Laurin tales: JJ's story chapter 3
More exposition in my story. Obviously, read chapters 1 and 2 first.
Writing is going slow. Partly due to school and being busy, partly due to games xD had a week holiday last week. Was super unproductive
Back in Pin, not much has changed, exept for JJ's fascination with magic. He had seen some of the things mages can do, and, knowing that it's something you're born with, he wanted to see if Kai had it
"No, man. Magic is just some fairy tale" said Kai, busy carving out a "walking stick"
"I saw the wizards tower. They pulled it out from the ground"
"Did you see them pulling it from the ground" was the otters reply.
"Ummmm, no"
"Well then. No magic"
"But it was perfect. No bricks or anything. Just solid stone"
"Clay, then"
In order to solve the debate, they went to the local blacksmith, Wayne, a tall brown horse
"Children, why would you think magic doesn't exist?" Asked the horse, beating at a piece of metal for a spear. "Magic definitely does exist. I met a mage once myself"
This info made the cubs eyes grow. "Really?" They asked in unison
"Yeah. But, ummm, don't worry about it. Everyone has their talents" said the horse, trying to change the subject. "Just look at me. Even wizards need the stuff I can make"
"Can't they just make it themselves? " the young bunox enquired. "I thought you could do anything with magic"
"There are limits. They can do a lot with magic, yeah. But it takes a lot of energy. Usually leaves wizards very exausted, even a simple spell. While me," Wayne sayd, dunking the metal into a bowl of water, "I can do this all day"
"Is it true that wizards made the tower in Demar in, like a week?"
The horse went silent for a bit. Then continued: "that tower was made in a time of war, and "war demands sacrifice" they say... It's true, wizards made that tower. But that isn't the type of magic that should be abused"
Satisfied with this, the cubs left with a "Thanks Wayne" to their usual spot, by the springs. JJ went easy with the "I told you so"'s, amazed by this new energy. He tried to remember all the stories he's been told about magic, but there were few. His village didn't care much for this power, seeing as there were no wizards in it.
Kai suggested they should test weather they had magic by pulling dirt from the ground. For a whole two minutes, the two cubs made signs with their hands at the ground, hoping something works. Bored with this practice, Kai pulled some dirt from the ground with his paw, and threw it at JJ.
"Maybe Wayne was right. Magic sucks" said the cub, running for cover from JJ's retaliation. This mud-fight entertained the two for a good few hours, and though Kai was a much better shot, JJ's endurance lasted long enough to tire out the otter.
"Okay, enough" yelled Kai, moments before the last mud ball hit JJ in the face, only to discover that this particular mud ball was mostly stone.
JJ immediately fell to the ground, in tears, his muzzle bleeding. Sadly, the mud camouflaged it, so Kai wasn't sure just how much damage he's done
"Damn, I'm sorry, man. Didn't know there was a rock in there" Kai reassured him, dragging him to his mom.
Emily was a quiet bunny, exept when it came to her family, so when she heard JJ's crying, she rushed outside to them.
"Oh, boys, what'd you two get up to?" She asked, looking at the two mud-covered cubs.
"I, urrm, accidentally had a rock in one of my mud balls, miss", explained Kai, handing JJ over to her.
"Well, then. Hope it won't happen again. Now get cleaned up, before it gets cold"
Kai took this advice, trodding off towards the springs. Emily dragged JJ inside, him sucking up his tears.
"I'm sorry, mom. We were just having some fun. Was testing if we had magic by pulling dirt from the ground, and ended up having a dirt war"
"Magic, huh?" She sighed, wiping his snout clean. "What's got you interested in that stuff?"
He explained it to her
"The tower, huh?" She took a moment to appreciate his innocence, but had to break it to him.
"Son, that tower would've normally taken 10 wizards at least a month to erect. But there wasn't time for that, and only 3 wizards present. Kings orders..."
She stopped for a moment, so JJ went ahead and asked: "How'd they do it?"
"Some lives had to be... sacrificed... Wizards can draw power from anyone, but it takes a persons entire soul. Meaning, if there ever was an afterlife, those dead get denied that as well..."
JJ's eyes grew. "W-why?"
"Like I said, it was a time of war. "Enemy" lives were used, but even still, one of the wizards did not agree... The other two had to kill... no, had to mutilate the very souls of more than fifty people to build the tower. King says it was worth it. Tower helped them hold the ground with its magics. But the king isn't the one with blood on his hands"
"And the other wizard? What happened to him?"
"He ran. The empire wouldn't allow a wizard to make his own choices, so he just ran. He couldn't even use magic anymore, or they'd find him..."
Suddenly, she seemed to remember something. "But yeah. I'll tell you more when you're older. For now, don't worry about silly old magic, okay, dear?"
Reluctantly, JJ said: "Okay, mom"
"Thanks hun" replied Emily, kissing JJ on the forehead. She then dripped some liquid onto JJ's now clean wound, which tingled a bit, but got better soon
"Now hop off to bed, mister. And I also don't want you and Kai throwing each other with rocks again" she teased
"It was mud, mom" JJ protested, getting up to go to bed
"I know, hun" she said, giggling as he left
Though he promised his mom he'd leave magic alone, he somehow knew he wouldn't be able to resist...