The Wizard's Luck
#1 of The Wizard's Luck
The first day I ever met him, my teacher and friend, I was nervous as hell. Fursons weren't often treated very well by humans. This one was old. He was from a different time. Why would he take on an apprentice like me? I was just an average red fox. I didn't feel special. Little did I know how special I would become.
The tower I approached was high, grey, and old. A light could be seen flickering in a high stained-glass window. It was night, not a star to be seen in the sky. The wind was blowing fiercely. Tiny trickles of rain occasionally fell against my fur, making me shiver. A storm was coming. I was wearing my simple, blue linen robes, that and a silver necklace given to me by my mother. She said it was like a family heirloom. I never took it off.
I reached the door, fighting the urge to leave. No. I need to do this. Word on the street was that the old wizard was seeking an apprentice. He wanted to retire. Thing was, that ancient man turned away every applicant to ever show up -human and furson alike. But the country needed a wizard. A wizard had many responsibilities; they were crucial for survival. Wizards were also very nicely rewarded. That's why I was there.
My family needed the money. They needed medicine. My sister was sick, and she was dying. We couldn't afford to keep her healthy. She was just a young girl, but they said if she continued this way she would never see the age of fourteen. I was going to change that.
You can do this, I assured myself. I knocked on the door. No answer. I knocked a few more times. Again, nobody came. Finally I started banging on the door. The rain was coming down fairly hard by now. I kept beating the door, and it suddenly swung open. However, nobody was there.
"Hello?" I peeked my head inside and looked around. It was too dark to see anything except for the fickle light at the top of the stone stair case. It spilled out of an open doorway. I was scared senseless, every nerve in my brain shouting to turn and run. But I forced myself to continue on. I forced myself to walk up the stairs and into the doorway.
Inside, an old man sat at a desk by himself. He was human. He was near balding - a few patches of grey hair still clinging to his head. They were sticking out in every direction as if they were trying to escape. He wore bright purple robes. They looked magnificent. His back was to me, but I could see from the skin on his neck that he was indeed old. It was wrinkled and creased. He was writing something onto a piece of parchment. Stacks of books sat around him. Some open, some marked. Some had dust so thick that I wasn't sure he'd ever opened it. If he did, it was years ago. I wasn't sure what to say to him. So, I cleared my throat.
"Yes, yes. I know you're there. I know why you're here. Don't rush me. This paper work is more important than any spell I've ever known. This research, this is forever. I am not. Nor are you, boy. You'll do well to keep that in mind. Now then, just.. one more.. line." He finished his writing and turned around. He wore small, glass spectacles at the end of his nose. He had a big nose. He had big ears, too. I remember thinking that he looked crazy. But looking back, he was just tired. And I can understand why.
"My name is Victor Heat, and I want to take on the role of your apprentice, sir. I'll do anything I have to." He continued to look over the top of his glasses at me. I felt like I was being judged. He had such piercing green eyes.
"Yes, I dear say that I believe you. You certainly look the part, hm?" He stood up and took a few steps towards me. His steps were slow and cautious, as though each step caused tremendous pain. "Let me ask you this, young man. Why do you want to be my apprentice? Why should I pick you? You clearly aren't wealthy. You look too young to have any real schooling. How old are you anyways?"
I met his gaze and answered without hesitating. "I'm sixteen years old, sir. I want to be your apprentice because I believe that I have the ability. I have the determination. And.. and I need the money sir. My sister is sick, and I wish nothing more than to help her." I don't know why I was standing so tall, hands clenched at my sides. I felt like I was talking to a military instructor, but the old man was simply asking me questions.
"For your sister, huh? Admirable. But for the wrong reasons. What happens after she gets better? You have no need and then you run off. This country needs someone dedicated to the job. Someone willing to make sacrifices. How can you say that's you, if you're worried about your sister? If you have ties at home?" He shook his head and sighed. "I'm sorry. This is a big task and I can't let you have your mind divided. I'm sure you have a big heart, son. But you can't get money here. Go back home." He turned to desk again.
Go home? Go HOME? Does he know how far I've walked to get here? I refuse. I won't give up. My mind was racing, my heart thundered in my chest. I needed this apprenticeship.
"No. I won't go home. I won't ever go home again, if that's what it takes. I'll never leave this tower. I'll read every book in your whole tower, three times over if I have to. I won't back down. I refuse. I deserve this. I'm smart, I'm a quick learner. I'm determined. I'm strong. I'm worthy. And I'll prove it. I'll prove it anyway I can." My fists felt hot. I realized I was clenching them to the point that I could almost draw blood.
The old wizard didn't move for a long time. His shoulders moved up and down slightly, as he breathed in and out. He was always like that, slow. Perhaps it was again because of his age. At least, so it seemed when I was just a boy. But now, I think it was wisdom. His mind was something infinitely expanding. He was always considering every option and calculating every possible outcome. He was intelligent.
"Okay. I will give you a chance. One week. You have one week. You do what I say, when I say it. You will go where I tell you to go. You will eat what I tell you to eat. If I think, for even a moment, that you aren't dedicated to your apprenticeship - I'll send you home." He paused, and then turned to me. "Do you understand?" I just nodded, my head spinning and chest fighting to find my breath.
"I have a guest room on the ground floor. Find your way to it and get some rest. Tomorrow will be fun." He smiled and then chuckled a bit, sitting back down at his desk. I wanted to scream and shout. I did it! I really did it. I DID IT! I had one week to prove myself. It would be a difficult week. But at that point in time, for that one second, I won. I floated down the stairs, sank into the cot, and drifted into sleep. _Soon, I'll be a wizard. I'll have the power, and I'll fix the world. _