The Forgotten Land: The Return of the Giants

To Nakoir City

It turns out that finding a trail of a thousand year old dragon was trickier than he thought. Three days had passed since their journey to find and capture the dragon began, and since then they found only a single scale that was sitting on the forest floor. A scale that shines even though there’s not a single spot or spark of light. 

It shines like a flickering ember, like a diamond. And because dragons are majestic beings, spells don't work on them. The scales deflects magic, spells and hexes, making the Sorcerer far more irritable. 

“Maybe we should ask for help, mr. Fraco.” 

It was just a simple suggestion, but it made Fraco, the sorcerer’s blood boil. “Am I asking for your opinion?!”

Kane frowned. “No…” 

“Then shut your trap!” 

The boy casts his eyes down with a sigh. Ever since they’ve journeyed to find the dragon, the sorcerer was always shouting at him. Either Fraco would glare at him, roll his eyes --- calls him twerp and more. And even though the sorcerer told his name to the boy, the exchange wasn't pleasant.

It happened when Kane mistakenly gave poisonous berries to Fraco, and the sorcerer said, "How dare you give the great Fraco Romulus poisonous berries, you illiterate scum?!"

He was scolded till dawn, but was happy. Because now he doesn't have to call Fraco 'Mr. Sorcerer' anyomore.

"It was just a suggestion..." Kane muttered.

"But it was not needed!" Was Fraco rebutt. "So help me... by not helping me, got it?"

"Yes."

Also, Kane agreed to help the sorcerer, since he did feel at fault — and Fraco practically yap his way to force the boy to go on a journey with him. He also agreed to leave everything, keep his mind closed for anything else… and when they’ve found the dragon, the Sorcerer will help him find his mother and Auntie Cindy. 

But the sorcerer wasn’t completely terrible to him. Fraco fed him, clothed him and casted a spell to make a comfortable small house for them during the night. 

But there was a catch at every good thing that Fraco did for him. With every good thing the sorcerer does for him, he must give it back in return.

Like that one time when Fraco gave him ten pieces of berries. He collected firewood from afternoon till night. He was soaked in sweat from running and walking about in the forest even though Fraco could simply cast a fire spell — but Kane did it anyway.

For he did not want to question Fraco and his ways. If he did, the young man would make a fit and scream at him. And lecture him how it’s his fault that the dragon escaped. Just remembering Fraco’s lecturing made the boy sigh. 

Fraco noticed this and looked at the young boy, wondering why. “What?” He stopped walking then looked at the boy. “What’s the sigh for, twerp?” 

The little boy shook his head. “Nothing.”

“Are you sure?” Fraco tilted his head to the side and sported a dubious look on his face.  

“Yes…”  

As the two of them remained standing in place, Fraco foisted the dragon scale on his front pocket and frowned.

“I can’t believe I have to put so much effort on catching an oversized lizard because of you…” He hissed, but not loud enough for Kane to hear.

Fraco never wanted to go back to the city, and he was never fond of quests, missions and all the other things sorcerers get hyped up with. He only wanted to exist in his own world. Sleep, eat and avoid any physical activity he deemed to be troublesome. 

Now, he has no choice but to go to one of the sectors of the counsel. A small place dedicated to helping sorcerers like him.

“I can’t believe I’m doing something I tried to escape from so many times.”

Kane looked up to the sorcerer, wondering what he’s saying. “Mr. Fraco, are you alright?” 

“I’m fine.” 

“Then why are you —”

“Move aside!” Fraco screamed, then he raised his staff. About to summon a spell that would take them to the place he desires to go to, and fast. He closed his eyes and parted his lips. And when he raises his hand, he starts to chant a summoning spell, “Mighty as an eagle, ferocious as a lion. Mighty wings and talons of iron —” He opened his eyes and chills ran down from Kane’s spine. “---Griffon, I summon you!” 

The boy’s jaw dropped as he heard the cry of the Griffon, and he watched in awe as it descended from the sky. 

“We’re riding him?!” Was his ecstatic question. 

“Yes…” Fraco answered. “But if you want to walk… that’s fine with me.” 

The young boy did not need to be told twice to come up to the Griffon. When the majestic beasts laid down on the grass field for them to ride his back, Kane practically jumped on the beast and made it flatter its gigantic wings. 

“Wow… this is amazing!” He said with a gasp. “He’s bigger than a horse!” 

Kane laced his fingers against the creature’s fur. It felt feathery and yet light at the same time. Like a mix of a dog and bird's feathers and fur. And as he pressed his hands and petted the beast, he could feel its strong heartbeat. How strong it was. 

And surprisingly, Fraco wasn’t annoyed when Kane asked, “Can I drive?!” 

He merely rolled his eyes and said, “Fine. But if you fall, Soller and I will not catch you.”

“Soller?” Kane wondered. “Isn’t that a girl’s name?” 

“That’s because she is a girl!” For the nth time, Fraco rolled his eyes at the boy, whispering ‘dumbass’ to himself. 

“Cool!” Kane squealed then pets the Griffon again. “Good girl, Soller!” 

============

As they ride on Soller’s back to go to the city of Nakoir, he can't help but wonder---is this all part of his destiny? When he was young, all they ever talked about was the magestries and how a foolish witch broke the truce and the friendship of the Pillars, practically eradicating the world of wonders, pure magic and killing every single White Witch that there is. 

Now only practitioners of the Witch’s magic exist, and it was the honor of Sorcerers to catch and reprimand such forbidden practices. Now, the descendants of those Sorcerers and their future generations are a part of that practice and will take part in this great responsibility. If he was truly honest with himself, he was just like any other Sorcerers out there. 

But then... a tragedy happened years ago, and it made his faith, beliefs and everything else crumble slowly. For sure he wanted to get out. He sincerely did.

And then... there's this boy. He had only been with Kane for a few days, but he couldn't help but envy the boy.

The tragedy that has happened to Kane would've sent anyone to rock bottom, yet there was still brightness and light on the boy. Kane can see it through the boy's eyes... something that was missing from him a long time ago. Something that he had forgotten and had hidden on the back of his mind.

He took a peak at Kane who was sitting close to Soller’s neck. The boy was staring up at the dark sky, the moons and the stars and there was a big smile on his face.

"Enjoying the view?"

Kane, who was busy looking up at the stars, looked back at him. “I am!”  He smiled at Fraco. "Are we there yet? Dah said you're taking me somewhere special."

“No." Was Fraco's lukewarm reply. "We’re going to the Sorcerer’s counsel… not some theme park."

"Oh." Kane replied. "But still... after the training I can go to a theme park, right?" He pointed down at an area where lights were a mix of red, blue, green and yellow. They heard screams of people who were enjoying their hearts out. Laughing as the roller coaster turns them upside down. And as Kane watched them, his eyes sparkled with excitement.

Fraco looked at Kane and stared at the boy who was grinning from ear to ear. He hummed and said, “I’ll think about it.”

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