The Circle in the Sand

There was once a young magician named Niko. He was an apprentice under the royal magician, who had grown weary in his old age, but did not feel like Niko was ready for his job. So, being a wise man, he gave Niko a purse of gold coins and told him to travel to the forest where the unicorns and angels lived. There, he would learn real magic and be blessed with unbelievable gifts. He also told Niko that he would need a wife...

"A wife? But I do not want a wife!" Niko said as he carried parchments behind his master Gray. The old man looked over his shoulder as he went up the stone steps towards his study and said, "A wife will make you happy because love triumphs all. Our powers are based off how complete we are. Dark magic will grow unless you feel loved. And we all know that dark magic can never compare with ours."

Niko grunted and said, "But can't I get a friend instead? I don't want to rush out to find a wife. I am only 16!"

Gray chuckled and said, "I was 15 when Margo and I married. Of course I was very lucky! She was the most wonderful woman..." He looked down, only then did Niko realize how old his master truly was. His face bore lines that he hoped were the marks of wisedom and experience of his years abroad studying in the magical forest and the few months of happiness his marriage had given him... yet he feared that his master's thick lines were only ones from age and sickness that was eating away at his worn out body.

Niko studied his master over the pile of parchments he was carrying. He was only a few inches taller than Niko, with a hunched back and white hair. He looked like a troll, with his tanned skin and snowy white hair made his amber eyes seem out of place. Yet he constantly had the look that he had just woken up. Niko's own body was still youthful and his only hair was dusty brown curls. His eyes were a deep brown that looked like bark off a willow tree.

Gray slowly sank down into his chair and picked up a leather bag. He looked at Niko and smiled. "I am not sending you away as a punishment. When you return, you will be the royal magician and everything I have will be yours." Gray said as he placed a book into the bag. Niko felt his stomach knot.

"But... why can't you come with me?" Niko asked, instantly feeling like he was being wronged in this deal. Gray looked at him, wet his lips and said, "I am too old to travel. I hope you return before my body turns into crystals." Niko leaped up the last few steps and shouted, "But you can't die!" Gray laughed and then coughed. "Everyone dies Niko... it's only natural. If you return with a wife and new magic soon enough, we can say our good-byes properly. I told the palace guards that you, and only you, may have my crystals. I give you my magic when I die, so be sure to bottle the crystals and drain them as fast as you can."

Niko nodded as Gray gave him instructions, though in his heart he prayed Gray would not die. He loved his master... he raised him when his family had died in a horrible fire. He couldn't even remember what his family looked like. He had only been two when it had happened.

Before he knew it, Gray had placed the bag on his back and was hurrying him out the door. Assuring him that traveling during the break of dawn was truly the only way to travel to new places. As Niko was halfway across the field from the palace, Gray called out, "The book will tell you everything you need to know!"

Niko scoffed and muttered, "Books... who is he kidding?"