The Five Realms

Zelasii : I can't wait either. Hehe. I'm improvising as I go on. It's hard following the notes I have for the story. I often go offtrack. I need to quicken my pace and put some action in the story. I hope you guys aren't getting bored.


~*STORY*~


It was almost April. Thom was looking forward to the first day of the month. He was going to have so much fun playing pranks on April Fools, but he had to get through this day before he could start planning.

Thom fiddled with his ball pen. This was the last day of his lectures on the Principles and Theories of Magic. He frowned as he read the questions the accursed angel had written on the test paper. The first item was about fire manipulation. Thom wrinkled his nose and looked for an easier question.

What was this? The negative feedback of Epic spells? Argghhh... This was too advanced.

He gripped the pen tightly and went to the next line.

List the different items needed for portal construction. This was better.

Thom scanned the rest of the paper until he finally reached the end. He was furious. Almost all the questions were about advanced magic and were beyond the limitations of his talent...or were they? He hadn't tried any of them yet.

Thom had always hated scientific lectures. He had never enjoyed memorizing scientific formulas, principles and theories, and this was the magical equivalent. He groaned as he looked at the library clock. He had 45 minutes to finish answering the test and he had not answered even one question so far. He read the first question again and with a determined expression on his face searched his brain for the answer.

Samandiriel walked silently into the library and sat himself on the chair at the corner of the room. His pupil was so engrossed with his test paper, he had not even graced the angel with his usual glare. Samandiriel gazed fondly at Thom, his usual annoying grin absent from his face. The boy had changed so much that no one in his old school would recognized him. The only time the teen showed a resemblance of his old self was when he was reading. Sam remembered how he had to prod the boy out of the old high school library so he can shut it. The boy had been meek and emotionless during the few times they had a conversation. He was so different from the Thom who was now in front of him. This Thom was very much alive.

Samandiriel had purposely made the test difficult. Four months of extensive lecturing would be enough to give the elf boy the groundings for higher elven magic. It had been hard for the boy because he was made to believe that he would not be able to practice it. To grasp the principles, he had to rely on memorization than on actual experience.

It had been a blessing that Thom was so easy to teach. The boy had overflowing talent for elemental manipulation, judging from his mastery of water magic. It wa a pity he wasn't allowed to try the other elemental fields. The boy was also a decent healer, a budding linguist and a history enthusiast. So far, he was doing great in his studies.

Samandiriel was very much aware how privileged he was to be able to teach the young prince. This was the best time to mold Thom and teach him how to use his magical ability. Being the one to solely guide the boy was going to make a big difference on how he will turn out in the future.

Sam's thoughts turned to the situation at hand. The boy might not have a future if things turned for the worse. Samandiriel was disturbed that he was teaching Thom stuff that may be the one to break him in the end. The winged man had no choice though. The boy had to be taught or else there would be no hope for the world at all.

Thom stood up and glanced at the clock. It was 11:25 a.m.. Time was nearly up. Five more minutes and he would have no choice but to hand back the paper. He hurriedly answered the last two questions and triumphantly stood up from the table, giving back the test questionaire to his teacher who was sitting across the room. He was glad it was all over. He didn't thing he could take another month listening to and reading about magical principles and theories.

The elf boy jaunted out of the library towards the kitchen leaving Samandiriel to follow his trail. It was time for lunch.


XX


“How did the test go?” Savyn asked as Thom plopped himself on the vacant chair next to her.

“So and so. My head is still buzzing from all that thinking.” Thom replied, glowering as Samandiriel seated himself on the last unoccupied chair on the kitchen table. “Master Sam here had to give me questions that even an elder would have a hard time answering.”

Thom had been calling Samandiriel “Master Sam” since he became Thom's instructor.

“Master Sam knew Mr. Erickson had mastered Mid level elven sorcery. He wanted to test how much Mr. Erickson knew beyond the things he could already do.” Samandiriel returned, smirking as Thom gave him a baleful stare. He had continued calling Thom Mr. Erickson, not bothering to change his form of address. It was a source of amusement for him, especially when Thom got angry. He loved watching Thom's face turn red. He was just so cute like a little spitting kitty.

“I don't need to know those stuff. I won't be able to do half those things, so why should I learn about it?” Thom complained. He reached for the baked potato and started scooping.

“Did you also learn about Epic stuff, Savyn?” He turned to his sister, who was picking her food unconsciously as she looked back and forth at the student-teacher duo. She was suddenly panic-strickened when she realized Thom was addressing her. She glanced at Samandiriel, who's eyes were piercing her with meaning. She knew what she had to do.

“Yes I did,” she lied, saying it with a slightly shaky tone.

“Hmmmph..” Thom grunted as he put a steak on his plate. He narrowed his eyes at Savyn as if he was looking at her soul.

“I doubt it,” he added. His sister was a bad liar, and she wasn't meeting his eyes. He looked around him, at the people who were glancing meaningfully at each other. They were keeping something from him, that much he knew. So he decided to drop the subject. Everyone seemed to be conspiring against him and there was no use continuing the conversation. He bowed his head and began cutting his steak into small pieces.

“Have any plans for today, Thom?” Nathan asked after a few minutes.

“No. Why?”

“You wanna come with us? We're going shopping.” Jake wiggled his brows.

“Yeah, Bro. We need to stock up for April fools!” Lyle winked at Thom. The others sighed. They had to be extra careful when that dreaded day arrived.

“Okay.” Thom answered, his mood changing. He grinned toothily at the 3-stooges, who were now planning their little excursion.

“Nyahaha! Men's day out! Let's do some male bonding!” Sven announced loudly.

“Wait a minute! I'm coming too. I need new clothes.” Savyn said as she stood up and put her empty plate on the sink. The 3-stooges groaned somultaneously.

“I won't make you carry the bags. I promise.” Savyn put both her hands together in prayer and gave them a beseeching look. “Pleeeeeease?...”

“Sure, Sure...That's what you always say.” Lyle muttered, a defeated look on his face. The other 2 Stooges mirrored the same expression.

(...To Be Continued...)


Author's Note: I might be taking a day off. Bear with me.