested." Thorus wanted to turn around when Jarko stopped him.
"Aren't you going to come with me?" Jarko asked him in shock.
"No only Magi, those who want to be one and guards on duty are allowed." Thorus replied.
He hugged the frightened looking boy.
"Shh" he said trying to soothe the boy "you are going to be fine. They won't try to hurt you. Do you trust me?"
Jarko nodded.
"Ok. Now go in and surprise them." Thorus smiled. Jarko nodded again took a deep breath and went in.
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The floor in the room he entered was from white marble. Somehow it was bright as day despite the missing windows.
"Magic" Jarko thought.
At the end of the room between two pillars was a desk with a man sitting behind it he looked around forty, had short brown hair and was sorting through files.
Jarko walked up in front of the desk.
"I want to be a Magus." he said carefully.
"Of course you do." the man said harshly continuing to sort files.
"I was told I would be tested." Jarko said, more forcefully.
"You are." the man said still not looking up.
Jarko pondered about that for a while.
"Surprise them."
a voice in his head said. It sounded old and wise.
Of course that was what Thorus had said. But how. Jarko became even more nervous. He stood there just doing nothing waiting for the man to do something. He was so helpless. But what could he do? He was becoming angry at himself. If what Thorus said was true he was one of the most powerful Magi living and yet he felt as useless as a newborn.
"You know you're not"
Again this voice! Was he getting crazy? He was becoming angrier and angrier when he suddenly felt an odd feeling welling up. Like something was trying to get outside of him. Nearly overwhelming.
"That's your magic! Use it!"
With that Jarko hold up his hands and pictured an image in his mind. Suddenly all the light in the room disappeared. It was like the darkest night had set in.
"I SAID I WANT TO BE BECOME A MAGUS!" a voice deep and loud like thunder and angry said.
"NOW WHERE IS MY TEST?!" the voice said impatiently. With that the light was there again as quickly as it vanished. Jarko just stood there and looked at the man behind the desk. The man looked up and smiled.
"Now that was impressive!" he said and stood up.
"I am Master Rufus. What's your name?"
"Jarko." the little boy said "Did I pass the test, Master Rufus?"
"Well of course!" Rufus said.
"The first one anyway. But don't be sad about it I think you'll pass the rest easily." The man said reassuringly.
"Which family did you say you come from?" Master Rufus asked when the front door opened loudly.
"None that you know of, Master Rufus."
Jarko turned around to see a man come in. He was tall and looked about thirty years old. His hair had a dark grey colour and he was quite handsome. He also had a strange aura like he looked so young, and still full of wisdom.
"Headmaster Zodus." Rufus said and bowed down. Jarko quickly followed suit. So this was the headmaster of the Royal Academy of Magic. Jarko had expected some one... older. But he bowed down anyway.
"To answer your question Master Rufus the boy isn't noble or anything. He is a farm-boy. Now go and gossip around if you want to but please leave us alone. I am going to test this one."
Master Rufus bowed down again and quickly left the room. Headmaster Zodus sat down behind the desk and with a snap of his fingers he materialized another chair.
"Please sit down Jarko." he said and folded his hands.
Jarko sat down looking into the grey eyes in front of him.
"You have some questions I assume and I understand. But first I am going to ask some of my questions and tell if you lie, ok?" Zodus asked him. Jarko could only nod.
"Alright" the headmaster smiled.
"Now how old are you Jarko?"
"I am nine years old."
"Where do you come from?"
"A small farm in Arcadia."
"Who taught you how you could turn off this lights?" Zodus asked gesturing around.
"No one." Jarko answered truthfully.
"You're not lying!" the headmaster exclaimed and frowned.
