4 Empowermen (1/2)
He reached the house, still surprised by the news of the soldier. Opening the door, he entered the room Bhalrom was in. He saw the boy sitting down on the bed with a large black shirt covering him. The shirt had a strange cut to it and the material looked strange. The sheets still covered his legs, indicating he had just woken up.
The boy had a brownish messy hair, his eyes were of a dark blue, ”they have a bright light in them, and a curious feeling to as well” the Magus thought to himself analyzing the boys eyes -”signs of an inquisitive mind... he indeed shows all the signs of a foreigner noble... since I don't recognize him, judging by the color of his hair and eyes, he must be from the far east, perhaps the islands? If so, communication will be a problem...”
- ”Hello Bhalrom, I think I already know why you have sent for me...” - He said to the knight
- ”Yes... I concluded so far that the boy must be a noble of some sort, a foreigner one at that, probably attacked by bandits and abandoned to his luck” he answered politely. - ”I hoped you could help us with the situation”
- ”Oh...Very well, Let me try... ”Said the mage approaching the boy
- ”I'm called, Maximilian, whats your name?” - The mage tried to introduce himself first and then ask for the boy names, most nobles could understand such words in all languages, since its a common teaching, all nobles should be able to understand a greeting in most languages.
But the boy showed an awkward smile, clearly not able to understand any word.
”Not a word... strange...” Maximilian thought to himself ”This ask for a more powerful strategy...” - He gesticulated to the boy to hold on, thinking about the elven necklace he was given many years ago, that would be able to translate the words to the boy and from the boy.... He went to his tent to grab it.
- ”Let's try again now.... my name is Maximilian, what is yours?” - Maximilian tried once more.
The boy's surprise were clear and unmistakable, the necklace was very rare, but the knowledge of it existence was not.
”What is he doing? Have he never seen a magical necklacebefore? Seems like he is looking for something...” Maximilian pondered while watched the boy unrelenting search.
”Magic...” the amazed boy quietly said. ”As a child seen the world for the first time... ” Thought the mage comparing the image in front of him as the same as many other he had seen, dear memory of young apprentice first steps learning magic.He could not help but laugh at the scene.
- ”My name is...” and the boy went silent for a moment before complementing ”Riou... call me, Riou...”
”What's with this boy?” asked himself in his mind the mage,”seems like he is intentionally lying... mos precisely he does not want to give his name...
- ”Riou hum? Right, my boy, can you tell us from where you are and what were you doing in this remote lands?” he said wanting to get more information from the boy without cornering him to talk of something he did not want to.
- ”I don't know... but by the looks of this place I think I'm really far away from home, all I can remember is that I went to bed, and suddenly waked up last night in the woods and walked the majority of the day until... .. until I fell... and woke here” - The boy said
”He is telling the truth, I can feel it but I can't shake this feeling... as if... he is intentionally being elusive... he is just a boy... but the way he hold himself, and the choice of words.... seems too elaborated for a 15 year boys... seems to be the truth, but not completely.... he is holding back his name... and something else as well...” - pondered the mage for a few moments- ”I need to be certain” - Concluded to himself.
- ”Can you get up? come with me boy, lets have a walk, I need to check something if you don't mind... ” Maximilian said
Both left the house and went outside
- ”You were found near that forest... do you know about it?” Pointing at the forest that everyone knew about, it was one of the mysteries of the world, Endher.... everyone everywhere heard the stories and legends about it... and his intentions were to measure the boy reaction to know he was very near it.
- ”I don't think so, seems a lot different than the one I was, I don't remember fog or dark trees” - the fog and the dark trees were unique to this region... the boy clearly did not recognize itwhich was very strange, but if he was a foreigner trying to conceal his true intentions in this place, he would at least know he could not lie about knowing this place... seems like the boy was truly lost and confused... concluded the mage, loosing up his preocupation... was then he heard in a very low voice ”There was a strange silence...”the boy said as if remembering something he could not explain clearly...
It could mean many things.... but his mind could not run from the thought that the boy was talking about the traverse... one of the oldest legends that is told to the children before sleep.
It is told that the forest is the limit between this and the spirit world, that one that could traverse its limits, would have to walk through the maddening silence of the abyss and break the giant stone walls that hold the foundation of everything. But it was just a story... its intention was to teach the children to be strong willed, and resilient on their work, so they could face adversity and pass through challenges, becoming as the heroes in the stories.
Before he could notice, the mage have hastened his pace...
- ”An army camp in a small village?” the boy asked while the mage was still lost in his thoughts...
- ”Yes my boy, did you not felt the tremor earlier? This army here came investigate what happened” - Said Maximilian said trying to get the boy to reveal more information about himself and the recent events that happened with him.
- ”I did not felt any earthquake... ” said the boy casually...and continued - ”Also... why do you keep calling me boy, do I look like a child?”
The elder mage could not move... as he understood the implication of the answer ”earthquake” was a term used only in the most advanced and rare books of magic, took him a hundred years to find one and understand the principles, it was not a term to be casually thrown...
Then he pondered further on the meaning of the question ”This boy... he seems uncertain about his appearance, his age perhaps do not match with his appearance, so he is trying to sell himself as a noble brat to get information... he probably expects me to say something as, ”you are a boy” or ”young”... that would mean that he is indeed much older than he appears... or he is really just a spoiled brat trying to impose his status...” his mind was rushing trying to find an answer... ”No... he is to collected, to calm.... his actions so far, his words.... he is older... but how older? Would he be a mage as well... butthen there was the genuine surprise with a magic amulet... he wasn't faking it... he must be older.... or is he just a boy and I'm over-thinking? No... No... in any case he clearly knows something, and I must be even more careful from now on, I need to choose carefully my words as well, just to see what his reaction will be...”