Chapter 2: Burns

Mr Smithe walks In the living room, he sees Alric watching over the two little Smithes playing outside from the window.

“Alric, come here a moment.” Mr.Smithe says and pulls a seat at the kitchen table for him.

Alric’s eye bandage covers the swell where a bandit leader punched repeatedly and almost pulled his eye out, had they given him the time.

“You may have lost your memories and almost your life the other day as my new son, but that’s the past now. You’ll have to grow up faster than Keith and Katie do.”

“Ok.”

“Go into town, see how the city runs and where you fit in.”

He rubs Alric’s head.

“Be back before sun down.”

Alric tucks his ancient green amulet and heads out.

Day turns to night, he returns and Mr Smithe has Katie in the air, Keith is hopping in place and Ms Smithe smiles at Alric.

“How was your first day in the city?!” Mr. Smithe says.

“I got a job at that tall twisty tower and earlier, a guy gave me this.” Alric says.

“A seal from the city guard! You joined the army my boy!”

“What?!” Alric says.

They hug and cheer him on, at night, they lay on blanketed floors and share stories of their past and dreams until they slept.

One and a half years later.

Albon army returns, that night, soldiers laugh in a pub with women, beer and a warm light spell glows over them.

“Is that him?!”

“No way! He’s a kid!”

“That’s him! They call him King Killer”

“He tricks the enemy lord, threatens his family the lord hid under the city and after the the army stands down, he executes him!”

A soldier slams beer near Alric.

“For our war stopper!” The soldier says.

“War stopper can’t drink! Hahaha!” Another says.

Alric grabs the handle and lifts it! “No booze! No glory!”

He downs it and wakes fully clothed in his friends keep, women and his buddies asleep, he heads out, is thanked at each street, he senses a presence and jumps.

A tall ,broad man, white hair and sideburns connecting his beard laughs.

“I heard rumors and got curious of our new warrior.”

“Sir Ward!” Alric says.

“No need, I’m here to give thanks, you ended the war for us, might you be interested in working in my ranks?”

“Thank you sir!”

“…I should have brought a gift, where will you be?”

“I’ll be with my family today.” Alric smiles, “But first, I’ll be seeing a friend.”

In the tower of knowledge, a thick book slams in his face.

“GET OUT!!!” An old man says.

Alric’s lips tuck and gives teary puppy eyes.

“You tarnished these gems I’ve given! I was worried, so gave you scrolls and magic books and you…you…Do you know how many are dead?!”

Alric puffs his cheeks and looks left.

“Speak! Dammit!”

“Relax, I only borrowed some books from the restricted section-“

“You took EVERYTHING!”

“ I probably won’t give them back.“

Alric looks at the destroyed tile mural high on the walls.

“3 wizards fighting something we can’t see makes no sense. How do you expect to bring in more people?” 

“Its said to be 4…” the old man says, he stares at the mural than at Alric, “you can still change, you know.”

“I just came to say hi today, I’ll bring you some lunch tomorrow!” Alric salutes and races out the tower doors.

Katie is in the garden, sees Alric and runs to his embrace, “I’ve missed youuu!” She says, “you look so manly!”

Alric pats her head, “And you’re still..”

Katie smiles, shiny eyes and her body developed like a girl his age.

“You gotta stop drinking those growth potions.” Alric says.

“Is that my boy?!” Mr. Smithe says.

Mr and Mrs Smithe come to the porch and they hold one another.

Keith, almost Alric’s height, steps in and gets a look at him.

“I thought you’d be gone longer.” Keith says.

“I’ll tell them to end wars later next time.”

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You didn’t change much…” Keith says.

Katie, smiling, looks left and right at them.

“And you gotta stop using those growth potions.”

“No.”

“Look at Katie.”

“And?”

“She’s too young too look like that.”

“I don’t care.”

“Keith.”

“No.”

“I bet it doesn’t grow everything.”

The two take it to the grass and Alric’s amulet falls, he slides it back on and poses, they crack up, head inside, give stories of their trips and as Alric smiles, they tear to shreds by air pressure as a creature dives in, stretches its wings, blows apart  down the middle, and leaves a narrow path of the floor between it and Alric.

It lands and walks to him, Alric tries to get up and run, it grabs his neck, lifts him, burning as it touches, it’s human shape body, black rocks as magma streams in its cracks, lines it’s fingers to pierce Alric's head and he teleports to a mountain side and snow.

He lands, speechless, he sits up and stares across the white climate.

A teen in a wizard robe and shorts hold her magic staff behind her.

“Um..hello.” She says.

Alric turns.

“I think I’m suppose to meet you here.” She says.

“…What?”

He flinches from the burn on his neck.

“Are you ok?” She says.

“…Where am I?”

“Ever mountain…I’m Oz.”

“I need to get to Allbon.”

She smiles, draws her staff, out it’s gem pours liquid colors, forms a pool and a marble chariot rises.

Hours later,

Albon, charred to the ground, one side remains and the other is black ash.

They pull a wheeping boy stuck beneath a burnt roof.

“Are you hurt?!” Alric says.

“It..it killed my daddy!” He says.

“Wilks!” Says a lady.

“Mom!” He says.

The boy runs and hugs the side of her that isn’t melted flesh.

His family flashes though his head, he grips his chest and falls to his knees.

“Alric!” Oz says.

A hooded guy catches him, “Aye, relax.”

The guy’s tone soothes Alric, stress leaves and a calm warmth takes it’s place.

“Who are you?” Alric says.

“Who’re you talking to?" Oz says.

The guy bends and touches Alrics ancient green amulet.

“My names Zealse, I teleported you and live in your amulet, don’t take it off again. That’s how it finds you.

“What’s it want?!”

“You haven’t figured that out?”

Alric grips ash.

“So you’re crazy...” Oz says.

Zeales appears to Oz, she yells and grips her wand.

“Don’t freak out, I appear when I want to.” Zeales says.

“You keep me safe right?” Alric says.

“As long as we’re together.”

“Let’s kill it.”

“You’re gonna fight this thing?!” Oz says.

“….I’ll need power…and an army.” 

“You need money if you need an army..I’m coinless.” Oz says.

Alric sees people evacuating in a line with what they can carry.

“We’re leaving.” Alric says.

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