Chapter 32: The Magus

As I enter, I imagined Malinda's face so surprised of seeing me once again.

Instead, I see a girl who's softly weeping.

"Malinda?"

She looks up from her curbed position, "Rhys?"

"I… Are you okay?"

She looks down then looks back up at me, "Do I look okay?"

I sit down near her, "What's wrong?"

"Why are you here? And why do you visit so late?"

I've been wanting to ask her so many questions since the day we met. I was rolling through each one of them and ponder which one I ask first. I look at her, "I just wanted to check on you. What's wrong?"

Malinda was quiet. I observe her face and there were no tears at all. But I understand how pained she is right now just by her face's expression.

She answers, "I'm only thinking of the past. I've been doing well of avoiding it. But I can't."

I give a good amount of silence before replying, "What happened in the past?" She doesn't answer. The fact that she's not scolding me immediately is progress enough, "I'll just listen to you. And I promise I won't tell anyone."

"I don't think that matters anymore." She scoffs. It took her a long time before finally talking again and agreeing, "But I trust your word. I also seem to not be busy at the moment again, so… here it goes."

After we both settle on a comfortable sitting position, she starts.

-

THIRD PERSON P.O.V.

YEAR 1015

The 11th century had just begun which was considered as the High Middle Ages of the world. New discoveries and inventions so archaic are on the process of being made and are made which will flourish to the modern civilization.

Subjects like science, philosophy, technology, and literature are expanding to more countries and are reaching more people. Revolutionary architectures such as cathedrals in Italy, or pagodas in China are still being built or are about to be built. Materials such as the first batch of smelted iron and the first paper printed money helped society in many ways.

The sun is shining. The temperature is cool and comfortable. The idea of global warming does not exist yet. Everything is still both complicated and easy, and people are discovering and colonizing new countries. Some people are busy trying to reach the top of the hierarchy and most serve those who already on the top. Others accept the fate of having no such wealth and live simply.

Somewhere in the middle of fortune and misfortune, a story like no other started within the grasp of a wizard and a maiden. There, on a fine land, lived a rich man which was known as The Magus. The only sorcerer on Earth. But not a single soul knew about his little secret.

The Magus was a good man. He was known as a good man by different sorts of people. He tries to use his magic for good without revealing it openly. He is famous in the places he's traveled for helping others countless of times, only for everything to start over due to him travelling to every part of the world, only then he is unknown once again. He lives secretively and quietly, having to wander from one place to another, hoping to find a meaning in this type of living. His own meaning.

One day, The Magus roams around a state later to be known as North Carolina. Some people on the streets gaze over his handsome emerald green eyes, side-parted flaxen hair, and fierce lips. The watchers don't faze him, as it happened heaps of times in the past, but he would smile and wave to everyone who compliments him then continue walking.

Deep in the forest, within an area where no human was spotted, he finds a filthy girl lying on a tree, sounding very sickly as she was coughing heavily. She was alone and no one to help her. He jogs to her as soon as he saw.

He asks, "Milady, may I ask what is wrong?"

The girl took a good look at The Magus. The Magus was also staring back at her, admiring her beauty and almost being at a loss of words. When he was afar, he would describe her as an impoverished person, but looking closer, there was certainly a special something within her.

Looking hesitant, she shook her head and replied with a hoarse voice, "I am very ill, but I have nothing to get any medication."

He carries the girl, "I will help you, please, wait and relax yourself."

The Magus carries the girl and hurriedly goes forth the forest to find his current secret area—a cave.

He finds his way there, with the girl and goes inside. The pond was very clear and shining and the cave had significant rocks that forms it. He lays her on the ground, near the pond, as she was still coughing.

The Magus stretches his arms then proceeds to put his hands out, but not touching the girl's body. He closes his eyes, takes a deep breath and his hand emitted a majestic light towards the girl's center body. The girl was unable to see what was happening because of her state of pain, but the pain was slowly relieving as time goes by. The Magus notices this and continues his work. It happens for a some more seconds as they were both silent.

Then the light had finally faded, and the boy looks at her, smiling. The girl took a very deep breath and still coughed for a bit until it stopped. She stopped coughing and sits down abruptly. She touches her heartbeat and inspects her body, feeling very surprised.

"I'm cured,"' The girl looks at him after a moment with astounded eyes. She repeats herself as a smile curved up on her face, "I'm cured! How had you done it?"

The Magus smiles, "Magic."

The girl stood up and gives him a quick hug, "I am finally okay again!"

He takes a step back and puts his arms out towards the clear pond, then light emits from his hands again for only a short time. With his cavernous voice he spoke, "From now on, whether you are ill or unwell, you need only to bathe in this pond and you will be cured, whatsoever."

The girl's smiles widen and hugs him again, "What is your name, sir?"

"You may call me Maverick." He smiles after a brief hesitation then asks, "What shall I call you?"

The girl leans back and replies, "My name is Malinda."