Post by Shinobi-Iri (nick) on Jun 12, 2008 3:19:14 GMT -5
This is my short-story for english...hopefully you'll like it.
The Wizard's Council, by Nick Holbrook
-----------------------------------
A lone, female figure sat at the far end of the library, invisible to the prying eyes of a small group of elder wizards sitting by the entrance. They were either gossiping about the happenings of the city or about important magical matters (Although the latter was rare.) Most of the time, it was all about who had been imprisoned, killed or maimed as a result of failed magical experiments.
Stealthily, Zach sidled through the double doors of the ancient library and walked quickly past the shelves, the elder wizard’s eyes on him the whole way. Clutched close to his body under his robes was a book that was forbidden and yet so desired by the Wizard’s Council that Zach would be flayed as much as he would be praised. He moved to the beautiful female wizard, Era Lokadus, a fellow member of the Council, and sat down at the table opposite her. She smiled as he did so and spoke quickly.
“So Zach, why did you ask me to come here?” She asked. Era was the only female member of the Council and one of Zach’s closest friends ever since the academy together. “You seemed extremely excited about something, and you’re usually so placid.”
Zach nodded.
“I know,” he replied. “But something has come up. I’m quite sure I could be kicked out of the Council for having what I possess.”
Era’s eyes narrowed. She knew that Zach took his position on the Council very seriously. At 2 years Era’s junior, he was the youngest member on the Council, but he was chosen for his magical knowledge and logical thinking in times of crisis. Together, the Council took charge when Xaratul needed it the most.
“What is it Zach?” she asked. “You know something like this would be dangerous, you don’t want it falling into the wrong hands.”
Reluctantly, Zach reached under his robes and pulled ‘The Lexicon of Alchemy’ out of his robes, bound in dark brown leather and emblazoned with golden symbols, before laying it onto the table and pushing it to Era, who looked apprehensive before she read the title, then looked quite horrified.
“Zach, what are you doing with this?” she exclaimed, causing some of the elders to look over at them. She lowered her voice before continuing. “Alchemy is a banned school of magic, which means all literature relating to it is illegal! Where did you find this?”
Zach leant back in his chair and waved an arm toward the ‘miscellaneous’ section, where all the unclassifiable books ended up.
“I found it when I tired of my studies one evening, so I decided to have a look around.” Zach told her. “I’ve been practicing it in my spare time, so I will be the most powerful wizard in the whole of Xaratul soon, I think.”
As they spoke, neither of them spotted the pair of red eyes floating up near the ceiling, watching them.
“Changing the properties of objects is considered unnatural,” Era said. “The Council will not approve.”
“The Council doesn’t need to know…” Zach replied, smiling as he took the book back and stowed it away.
* * * *
Later, as the sun set beyond the large metropolis that was the capital of the Tasnian Empire, eight wizards of varying ages sat in comfortable thrones around a circular room at the top of the tower at the wizard’s academy. There was a small pool of clear water in the middle of the room, and in this they could project magical images for viewing.
“Tarlus, we rarely have a meeting so late in the week…” said one of the councilors, stroking his stubble a little. “Why have you called it?”
Tarlus was extremely old, but was kept alive through magic. He was sitting between two other Wizards, stroking his long, white beard. Zach sat in the council chambers opposite Era, but next to Lerik Aronden, who didn’t like Zach much.
“It is to discuss a matter of great importance…” Tarlus said, gazing to Lerik for a moment fleetingly before moving his eyes to Zach. “Something grave and very surprising to me…”
All of a sudden, Zach knew exactly what this was about.
“Zach Diaboli…” Tarlus began, breathing heavily and looking inscrutably. “It has come to my attention that you possess a book about Alchemy.”
The people all around the chamber glanced at one another, and Zach could feel Lerik’s eyes boring into his head.
“Are you sure, Tarlus?” Zach asked, but as he was about to formulate his defense he looked to Era, who’s expression said do not attempt to lie to Tarlus Embershadow. She was right, of course. “You are correct,” Zach went on. “I do indeed possess a book concerning Alchemy, and I will make no secret of it to you.”
“Lerik overheard you in the library earlier this evening,” Tarlus said. “He was using his magical eyes to secure the library of unwanted intruders and caught your conversation. You know we’ve had vandals recently.”
Of course, Lerik was skilled in Telekinesis. He knew he’d rat him out about something like this.
“I want you to destroy the book Zach,” Tarlus said gravely. “And then, I’m afraid you will be ejected from the council.”
There was complete silence, nobody was looking at Zach and for this he was grateful.
“Of course, Tarlus.” He replied, before rising from his chair and taking the seemingly endless walk to the chamber door, before it flew open, and a spell hit him in the chest.
As he was falling into the wall, he saw the black, masked face of a Dark wizard casting Immobilization on Era. Four more entered and quickly paralyzed all of the other members of the Council, forgetting about Zach as they entered the room and all stood around Tarlus.
“You’ve given us enough grief, Embershadow…” one of them spat in a low, gravelly voice. “I’m afraid you’ve come to your end!”
Groggily, Zach stood. And raising his arms above his head, he shouted a long, complicated Alchemic incantation. A glowing circle appeared around the startled Dark wizards, unsure of what was going on, and a large complex symbol appeared to draw itself on the ground inside the circle. As quick as ever, the Dark wizards were suddenly turned completely to stone by the spell, and as their concentration disappeared, so did the effects of the spells on the Council members.
They all looked at each other, stunned by what had happened. One member was even tapping himself on the head to see if he was dreaming. But Tarlus had stood up, he long ornate robes reaching to the floor as he began to walk around the pool of water, his expression of relief and pride.
“Zach,” he said. “It seems I was greatly mistaken. I can see now you intend to use whatever powers that book has given you for good and not evil. So many Alchemists are turned to darkness and yet you, you remain pure.”
Zach smiled and shrugged, catching Era’s smile as he did so.
“Thank you, Tarlus.” Zach replied.
“I am letting you back on the Council,” Tarlus continued. “But I would appreciate you still destroying that book.”
Zach glanced at Lerik, who looked thoroughly put-out. He didn’t think anyone had been ejected and reinstated into the Council so fast.
“No problems Tarlus,” Zach replied. “It shall be done.”
Days later, Lerik was ejected from the Council for espionage. It seemed Zach wasn’t the only one with an interest in Alchemy.
The Wizard's Council, by Nick Holbrook
-----------------------------------
A lone, female figure sat at the far end of the library, invisible to the prying eyes of a small group of elder wizards sitting by the entrance. They were either gossiping about the happenings of the city or about important magical matters (Although the latter was rare.) Most of the time, it was all about who had been imprisoned, killed or maimed as a result of failed magical experiments.
Stealthily, Zach sidled through the double doors of the ancient library and walked quickly past the shelves, the elder wizard’s eyes on him the whole way. Clutched close to his body under his robes was a book that was forbidden and yet so desired by the Wizard’s Council that Zach would be flayed as much as he would be praised. He moved to the beautiful female wizard, Era Lokadus, a fellow member of the Council, and sat down at the table opposite her. She smiled as he did so and spoke quickly.
“So Zach, why did you ask me to come here?” She asked. Era was the only female member of the Council and one of Zach’s closest friends ever since the academy together. “You seemed extremely excited about something, and you’re usually so placid.”
Zach nodded.
“I know,” he replied. “But something has come up. I’m quite sure I could be kicked out of the Council for having what I possess.”
Era’s eyes narrowed. She knew that Zach took his position on the Council very seriously. At 2 years Era’s junior, he was the youngest member on the Council, but he was chosen for his magical knowledge and logical thinking in times of crisis. Together, the Council took charge when Xaratul needed it the most.
“What is it Zach?” she asked. “You know something like this would be dangerous, you don’t want it falling into the wrong hands.”
Reluctantly, Zach reached under his robes and pulled ‘The Lexicon of Alchemy’ out of his robes, bound in dark brown leather and emblazoned with golden symbols, before laying it onto the table and pushing it to Era, who looked apprehensive before she read the title, then looked quite horrified.
“Zach, what are you doing with this?” she exclaimed, causing some of the elders to look over at them. She lowered her voice before continuing. “Alchemy is a banned school of magic, which means all literature relating to it is illegal! Where did you find this?”
Zach leant back in his chair and waved an arm toward the ‘miscellaneous’ section, where all the unclassifiable books ended up.
“I found it when I tired of my studies one evening, so I decided to have a look around.” Zach told her. “I’ve been practicing it in my spare time, so I will be the most powerful wizard in the whole of Xaratul soon, I think.”
As they spoke, neither of them spotted the pair of red eyes floating up near the ceiling, watching them.
“Changing the properties of objects is considered unnatural,” Era said. “The Council will not approve.”
“The Council doesn’t need to know…” Zach replied, smiling as he took the book back and stowed it away.
* * * *
Later, as the sun set beyond the large metropolis that was the capital of the Tasnian Empire, eight wizards of varying ages sat in comfortable thrones around a circular room at the top of the tower at the wizard’s academy. There was a small pool of clear water in the middle of the room, and in this they could project magical images for viewing.
“Tarlus, we rarely have a meeting so late in the week…” said one of the councilors, stroking his stubble a little. “Why have you called it?”
Tarlus was extremely old, but was kept alive through magic. He was sitting between two other Wizards, stroking his long, white beard. Zach sat in the council chambers opposite Era, but next to Lerik Aronden, who didn’t like Zach much.
“It is to discuss a matter of great importance…” Tarlus said, gazing to Lerik for a moment fleetingly before moving his eyes to Zach. “Something grave and very surprising to me…”
All of a sudden, Zach knew exactly what this was about.
“Zach Diaboli…” Tarlus began, breathing heavily and looking inscrutably. “It has come to my attention that you possess a book about Alchemy.”
The people all around the chamber glanced at one another, and Zach could feel Lerik’s eyes boring into his head.
“Are you sure, Tarlus?” Zach asked, but as he was about to formulate his defense he looked to Era, who’s expression said do not attempt to lie to Tarlus Embershadow. She was right, of course. “You are correct,” Zach went on. “I do indeed possess a book concerning Alchemy, and I will make no secret of it to you.”
“Lerik overheard you in the library earlier this evening,” Tarlus said. “He was using his magical eyes to secure the library of unwanted intruders and caught your conversation. You know we’ve had vandals recently.”
Of course, Lerik was skilled in Telekinesis. He knew he’d rat him out about something like this.
“I want you to destroy the book Zach,” Tarlus said gravely. “And then, I’m afraid you will be ejected from the council.”
There was complete silence, nobody was looking at Zach and for this he was grateful.
“Of course, Tarlus.” He replied, before rising from his chair and taking the seemingly endless walk to the chamber door, before it flew open, and a spell hit him in the chest.
As he was falling into the wall, he saw the black, masked face of a Dark wizard casting Immobilization on Era. Four more entered and quickly paralyzed all of the other members of the Council, forgetting about Zach as they entered the room and all stood around Tarlus.
“You’ve given us enough grief, Embershadow…” one of them spat in a low, gravelly voice. “I’m afraid you’ve come to your end!”
Groggily, Zach stood. And raising his arms above his head, he shouted a long, complicated Alchemic incantation. A glowing circle appeared around the startled Dark wizards, unsure of what was going on, and a large complex symbol appeared to draw itself on the ground inside the circle. As quick as ever, the Dark wizards were suddenly turned completely to stone by the spell, and as their concentration disappeared, so did the effects of the spells on the Council members.
They all looked at each other, stunned by what had happened. One member was even tapping himself on the head to see if he was dreaming. But Tarlus had stood up, he long ornate robes reaching to the floor as he began to walk around the pool of water, his expression of relief and pride.
“Zach,” he said. “It seems I was greatly mistaken. I can see now you intend to use whatever powers that book has given you for good and not evil. So many Alchemists are turned to darkness and yet you, you remain pure.”
Zach smiled and shrugged, catching Era’s smile as he did so.
“Thank you, Tarlus.” Zach replied.
“I am letting you back on the Council,” Tarlus continued. “But I would appreciate you still destroying that book.”
Zach glanced at Lerik, who looked thoroughly put-out. He didn’t think anyone had been ejected and reinstated into the Council so fast.
“No problems Tarlus,” Zach replied. “It shall be done.”
Days later, Lerik was ejected from the Council for espionage. It seemed Zach wasn’t the only one with an interest in Alchemy.
?? I LOVE those i didnt realise that anyone else had. now that u mention it it make sense. I havent read them for ages which is probably why i didnt think of it.