Life, Death and Mabel ~Chapter 1

          Master Goemon stood with a beaming face as he examined the flower that his apprentice had just conjured. Lying on the burled oak table, the flower brought warmth into the winter bitten room. It was flushed with a brilliant blue hue and its nearly translucent stem seemed to slightly bend ever so gracefully as it projected down four inches to the verdant tip. Its exquisitely supple pedals blushed at their tips as the mild light from the window brushed against them. He took a step closer and observed the lucid pink nectar nurtured in the center of the flower. He then leaned over even closer to admire the way the flower succumbed to the delightful feeling now filling the room by glowing with vivid color where the pedals met the stem.

            Almost unnoticed, Mabel stood but a few feet from Master Goemon. Mabel, nineteen, was a young wizard. He had fiery blond hair about an inch long and piercing blue eyes that could make the clearest of skies appear gray. He wore tall black leather boots, straight black pants, and a black button down shirt. On his back he wore a short sorcerer’s staff, about thirty-six inches long, in which he channeled his magic through. It had an intricately embossed steal hilt with gems embedded in it and a large precious gem inset at the top. Mabel was an aspiring sorcerer, and an apprentice to Master Goemon.

Mabel studied Master Goemon. He couldn’t help but grin at the sight of his master in such a trance. He observed how the flower, young and full of life, contrasted with his master.

            Master Goemon, who had aged more than one hundred years, was a very ill man. He had dull gray hair and a long beard that tangled in his old fashioned garments. His staff was longer than Mabel’s and was made of sterling silver. Because of his bad back, he used it to help him walk. His eyes, once a brilliant shade of blue, were now grayed and showed signs of a sorrowful past. His face as a whole was that of a once powerful sorcerer. There is no doubt that Master Goemon retains almost all of the magical ability he had in his prime, but it is his deteriorating heath that has made it difficult for him keep up with the most modern of sorceries. Every day he finds himself briefly unable to move and short of breath.  As much as he tried to hide it, Master Goemon’s body was failing and not even all the magic in the world could reverse the effects.

            “Mabel,” said Master Goemon looking up, “This is a fine creation.” He spoke in a slow, deep voice. “This, this is truly brilliant. One of your best.”

            Creation being the hardest skill a wizard could master, Mabel took this comment as the highest of praises from his master and indeed it was.

            “Thank you, Master Goemon,” Mabel responded.

            “It seems,” Master Goemon started, “you have mastered the art of creation. This is very good indeed.” He paused, thinking for a moment. “How long did it take you?”

            “Nine weeks and four days.” Mabel answered, recounting each week mentally.

Master Goemon took a breath and felt for the stilted chair which stood behind him. A pensive look fell upon his face as he sat down.

            “Mabel,” said Master Goemon in a thoughtful tone.

            “Yes, Master?”

            “How many of the magical arts have you mastered?”

            “All of them, Master.”

“So then, you have mastered all of the magical arts.” He paused. “And now you believe you are ready to end your apprenticeship; to journey to foreign lands and make a name for yourself?”

“Yes Master.” Mabel stood up straighter.

“Tell me; what arts have you mastered?”

“Elemental, healing, summoning, enchantments, dark, and creation.”

Master Goemon fixed his eyes out the window and watched the birds flying. “Then,” he said, “You are not yet ready to end your apprenticeship.”

            Mabel looked perplexed. “Why, Master? I have already mastered all six of the magical arts. What is left for you to teach me?”

            “You have yet to learn the seventh and final art.”

            “There is no such art. There be but six arts and I have learned them all,” Mabel insisted.

            Master Goemon focused his eyes back on Mabel. “There is a seventh and I will teach it to you!” he bellowed.

            “A seventh art has not been heard of, Master—“

            “Have you not heard of flying?”

            “Flying?” repeated Mabel. “It is a myth!”

            Master Goemon stood up with striking speed. “It is not a myth and I will prove it! You dare question me and I may not teach you!”

            Mabel suddenly regretted his boldness. “I am sorry Master. Please forgive me. I would like for you to teach me the final art.”

            “Very well. Come with me, and we will begin today.”

            Mabel followed Master Goemon out of the study, through the crooked hall with the old portraits, past the doorways to the kitchen, bathroom and bedroom and out the slightly misshapen front door. They continued walking until they got about forty yards away from Master Goemon’s old stone burrow and were atop a gently sloping hill.

            The ground was covered with lush green grass and budding daisies. The air was crisp and smelled of morning dew. In the distance the walls of Rye kingdom could be seen below the slowly rising sun. At about this time the children of the kingdom come out onto the streets and play before the roads got busy with commerce. Beyond the walls of Rye was the smoky summit of Mt. Gerum where mystical beasts of many forms flourished.

            After looking around for a second, Master Goemon decided that their current location was sufficient for their purpose. The spot was not of any special interest except that it provided the necessary room to perform the art.

“Here is where we will stop,” announced Master Goemon.

            Mabel waited and watched patiently. Master Goemon lifted his staff straight into the air, holding it at the top.  The suns rays reflected off of it, creating bright prismatic shapes everywhere they hit. After a moment, Master Goemon thrust his staff downward at the earth. The staff hit the ground with much force and dug itself two inches into the rich subsiding soil. At first nothing happened, but a moment later strong winds began to blow from the ground where Master Goemon stood. The winds became visible as they twisted around him at breakneck velocities.

A moment later Master Goemon shot fifty yards straight up into the air. His abrasive and wrinkled skin nearly froze as he raced upwards into the atmosphere. As soon as he stabilized, he maneuvered left, right, up, down and all the directions in between. He sought not to be too thorough in his demonstration, but rather to reveal only the general aspects of being airborne.

Mabel was astounded to say the least. He had only ever heard of flying in ancient books and even then so it was merely levitation. He stood awestruck looking up at his master. His body made tender with excitement, Mabel almost lost his footing.

After a minute Master Goemon came down and landed just a few yards away from Mabel, hitting the ground with more speed than he had intended to. For a moment, he believed that he was alright but no sooner had he tried to take a step then he fell face in the dirt.

“Master Goemon! Are you alright?”

“Yes, yes, of course I’m alright,” Master Goemon grumbled as he pushed himself up off the ground and into a sitting position. “You see,” he said pointing at his left leg, “It’s barely a compound fracture. Nothing I can’t fix.”

The tip of Master Goemon’s fractured tibia could be seen protruding from his leg at an awkward angle. Barely breaching the surface of his skin the fractured tibia allowed a stream of blood to trickle down Master Goemon’s misshapen leg.

            “Let me mend it for you,” Mabel said.

            “Very well,” said Master Goemon. “After all, you could better than I.”

            Mabel took both of his hands and pressed them against Master Goemon’s leg. Master Goemon clenched his teeth in pain for a moment before regaining his regular flaccid expression.

            “That should have done it.”

Master Goemon examined his leg. It appeared to be healed completely, however he knew better than that. It would have been next to impossible to fully mend any part of his body. It had aged beyond even magical repair. Internally, his leg had not heeled and his tibia had only loosely bonded back into one piece.

“Yes, thank you. That’s much better,” he lied.

“Alright then, I’m ready,” said Mabel regaining his anxiousness. “That is, if you will still teach me, Master.”

Master Goemon leaned on his right knee as he put his staff to the ground and lifted himself upright. As he dusted himself off and turned to speak to Mabel his eye caught something that worried him. He saw a shadow in move through the trees at the base of the hill. He looked around but couldn’t see anyone. He had seen magic like this before and it usually meant trouble.

“What is this foolishness?” Master Goemon bawled. “This is neither the time nor place for that. We must at once return to my residence. There may be a matter of greater importance and urgency at hand.”

“Master Goemon, what—” Mabel was cut off.

“Come now. No time for questions. All will be explained in the privacy of my home.” Master Goemon hesitated. “We must make with haste. I fear we are being watched.”

Mabel did not hesitate to follow directions. He had never seen Master Goemon alarmed like this and knew that something must have been wrong. The two of them quickly made their way back to the burrow. Master Goemon, who had forced himself to run on his injured leg, was now limping.

As they stepped inside, Master Goemon cast a locking charm on the door. He raised his staff and the walls of the burrow closed in on all of the windows, concealing them. Immediately afterwards, the lamps that sat on the tables and hung on the walls all lit and let off a bright yellow glow. Mabel remained silent as he waited for instructions from his master, but none were given.

Mabel followed Master Goemon through the crooked hall with the old portraits and back into the study where Master Goemon took a seat in his favorite chair. Mabel watched as he summoned an old book from the dusty oak bookshelf. The book flew to the small table which stood in front of Master Goemon, hovered for a second and then dropped, losing all the life that it seemed to possess just a moment earlier. Master Goemon opened the cover to reveal a hollow in the pages of the ancient book.

Inside were two small round objects, each slightly smaller than a golf ball. They were made out of a burnished gold metal and had an intelligent auburn luster. A closer look revealed that each had a simple depiction of an eye engraved into its surface.

 Master Goemon removed one of the golden eyes and held it tightly in his fist. Mabel was bewildered at what happened next. The metal eye became flesh as it bonded to the palm of Master Goemon’s brittle hands and took on a much more lifelike appearance.

“What is that thing?” Mabel asked in revulsion.

“These,” Master Goemon explained, “are very curious items that I acquired from an old friend of mine. They allow you to see more than you can on your own. While using them, one can see through objects as well any charms placed on them.”

“Just what exactly is all of this about, and what are we hiding from?”

“We are not hiding, we are merely preparing.”

Mabel looked annoyed. “Preparing for what? What’s going on?”

“When we were outside I saw a shadow traveling through the trees. It was in the form of a person and yet no one was there to cast it. Traveling within shadows Mabel, that is a powerful black magic. That is why we are preparing,” Master Goemon paused. “We are preparing for the worst.”

            “Are you saying we are going to have to fight?”

            “That is precisely what I am saying.”

            A knock came at the door. Master Goemon lifted his hand and pointed the eye in the direction of the front door. Immediately he was able to see a messenger from Rye Kingdom standing outside. He put his hand down and assumed his normal vision.

            “A messenger from Rye Kingdom waits outside my door. Could you let him in for me?” requested Master Goemon.

            “Were you able to see him with that?” asked Mabel.

            “Why of course I was,” said Master Goemon. “Go on now. Don’t keep him waiting.”

“Yes Master.”

Passing the table on which lay the flower he conjured, Mabel made his way to the front door. Mabel didn’t entirely believe that Master Goemon could have known who was on the other side of the door but wasn’t too surprised to find that it actually was a messenger from Rye Kingdom.

With the bright sun shining in from behind, only the silhouette of the messenger could at first be seen. As his eyes began to adjust to the light, Mabel was able to see the man more clearly. He wore elegant attire that displayed the colors of Rye Kingdom; silver and blue. Standing at only five feet and two inches, in height he was forced to look up at Mabel. His face was small and round and he did not have much of a visible neck. This gave the illusion that his head could roll off at any moment if he didn’t stand perfectly straight.

“If I may,” said the messenger as he gestured to be let in.

Mabel stepped aside. “Yes, of course sir.”

“Thank you,” said the messenger stepping inside.

Mabel shut the door behind him.

“My name is William Gregg. I am on official duty for King David. I need to speak with Master Goemon.”

“I am Mabel, apprentice to Master Goemon. I can take you to him.”

Mabel led William to the study where Master Goemon was waiting.

“You are Master Goemon I presume?”

“Yes, that would be me.”

“It is an honor. I have heard great things about you sir.” William bowed his head before continuing; it did not roll off. “The matter is of significant importance, if I may sir.”

“Go on.”

“King David has received intelligence pertaining to the rise of a dark sorcerer. He fears that Rye Kingdom may be in danger of being attacked and taken over.”

Mabel stood attentive.

“This is the same as I thought,” said Master Goemon.

“His Majesty thought you might be aware by now. He requests your presence to discuss the situation.”

“Very well,” said Master Goemon.

“Wonderful,” said William. “The king will be very pleased.”

“Mabel?”

“Yes Master?”

“You will come along too.”

“Yes Master.”

Master Goemon took the second golden eye out of the book and held it out to Mabel.

“Here,” he said, “Hold on to this. You may find it to be useful.”

Mabel took the golden eye from Master Goemon and put it in his pocket.

“Thank you,” he said.

            Ignoring the pain in his left leg Master Goemon got out of his chair, stood up and made his way towards the front door. Mabel and William followed close behind. Nothing more was said as they made their exit.

            Upon arriving outside Mabel noticed that the air was no longer crisp nor did it smell of morning dew, but rather hazy with a caustic scent. The grass was no longer green and full of budding daisies, but rather brown and full of rotting buds. In the distance, the view of Rye Kingdom was obscured by the dense murky air and there was a dim sense of death in the atmosphere. Beyond Rye Kingdom not even the soaring heights of Mt. Gerum were visible. It was plain to see that dark magic had a harmful effect on the environment.

            Turning around, William watched Master Goemon cast numerous charms on the old stone burrow. Mabel was quick to join in with any additional charms he could think of. William wished there was something he could do to help.

            When the Master Goemon felt that his home was secured enough he lowered his staff and Mabel did likewise.

            “Shall we?” came Williams voice.

            “We shall,” said Master Goemon. “But first might I inquire the manner of our transportation?”

            “Ah yes, of course. If you will sir,” William pointed to two horses that stood a few yards to his right. “I have brought with me two fine horses; one of them for myself and the other for you sir.” He paused nervously. “You see, I did not intend for a third and so that makes us short one horse.”

            “Indeed it does.”

            Mabel mused with the idea for a moment and then said, “I will walk, Master.”

            “How very thoughtful of you,” said Master Goemon.

            “Yes, you are very noble,” said William who did not want to have to walk himself.

            Master Goemon and William mounted there horses and the three men started for Rye Kingdom with much caution.