Jake starts to blink as he gains his senses.
“Where am I?” He asks himself.
As he sits up he sees a man sitting on a chair next to where he’s laying bed.
“Hello, mind me asking who you are?” Asked the man.
“Who are you and where am I?” Asked Jake.
“You’re in my home and I asked who you were first.”
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“I’m Jake. Now, who are you?” Asked Jake again.
“I’m Master Aslex, the magician Master. My house is in the middle of the marketplace so don’t worry. Now I have a question for you,” answered Aslex.
“Alright, ask I guess.”
“Where’d you learn your magic, what were the words, and what did you use them on?” Asked Aslex all at once.
“More than one question. I honestly don’t know what you’re talking about. I can’t remember anything besides that I got attacked by a man in black armor,” answered Jake.
“Boy quit playing around; you used dangerous magic so please tell me what were they?” Asked Aslex again.
Jake stared at him for a long time while trying to remember what happened.
“You really don’t remember?”
“No. How’d you find me though?” Asked Jake.
“I have a magical barrier surrounding Gan, whenever magic is used by anyone or anything images will pop up in my head of the location,” answered Aslex.
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“No boy, once you first cast it the magic is taken from you that once and then the barrier always stays unless brought down by the caster.”
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“Oh, makes sense I guess,” said Jake.
“Yes, I suppose so. Now Jake, how old are you?” Asked Aslex.
“Why do you need to know? And I’m seventeen,” answered Jake.
“Because I was curious of how much time I have before you have no more time to be apprenticed. Now I know, but before you ask me what I mean let me ask you this. Jake, would you like to be my apprentice?” Asked Aslex.
“Um, I, I mean yes,” answered Jake.
“Good, now I will go talk to the Duke today to see when I can apprentice. You may leave when you wish,” said Aslex while leaving.
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Derk wonders what is to happen to him as he walks into a hallway of the castle. He asks some servants where to go and eventually he pushes the doors open to the throne room.
“Ah, there’s our hero of the day,” says the Duke.
Derk stops where he’s at and bows on one knee.
“Boy stand up and quit that nonsense, after all, you just saved the most important man in Gan,” said the Duke while smiling.
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Derk stands back up.
“I’m sorry my Duke,” said Derk.
“No need to apologize. Now, since you saved my life what would you like? Anything in my power that I can provide will be yours.”
“Um, I really don’t know right this instance. To tell you the truth, my Duke, I wasn’t prepared for this at all,” answered Derk.
“Well then think on it. Come back tomorrow at midday and tell me your answer, until then farewell,” said the Duke before motioning for him to leave.
Derk bowed one more time before leaving. After he left the castle gate he started to think.
“What do I want? Women? Gold? Bronze? Silver? A castle with servants that are all women? This is going to be a tough decision,” he says to himself.
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Kelrics eyes open as Jake walks into the house.
“Well, how was your day brother?” Asked Jake.
“If meeting the most beautiful woman which happens to be an assassin is considered good, then I guess I had a pretty good day,” answered Kelric while smiling at an image of Sarah in his head.
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“Well an assassin, who could’ve guessed,” replied Jake.
“What about yours?” Asked Kelric.
“Well if being attacked and almost killed then being accused of using magic then being asked to be an apprentice is considered good, then my day was good and bad,” answered Jake laughing.
“Who were you attacked by?”
“I’m honestly not sure, just a man in black armor is all I can clearly remember. Then everything went black and I woke up in Master Aslex's home. He asked me to be his apprentice and I said yes,” answered Jake.
“Interesting, stay near the house until Derk gets home. I need to show you both something.”
“What is it?” Asked Jake curiously.
“You’ll see,” replied Kelric while closing his eyes.
Jake turned and went to his bed, lying down until Derk arrived.
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Derk quietly tip-toed into his quiet and dark house. After he closed the door he walked to where their beds were. He jumped as Kelric and Jake were both sitting up in their beds.
“Wow, lord you guys scared me and why are you both
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up?”
“We were waiting for you,” said Jake while staring at Derk.
“Sit down,” said Kelric.
Derk nods and pulls up a chair in front of them.
“How was your day?” Asked Jake.
“Very interesting, saved the Dukes' life believe it or not,” answered Derk.
“How’s that?” Asked Kelric.
“Two men snuck up behind him somehow, just after his speech. I happened to be in front of a soldier so I grabbed his bow and a couple of arrows and hit them both with one shot. Duke Norad was grateful and offered anything in his power mine.”
“So you’re thinking of your decision tonight?” Asked Kelric.
“Yes,” replied Derk.
“Well, both of you remember when mom and dad died. I received a letter today and when I went to put it in the letter drawer I noticed two misplaced letters that I’ve never seen in my life,” said Kelric before turning and grabbing two letters from on his bed.
“Well, what do they say?” Asked Derk.
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“The first one I read was to a man named Nate. He was the leader of a group of men; they were bringing a package here to mom and dad. They came from Letslon. The package was literally us. The letter is from the Lord of Letslon. At the end of it, he says that we're part of a great prophecy. We are the Kings of Tryous,” finished Kelric.
“What does the second letter say,” demanded Derk with his head down.
“It’s to mom and dad. It repeats parts of the first letter but there are a few different things. One thing different is that it says for them to treat us as we were their own kids and to never tell us about the prophecy. We were supposed to find out on our own, I guess we did. At the end is the other different part, it says we all have the birthmark of the Kings of Tryous. The letter ‘T’, is part of the prophecy.”
“Were not the Kings because we don’t in fact have the letter ‘T’ on our bodies,” said Jake.
“Yeah, I thought you might say that so I looked for it on myself earlier today,” said Kelric, standing up now.
He turns towards the moon which shone through one of the windows. Jake and Derk watched as Kelric lifted his shirt up and on the right side of his stomach sure enough there was a ragged ‘T’.
Jake starts looking around his body until Kelric tapped to where his mark was, which was on the top right of his back. Derk took off his shirt and started looking until he found his on the underside of his left wrist.
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“I’m not for sure but I have a feeling we're going to figure out soon,” answered Kelric while lying down.
“I know what my decision is,” said Derk as he walks to his own bed.
“And what is it?” Asked Jake.
“Tomorrow at midday, come to the castle with me and you’ll find out,” answered Derk.
Jake didn’t say anything else; he just stared across the room at a wall.
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As they all woke the next day, they hurried and got dressed.
“So what did your letter say?” Asked Jake.
“That tomorrow I am to be apprenticed to Master Morst if I show up to the castle,” answered Kelric.
“Well I told Derk about the black-armored man, I also told him that I’m being apprenticed,” said Jake.
“What did he say?” Asked Kelric.
“What luck we're all being apprenticed,” Jake repeated Derks’ previous words.
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Kelric stared at Jake for a moment before they both took off out of the house and towards the castle. They sprinted through the marketplace and up a path that led to the castle gates. Then they ran through the castle courtyard and into the castle. After asking where to go they eventually came to the throne room where man masters were.
In front of the throne was Derk, waiting for them to get there. Jake and Kelric walked in slowly and stopped at Derks’ side, bowing to the Duke who was sitting on his throne.
“These are my brothers, my Duke, Jake, and Kelric,” said Derk.
“Rise, Jake, and Kelric. Now Derk, have you made your decision?” Asked Duke Norad.
“Yes, I have made my decision and I wish to ask for two things. The first is that Master Laxx is to hopefully apprentice me on this day.”
“Done,” said the Duke before waving Derk to continue.
“The second thing is that you get me and my brother a moment with the Lord of Letslon,” finished Derk.
Everyone froze to hear what the Duke would say.
“I cannot provide transportation, but I will send a messenger out to the Lord of Letslon this very day. Master Laxx, would you please step forward,” said the Duke.
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A man with a green hood and a beautiful bow stepped forward.
“Yes my Duke,” said Master Laxx.
“As you know, Derk wished to be your apprentice. Something I might also add is that Derk saved my life by shooting two men with two arrows at the same time. So, Master Laxx, will you claim Derk as your apprentice?” Asked the Duke.
Master Laxx kneels on one knee.
“I, Master Laxx, choose Derk as my apprentice. Do you accept?”
“I do,” answered Derk before going to stand at his new Masters' side.
Laxx then stood and walked to the side with Derk following him.
“Duke Norad, I would like to apprentice one of these boys today,” said Master Morst from the side.
“Well, since we just had one apprenticed then go ahead,” replied the Duke, waving for him to come forward.
Kelric watched as the assassin master came forward. He then noticed another hooded person standing to the side with the dagger ring on.
“Sarah,” Kelric whispered to himself.
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“I, Master Morst. Choose Kelric as my apprentice. Do you accept?” Asked Master Morst while kneeling.
“I do,” answered Kelric before walking to his Masters' side.
Master Morst then stands and walks back to the side, Kelric follows and when they reach the side Kelric is standing in between Morst and Sarah. He stands there for a moment until Sarah grabs his hand and holds it.
“Do you feel the same way that I feel for you?” Whispered Sarah.
“Like I’m in love? Yes,” answered Kelric quietly.
“Is there anyone else?” Asked Duke Norad.
“I would like to apprentice,” said Master Aslex from the side.
“Well then, continue Aslex.”
Master Aslex walks forward while dragging his cloak behind him.
“I, Master Aslex, choose to apprentice Jake. Do you accept Jake?”
“I do,” answered Jake.
Jake walks over to his Masters' side that was now waiting for him next to the other Master's.
“Well, if that is all for today I would like to retire to my chambers,” said the Duke.
As he stood, everyone bowed before departing. When the boys and their Masters left the castle, they all were spoken to.
“Jake, gather your things and meet me at the path that leaves Gan tomorrow morning,” said Master Aslex before leaving towards the marketplace.
“Derk, gather your things and meet me in the marketplace tonight so I may show you your new home,” said Master Laxx.223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLVcWdKQ4Z5
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“Kelric, meet me at the same place as Jakes tomorrow morning as well with your things. I’m glad you’re part of us now and bring Sarah to make sure you're safe on your way home,” said Master Morst before leaving and breaking out laughing.
After walking around the marketplace for a while, everyone walked to the house on the hill, and after gathering their things they said goodbye to Derk before he departed. Jake gathered his things together and went to stay in their parents’ old room for the night, leaving Sarah and Kelric. Kelric finished gathering his things and sat on his bed next to Sarah.
“So, when do you need to leave?” Asked Kelric.
“Soon, unless I can stay here tonight. I’m sure Master Morst won’t mind,” answered Sarah while looking at Kelric.
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“Yeah, you can sleep on Derks bed.”
“Alright,” said Sarah before taking off her hood and one of the two shirts she has under it.
Kelric watched her do this, her amazing curves outlined in the moonlight before she finally lay down.
He then stood and took off his shirt, noticing her look at him, before lying down and pulling his blanket over him.
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Later on in the night, Kelric sat up because he couldn’t sleep.
“What’s wrong?” He heard Sarah ask from Derks bed.
“Nothing, just too much to think about right now,” answered Kelric.
He sat up for a moment longer until he heard Sarah get up and stand in front of him. She looked at him while he stood amazed by how beautiful she was.
“I think I can help,” said Sarah, lying onto Kelric.
He was pushed back to where he was previously lying before staring into her eyes, with a sudden urge he then leans up and feels her soft lips against his. They kissed again and again as an urge come over them both to make them want to continue until they decided to stop and instead gaze into each other’s eyes.223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9BVnqJpi1
After wrapping their arms around one another, they lay there as both were thankful that Sarah had stayed. From the other room, Jake smiled as he heard what happened. He was happy for his brother. He then closed his eyes and began to dream of a beautiful blonde girl, which for some reason had been there for a long time.
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