SWNOVELS Chapter 50 - Elizabeth’s First Magic Parchments
"It's the same text," she told him so resignedly. "It means that I too will have Domandi Aqua..."
Professor Knudlac smiled again.
"Dear Elizabeth, until you read the same text of your parchment, I want to tell you something more. You've probably noticed that apart from the spells we can learn in school, such as Procidat Deceptionem, Inpulsa or Evanescet, magic that anyone who studies hard our teachings can grasp, maybe even a sceptic, there are other magic tricks too ... a little more special."
Mr. Knudlac swiftly wagged his wand over his left arm. Lots of tattoos began to appear and shine when the wand was near them ... and just as quickly they disappeared.
But even so, the children managed to keep in mind the image of many of Professor Knudlac's tattoos.
His arm was full of tattoos, of various sizes and shapes, in various hypostases, such as that in which some archers or spearmen killed ferocious monsters or quietly watched over surroundings, images of various non-mystical animals, such as bears, deer, wolves or ravens, but also of mystical animals such as the Phoenix bird, the rock dragon, the fire snake or even an ... ice dragon.
The children were delighted to attend such a show. They felt like browsing a catalogue from a tattoo parlour. But the difference was that you couldn't get any tattoo from that register in a tattoo parlour ... but first you had to deserve them in order to get them. You had to win them, do great things as Elizabeth did, risking her life and putting the safety of others above her life.
"To control this special magic, is not enough to call their name. They must be part of you. Otherwise it’s nothing. It is true that a small part of their power can be created either by potions or by magic spells, but they’re not as powerful and the effect is short-lasting.
After a short break, the professor continued:
"It has to be part of you. You can have such magic ...tattoos all over your body. And when you need them, they activate and you can use them. Sometimes those tattoos that you win will be visible, getting your opponent shiver in front of you."
The professor had a short break and smiled slightly:
"But don't forget. The most powerful magic, strength, comes from the heart and the mind. If you don’t use your heart and mind, then all the others have no purpose ... all these tattoos," the professor said showing again the tattoos adorning his hand, “are just drawings that can become useless in case of danger."
Johnny was proud and happy when he thought of a tough situation when his tattoos would be visible. And everyone else could admire them.
"And some extremely powerful magic like Duplici in my case, become part of ... you, all the time."
Mr. Knudlac took his wand close to his face to show that powerful magic, which was represented right on his face ... it was a tattoo with his face by his temple, Knudlac's famous magic: Duplici.
Beside this tattoo there were others glittering on Mr. Knudlac's face, but as he removed the wand quickly, the tattoos disappeared so fast that the children failed to reveal exactly what symbols those magic tricks had.
Not even Alexander, who had at home catalogues with all the magic that a wizard could have, catalogues he browsed thousands of times, failed to recognize much of Knudlac's magic.
"Do you have tattoos on your body as well?" Johnny asked.
"Yes."
"Can we ...?" the boy asked.
Mr. Knudlac started laughing loud.
"Yes, I have on my body too, but you mustn’t see them. I just wanted you to understand that there will come a day when you’ll be ... a 'magic book', like many wizards."
"Like Vlad Dragoesti," Alexander completed. "I have a magazine with a picture of him. He's full of magic. He has tattoos on his neck, chest, back, abdomen ... even on his feet. The picture isn’t very clear. Some say Vlad didn’t want to reveal the magic he knows, so they couldn’t fight against him. I don't think he has a spot on his body without magic touch... I think if he learned a new magic, he wouldn't have any place to mark it.” The boy spoke with great enthusiasm and admiration about one of the most famous wizards, a wizard that everyone from Elmbridge School of Magic considered evil, the famous Vlad Dragoesti.
Mr. Knudlac's smile faded away.
"Especially him," sighed the professor. "Unfortunately, he uses all magic tricks to hurt. As for the fact that he revealed his knowledge of magic to be pictured, this is just his way of spreading fear among the other wizards, scare them and gain them as his disciples."
"Why don't you take such a picture?" Johnny asked. "Maybe you scared Vlad Dragoesti and ..."
Professor Knudlac laughed again, with the same joy as before.
"Yes ... You know ... my body is no longer as it once was. As muscular as Vladimir's. I don't have his age anymore ..."
Many at Elmbridge School wondered how old Knudlac may be given his wisdom and the multitude of spells that other wizard could achieve in a few lives. And as he never revealed his real age, perhaps because he wasn’t asked, a lot of stories and legends more or less difficult to believe were heard in the halls and corridors of the school.
The professor stopped speaking to laugh. Probably he thought how he’d look in a magazine read by wizards and what they’d tell about him.
"And then, Johnny, I think power shouldn’t be shown and demonstrated. Power ... you must use it when it’s really needed, otherwise it’s good to avoid or win a conflict without using force. To win using our minds."
The professor slightly cleared his throat.
"But let's skip these discussions and talk about you. What special magic tricks do you know, Alexander? Say it aloud for Elizabeth too."
"Clamor Infernum and Immobilitat," replied the boy.
"A loud scream that makes anyone cover ears with pain, turning him or her into stone at the same time and a magic that completely immobilizes using whatever is available in that place. For example, the spell Immobilitat in a forest immobilizes the opponent tying him/her with twigs, lianas, anything," explained Mr. Knudlac. "In a room, the curtain, the candle wax or the metal of the pots and bowls become ropes, as tough and durable as the material they’re made of. Thick ropes made of clothes, wood or even metal, which only the strongest can break and destroy. A very useful magic in many confrontations..."
Alexander's arrogance and pride grew exponentially at the professor's words.
Elizabeth listened carefully to what Mr. Knudlac said. It was clear that she was impatient, eager to "master" the magic that Johnny got.
Professor Knudlac saw this, so he interrupted her waiting.
"But, now it's time for Elizabeth to read the text. And who knows, maybe you’ll have a surprise," Mr. Knudlac smiled. "Please read. And don’t forget, the path we choose to follow makes us become what we’ll be."
The girl took the parchment and began to read calmly, in her own way, as if she wanted to understand each word.
It helps you ... when it wants your life.
After a short break, when she sighed a little, the girl continued:
Or kills you ... no offense, that's strife...
The boys were very relaxed, as it happens when waiting for something known and is no longer interesting ... They were to be very surprised at what happened.
The same fire that burned the parchment, the same smoke that activated the tattoo, tickling Elizabeth and making her smile and finally everything was ready again and the fog was gone.
"Revelare," Knudlac said again.
And just as before a tattoo appeared on the girl's forearm, but it was ... different.
Hence, the boys' surprise. Even the girl was curious what happened, what went wrong?
"I think ... it's Nunc Educandi. I'm sure it’s Nunc Educandi," Mr. Knudlac said very seriously. "A magic ... I think it's somewhat powerful if you learn how and when to use it. I just don't know it very well."
The professor was confused, but also very serious. Still, Alexander laughed:
"How can you hit someone using time?"
Johnny smiled, too, hearing Prince Soimesti's words.
"You're wrong. It's like the text saying it can help you ... but it can hurt you too," the girl defended her magic.
"I say it's a mistake. Time cannot hurt anyone. At least not in your hands ...," Alexander went on laughing.
"Maybe I'll send you in the future and make you old. Or back in the past and you’ll become a crying and helpless baby. I don't know ... I'll see what I choose."
Alexander when he heard what the girl told him became more serious. The great wizard Knudlac’s words, that any magic becomes powerful using your mind and heart, frightened the boy. If you think better, a magic trick that can do such things, it’s quite powerful. Not as the boys had initially thought.
Mr. Knudlac approached the girl.
"Although it’s a magic that some don’t consider powerful, I’m sure you’ll learn to handle it better and better. And over time ... you’ll manage to turn it into something to be feared, making it an extremely powerful magic. And by combining it with other magic you’ll learn in the future, you’ll certainly be able to make the most of your knowledge and use it for a great purpose. I'm sure of that ... I trust you."
The professor tried to encourage her, but he soon saw there wasn't the case. Elizabeth smiled.
"I have my first magic ... my first permanent magic. I’ll study it ... and use it to the best of my ability. I can't wait," said the girl, smiling happily.
Glad that the girl smiled, without being offended by Alexander's words, Professor Knudlac ended the discussion.
"Finish reading the books about Ice Golems, because after a while we’ll visit them at their home. And you’ll have to face them in your first trial.
The children sat down again at the desk where they had to sit and continued reading from the pile of books available.
Mr. Knudlac left the library, leaving them with the books and their thoughts.