The Ancient One (part 17)
The room wrinkles at the corners
some powerful force cast
lightning etching silhouettes
the novices stand agape
the Ancient One looks up from a tome
"Who hath entered my home?"
their bodies reveal
Artul and Kiara look about and wheel
give a hearty salutation
the wizard beckons them forth
walks to an old well made of stone
he motions them to gaze into its depths
figures dance and weave
materialize and vanish
a quiet voice whispers these words
"Two of steel and bone
separated from the source of love
cast down by their own will
seek power and mystery
their justice frees the lands
their hearts rejuvenate the weary souls
set free the slaves
bring prosperity to the young
joy to those of old age
they come seeking connection to the source
from what they once contained so glorious
now they are but martial foes
minds filled with woe
yet they remain joyful
curious of the ways of life
open to new experience and strife
they will find the way
one more act of faith this day"
the ancient one motions them into the well
Kiara looks perplexed a mite unwell
Artul clamors up onto the edge
then leaps in
Kiara follows with a scream
The ancient one raises his stave
mirrored beams of light cascade
a darkness at the fringes
threatens to invade
chaotic energy expands and concusses
he covers his eyes blind
recites the old words
incantation lights collapse
suddenly a grave silence
Artul and Kiara float upward
transcending form
translucent beings of ethereal light
faces showing magnanimity
they land before his feet
the creatures of the room greet
their minds escalate and wander
beginning to solidify
they return sworn
once more to human form
the ancient one raises his hand to gifts
elegant wands to each
tools of the highest grade
feathers of raven and osprey
imbued with runes for each form
tells them of a source most ancient laid
from which all energy emits
a great chaos
chance for infinite possibility
matter and concept renew
four forms of magic subsumed
lightness, darkness, life and arcane mind
each form they must understand to train
practicing the spells and basic transfiguration
building utility through action
though the mystic essence within them burns
brighter than any sun or moon
and past glories consumed
yet their knowledge as if children repeat
they wield wild without direction weak
concentrate and commit to memory
always keeping touch with entropy
to balance the energy
or face sure destruction of life and lethargy
there are spells cast alone
beyond a single soul's ability to restrain
the wielder must fuse with others of the source
those who can combine the force
to create a powerful magic
entities and enchantments
divination of the one true prophecy
or new strands in the entropic chain
new paths of being
yet only one thing remains
that story of fickle gods
ancient of days
beyond time and space
only chance can attain
the wizard casts a spell
great emotion like love begins to well
thunder clouds emerge on the horizon
a torrent falls beating the sand
streams and pools weave new life-ways
nature's grace conjured forth
from the Ancient's gnarled forefinger
the populace cheers in ecstatic celebration
for new life giving refreshment
fill clay vessels for another day
dance and sing
splash about in the cool rain
he turns to them with hearty grin
"Now venture forth follow your intuition
seek the oasis where an ancient book resides
there you will find the balancing spells
to heal your hearts and minds it tells
begin as though a babe
and practice each day new things
until one day your mastery shall attain
your hearts are brave and faith is strong
one day love shall be your song
perhaps then that day produce
an offspring you can set loose
cherish and coo
with each one you bring life anew
be warned a great cataclysm awaits
time and space collapse into woven fabric
brings fire and death from above
for all who walk this land below
earth and fire stone and ice
extinguishing life from space
you must find this book and heed its words
save us from this impending doom
now go and set your mind's heart true!"
He cracks his staff on the cave's floor
bolts of energy sent forth
amber and emerald hue
they are smitten and turned
into energy recycle
bright beings they flow like ethereum
outside the walls of the Magisterium.