Spellbound

At school the very day both Nat and Pen compared their letters and the instructions they were to follow to get where they had to be. It seemed that Nibbles was to meet them at the river again and then take them both to Azadarin’s home. Once there they would sit another test to prove how worthy they were to be a part of The Magic Guardians and if all went well...they would both be one step closer to making this dream a reality. Again as in previous days Mr Morkas was nowhere to be seen and the substitute teacher filled in again in his absence, much to the relief of Nat and Pen who seemed to get even more of their collective schoolwork done and graded.

As school finished Nat and Pen made their way into the school library to review the days work and talk about the test unencumbered with listening ears that produced gossip around the school. Occasionally Nat glimpsed a small whiff of the shampoo Pen used in her hair and he smiled out of eye shot from Pen when this happened.

It was as they were standing up to leave the library gathering their books and notes when they turned to look at the library door they saw in front of the glass doors a bat hovering mid air with a very anxious look on its face. It was Nibbles. She didn’t look happy and both Nat and Pen rushed to find out what was wrong. As they opened the door Nibbles blurted out a volley of new instructions to them both standing there.

“Change of plan you two...Aza wants you to come as quickly as you can and stay for a couple of days if that is at all possible...he will explain what is happening when you get there...is it possible you can come tonight...I will show you the way once you are packed and ready to leave” stated Nibbles who was obviously concerned by the tone of her voice and the speed with which she spoke to them.

Nathaniel turned to Penelope and said...

“Meet me at my house as soon as you can and we shall do as Nibbles said ok Pen?”

“Ok...I think my parents will understand because it sounds like we are needed for something important” said Penelope now almost running away from Nathaniel and Nibbles.

“You’ve got that right” said Nibbles panting mid air as she watched Nathaniel run back to his home as well to pack and get ready to leave.

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As the log cabin that was home to Azadarin had never had guests before he decided to add two new rooms with bathrooms and a study for his new students to relax in. One quick cast of a spell and there was the two rooms, bathrooms and study. His log cabin home was in an appalling state of dust, dishevelment and disorder so four more spell were cast to bring the home back to a shiny gleaming home any one would be proud to live in. Now it was back to his books and gathering spells to teach Nathaniel and Penelope when they arrived with Nibbles. Time was of the essence now that Zell had been found and his whereabouts located. It was paramount that he was prepared and he worried that his new students would not pick up this new magic in time to defend themselves or their families and homes.

There was much on the mind of Azadarin.

All the reasons, thought Azadarin, not to do this come flooding in, as if my body chemistry just sent them a blanket invitation. I feel the soft panic that can grow or fade depending on what I do next. It will fade if I back away, but then I have to do this all again another time. It will grow if I let these thoughts swirl into a vortex of stupidity, eating their own tail. Or I can breathe real slow, let the thoughts leak into the ether and be the real Wizard the Magic Guardians always knew that I was.

It would be a shame to let those dear Wizards down now that the last of the enemy was in sight, but he was going to have to be very careful and careful with the lives of the students he was about to teach. They also had to know the dangers of what they were doing because there were many dangers they had never seen before and may never again. These were troubling times for Azadarin...if he didn’t get this right he could end two young peoples lives and his own as well.

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Daria Calarooks skin was as gnarled as the bark on the woodland trees and her hair contained just as many live and unsavoury bugs. Her lips were large and leathery, her nose a pitted with battle scars and her eyes narrowed to a squint so close that it was impossible to tell their colour. She had once graced almost six foot, quite a giant amongst the young witches, but now she was in the tidewater of her eighth decade and had a pronounced hunch-back. Whilst her body decayed her mind remained sharp as a tack. There were many in the Blackwatch who sort to displace her as head- witch, but none had bested her in magic or political posturing.

She was quite adept at knowing the intentions of her “sisters” before they were fully aware of it themselves. Then it was a simple matter of planting new ideas or thwarting them directly with enough magic to humiliate them. Either way was good for Daria; both got her something she wanted. Now she was the last Witch of the infamous Blackwatch with just her one and only son, a fully fledged Blackwatch Wizard who was just as good as his mother, if not better in many ways because he had youth on his side as well as a keen study in the black arts. The brewing storm that was to come to the village Calarook was to be a match of skill, wits and magic with lethal pitfalls at each turn given the nature of the beings involved. ..................................................................................

Nathaniel heard a knock on his door and he rushed to open it and introduce Penelope to his parents then grab his back pack now filled with three changes of clothes, his knife, a small amount of food & water and then they both set of in the direction of the river at a brisk pace. Upon reaching the river again they were met by Nibbles who took to sitting on Nathaniels shoulder and yelling out directions for them both while getting to know them better.

“I cant tell you how much of an honour it is to meet you again Nibbles...you are one busy Bat and both Nat and I really appreciate you showing us the way to the home of Azadarin” said Penelope smiling at her new furry...talking friend.

“Thank you Penelope and Nathaniel, there is much at stake as of right now so you both best be ready to retain and learn as much of what is hurled at you as quickly as you can because it will save you life if you get it right and you will definitely be on the wrong side of the grass if you get it wrong” said Nibbles profoundly filling both Nat and Pen with a bit of feared expectation as of right then.

Nibbles continued to talk to Nat and Pen.....

“Magic can be used to make a person forget experiences, to not see what is right in front of them and to control behaviour. With words you can be paralysed or have your body controlled... yet it is possible to fight your way out of it, to resist the 'spell' and I’m living proof of that. I’m the one who was never supposed to survive. For the ones that fight the spells, who emerge with memories that were supposed to be erased, there will be the drugs to induce insanity and the watchers to ensure you are living as you ought to, that even if you have memories you are too intimidated to tell them."

"Magic is a science and an art, it uses the entire brain... so be both too, be a scientist and an artist, use positive phrasing, be kind with your words... then the ones who aren’t will stand out, or else they’ll have to hide and be reduced in the ways they harm our world. And please remember, there are the good magicians too like Azadarin, the ones who will share their abilities and teach you how it works. So please, dearest Nathaniel and Penelope, wake up, because we’re trying with every ounce of strength we have to save you, your parents and the village” expressed Nibbles in all seriousness to her friends as they marched onward to the log cabin and the welcome from the great Azadarin the last of The Magic Guardians.

There was no time to lose.