Chapter One: To the Town

I saw a mirror, seven feet tall and five feet wide made of walnut and teak wood. Its edges were studded with gems. Rubies, sapphires, emeralds and a big black pearl on its center top most part with a gold and silver holder. The reflection was surprisingly unrecognizable even if the room was well lit. Suddenly, there is a smell of burning wood. It is on fire! The gems cracked as it grew hotter. The silver and gold melted dropping the fixated black pearl onto the marble floor. In each step i take backwards, the fire grew bigger. I could feel the heat. The fire grew wild and threatens to devour me and turn me into ashes. I looked at my hands they're scarred, burning flesh. I closed my eyes. Then i woke up.

Sebastian rose and sat on the edge of his bed. His soft black-brown hair was drenched in sweat. In fact, he is sweating like crazy as if he was really exposed to the flames.

"Tsk. Bad dream" he said as he touched his scar on his chest.

"Bothered so early in the morning?" Bastian turned and saw Veronica leaning on the doorpost carrying few things. After a pause, she neared him.

Veronica is like a sister to him. They spent their childhood together. She is beautiful. She has rich copper brown hair was kept in a braid, has hippie chestnut brown eyes and full pink lips to complete her oval shaped face. She is very annoying though, that he never wanted her to come to his room.

"No, i just don't feel good. Hey, what are you even doing here?"

"Don't ever think i came up here in my own will. The old man sent me here. Wanted to wake you up. Your breakfast is ready." Veronica said while tossing him a fresh towel, shirt and pants.

"And don't be late." She followed up and went out.

Right, he, the old man and Veronica are going to the town to buy some goods. He jumped out of the bed took the towel and headed for a bath. After that, he hurriedly changed clothes and went to the kitchen to have some breakfast. He had some eggs, a slice of bread, and a glass of water. He doesn't like having milk. When he finished eating, the two were nowhere to be seen inside the house. When he looked over the window, they were already preparing the wagon. His father grabbing the reigns and Veronica was waving at him. He ran outside.

Catching his breath, he sat on the back. The weather is humid. Not a good start for his day.

All three of them wore cloaks, concealing their faces. They have to do this, and must take a path less traveled by merchants to avoid the bandits.

On their way to the town, they passed by an abandoned church. More like burnt down church. Crows were flying over it. Beside it was a rubble of who-knows-what was it before and which he didn't seem to care. Only that he is curious about that burnt church.

"Psst. Hey! Are you listening?" Snapped Veronica

"Oh sorry, what is it?"

"I was saying that you will be the one to buy these ingredients for the potions. Here is the map to the new shop."

"-also don't forget to stop by the smith and get the sword your father ordered. Cover it with this cloth don't let anyone see it."

Bastian frowned, "OK, got it. But why not let it be seen by others?"

"You know we don't let anyone see any of our purchased items. No one knows it except for us and the store owners. Stupid. "

"And what exactly are you going to do? Aside from ordering me around?" He asked.

Rolling her eyes, she poked his nose and she said," What do you expect? Buy our food and other supplies of course!"

"Hey I don't like you poking my nose, Vern."

Along the road, Bastian noticed his father's silence. He did not say a word since they left their abode.

They arrived at the town earlier than usual. The three jumped out of the wagon. Their boots landed on the soft muddy earth. Bastian's father brought the wagon near a tree where a merchant is selling some fruits. He paid the man a silver and some copper coins in payment for watching over the wagon. On the other hand, Veronica bought from the merchant some apples and gave it to our horses.

Bastian's father motioned for them to fix their hoods. So they did. Vern, elbowed Bastian.

"Give me your hand."

She handed him something.

"Open it"

He rolled open the paper.

"The directions are drawn here." She said while pointing at it.

They both looked around. The old man is nowhere to be around. She then said,

"We better get going."

When he was on his way to the shops, Veronica threw a glance at his back and a smile on her lips, blushing like a little girl crushing on a boy.

~~~~~

The place was heavily packed with merchants with their assorted goods. Fruits, vegetables, meat and other forms of food. There are also merchants selling jewwlries, weapons, talismans, potions and fancy clothes.

Being a young lady, Veronica leisurely went into the shops selling jewelries and dresses.

She tried on a few and picked the one she fancied.

The dress was a flowing plunging necked dress with arm length sleeves made of gold and ivory silk embroidered with silver renoir designs. Craning her neck, she looked over the group of women scanning the racks of different beautiful and expensive dresses. Vern spotted the store owner and waved at him to catch his attention. Unfortunately, he was talking to another customer. So she has to make her way out through all of those women. As she reached the man, she asked him if how much the dress is.

"70 silver coins." He replied and then entertained another customer.

70 silver coins. Too much for a dress, she thought. But she wants it, more like she needs it. She never had a beautiful dress for special occasions.

Everytime there is an event in the kingdom of Beodora, all she do is hide in the shadows of the hall so no one can notice her old dress. With this new dress, she will have the confidence of talking to people at the parties. So she bargained with the merchant.

"Excuse me mister, what its ur name again?" She asked the man in a sweet manner.

The merchant turned towards her almost irritated at all the women asking him same questions all over again. But as he turned, he saw a very sweet lady, and very beautiful indeed. Turning his irritated look into a calm one with such a big smile on his face.

"What can i do for you miss?"

"Your merchandise is really of good quality, especially this dress. But i think. Its a little bit over priced by 20 silver pieces.

The man frowned. Vern put her left hand over his right shoulder while her forefinger touched his right cheek. And started to sweet talk him.

"Oh my, you're a good looking man. I guess a lot of women are after you"

The owner felt proud and began to brag. Vern just patiently nods and agrees to what he was saying. Noticing that it will take long before the conversation ends, she cut it to the chase and said to him.

"50 silver coins " she bargained.

"65 silver coins" he replied.

"50 silver coins please", she said while batting her lashes.

The man scratches his head. "60 will be the last. I am sorry. I need to gain profit too, you know."

Pouting her lips, she said. "Okay, fair enough." Then she paid him 60 silver coins.

As she went outside,she hugged tightly her new purchase to her chest. And since the wagon is still nearby, she decided to go back and keep it to her box.

As Veronica was going back to the market. She felt a heavy feeling in each step she take. Someone was following her. She tried to get rid of it and got into the crowd. Later, she noticed it was a boy tailing her. As she was about to pay for the vegetables, the boy ran and grabbed her purse. She ran after it. The mischievous lad ran to a small ally. Luckily there was no people that way. So she flicked her finger, pointing it towards the boy, chanted and a blue spark came off.

As she neared the boy, which was standing still, she took back her purse. Then she snapped her finger over the lad's ear and walked away. She was a few feet away now, and the boy was no longer under the spell. He even wondered what happened to him. And even more, to his surprise. There's already a small basket of food at his feet.

Veronica went back to where she was supposed to be. Unexpectedly, someone grabbed her and dragged her to a smaller corner with empty crates stacked up. Three men. She took hold of one of the men's bare arm and sent a shock of electricity to his body making him fell off from his grip on her. She kicked the other in the balls and punched the other on the face.

She tried to ran but was blocked by a hooded figure and was punched on the face sending her to sleep.

~~~~~

Whistling while walking, Bastian one by one went to the shops discribed on the map Vern just gave him.

On the first shop he got a new wand for Vern. In the second, he got small rolls of paper for spell binding. The third, are the rings his father ordered for himself, and for both Vern and Bastian. The last shop was located in the outskirt of the market. This is where he has to meet a blacksmith.

~~~~~

Still dizzy, Vern could feel that she's been transported. She could hear the horses' hooves a man held her. She fell back asleep.

~~~~~

A jar fell behind Sebastian. He was at the smith's to get the sword as per instruction by his father. He stooped down to pick up the pieces of the jar when a husky voice is to be heard behind him. Raising his head, he saw an old man. But his muscles were big and well toned. He was bringing with him a double-faced wedge hammer.

"Dear boy. Just leave it there. Let my apprentice do the work."

"You are Magus' son aren't you?" Asked the blacksmith.

"Yes, I am, sir. I am here for the sword." Bastian replies politely.

"Oh yes. The sword. Just wait for a moment here." He turned back and headed deep into his shop.

He has this towering height that his head almost reached the lowest post of his abode.

While waiting, Bastian felt uneasy. There is something wrong. His scar have been aching for a few days already.He felt so bothered. Well, he was bothered since morning with that dream.

Later, he came out with the sword. Its handle was thick, with a ruby on its hilt. He was amazed with its craftsmanship.

"Try this out lad."

He threw the sword towards Sebastian as if he was just throwing a stick. Bastian caught it with his two hands for he was expecting it to be heavy but it was surprisingly light and well balanced. Superior quality he must say. One thing caught his eye. There is an engraved name on its blade.

Ethan. A boy's name.

Why would his father engrave a sword with that name, when the sword was meant for the use of his father only. Then he felt it become warm to hot. He dropped it. A frown was on the smith's face.

"Now that is weird." Sebastian said.

"What is it lad?" "Is there something wrong?"

He looked at his hand not minding the smith's question. It burns but he cannot see any trace of it being actually burned.

The old man picked up the sword and asked for the cloth. He wrapped the sword with it, tied it and put it on the shoulders of Sebastian.

He bid the smith goodbye. And headed his way back to their wagon.

He has to ask his father about the sword. And there are many other things he needs to ask and all needed to be answered.