Legacy of Forgotten Times 157 Richard's Past 1

"Just five more minutes" Richard turned back and tried to fall asleep again. The boy, however, did not let him do so. He kept on poking Richard.

"Fine! They are just some stupid mages anyway. What's the use of watching them choose someone to take away?" Richard got up from the haystack he was sleeping on.

"Don't say that! They are the only way we can leave this godforsaken town! If one them picks you as his errand boy and takes you to his tower we won't have to stay here"

"Yeah right! I heard they were gouging their servants' eyes if they made the tiniest mistake. There is no way in hell I will become their servant" Richard said as the black-haired boy dragged him to the town square.

"So, you want to stay in this little town all your life?"

"Yeah, what's wrong with that? We can just be farmers, marry a girl and have a family. My father said there is nothing good about leaving the town. There is war, bandits, witches, demons and all the bad other stuff out there"

While Richard was listing all the bad stuff he heard from his father, they had finally arrived at the town square. There was a crowd gathered in the sidelines of the road waiting for the esteemed mage to arrive. It was rare for mages to leave the comforts of their towers and go outside to have a look in the rest of the world. They heard from the mayor that the wizard coming here to pick an errand boy for his tower. His last one had passed out due to old age. Their lives would be so much better if they could be picked by him. You would get to live with a real mage!

Richard and his friend eventually made their way to the front row. They were kids, so it was easy for them to squeeze through the adults.

Eventually, they saw a carriage, it wasn't pulled by horses but it was still abe to move on its own. That must be magic! When the carriage stopped the townsfolk were holding their breaths out of sheer excitement.

An old man in grey robes and a long white beard got out of the carriage slowly. He looked at the backward townsfolk with clear contempt in his eyes. It was as if they weren't even worthy to hold the hem of his clothes. However, his eyes stopped wandering when it arrived at Richard's direction. His eyes became as big as saucers.

"This is the largest amount of prana my eyes have ever gazed upon. You, boy! What's your name?" Mage asked as he was making his way towards him.

"Richard, sir!" he answered nervously. He didn't know what prana was but it seemed like a bad thing.

"Not you! The other one. The one with the black hair"

"Me? Leon, sir!" The black-haired boy answered just as nervous as Richard.

"Good, good name. You have the aura of a lion, king of all beasts. You are destined to do great things in the future just like your name. How old are you?"

"Eleven, sir."

"Good, good. What do you say? Do you want to become a mage? If you do we can leave immediately" the old mage spoke kindly. The more he looked at this little rascal the more pleasing to eye he seemed. Who knew he would pick up a diamond in rough when he came here.

Leon was beaming with excitement while Richard sighed in relief. Thankfully he got to keep his life.

"But what about him, sir? Can he become a mage too?" Leon asked while pointing at Richard who tensed up again.

Leon did it in good faith but Richard could not disagree more. You already got what you wanted. Why did you have to go and mention his name too? Couldn't you just leave him to his devices? The old mage took a look at Richard. From the moment he sensed Leon's enormous prana he had not paid attention to anyone else. Now that he looked at Richard he noticed he possessed prana too. Unfortunately, his was just average for his age. Well, it was still a blessing that he could grab two potential apprentices from this godforsaken town.

"Yes, he can. You two, go grab your things and come back. We are leaving as soon as possible" said the old man and returned to his carriage. What was that? Why did no one ask his opinion? He didn't want to leave or become one of those wrinkly mages!

"There is no need. We can go immediately sir!" said Leon and grabbed Richard by the hand towards the carriage.

"No! I don't want to go!" Richard freed his hand and tried to run away but suddenly his feet left the ground. He was floating on the air and some invisible force took him inside the carriage. Richard's little heart was beating so fast that it felt like it was about to burst through his rib cage and escape. He was looking tearfully at the mage who did not seem interested in hearing his pleas.

"Stop crying. You are going to thank me for this in the future" he said as he gazed out the window in the carriage. Then they set on their way. Leon kept talking with the old mage asking a myriad of things while Richard was too scared to even breath. He wanted to cry but he didn't want to upset the old mage. Eventually, they arrived at their destination. Unlike what Richard expected, their destination was not some big tower in the middle of nowhere. They were in a bustling city.

"Teacher, why are we here? Weren't we going to your mage tower?" Leon asked innocently. Richard was also interested in the answer to this question. Because he thought that this old man brought them here to sell them off to slave traders. He knew that nothing could come from leaving their cosy little town. Oh, what would he do to just return back there!

"This place is called London and the capital of England, and we are here to enrol you two here to school?" Richard did not know what school was but he was sure that it was some sort of slave trade establishment. Even its name sounded ominous 'school'. Yuck! What kind of a place even has a name like that?

"Why? I don't want to leave the teacher! You promised me that you would teach me how to become a mage!" Leon threw a tantrum. This idiot still didn't understand their peril. They were going to be sold as slaves and he was still going on about wanting to become a mage. This was all his fault! If not for him, Richard would be back at home and sleeping on hay comfortably until his mother catches him slacking off.

"Haha, don't worry little one. A school is a place where you are taught to be a mage. It is a haven for all the mages out there. With old and powerful ones holding the fort, you can study without any worries and become a proper mage eventually. Actually, I am also a teacher and work there" The old mage explained while patting Leon's head.

"Is that so? Okay, then!" Leon beamed with joy. However, Richard did not believe the sweet lies of this old kidnapper. Unfortunately, he was too small to fight back. Maybe crying could work? No, no, no, no! What if he killed him on the spot because he annoyed him? Best stay silent and hope that the old mage forgets his existence.

The old mage showed them the city as they were going to this so-called 'school'. Then they arrived at a back alley. It was dark and there were dangerous-looking people. Richard got scared and hid behind Leon. However, none of those people was looking toward them. It was as if they did not exist in their eyes. Richard and Leon kept following the old mage and eventually arrived at the end of the road, there was nowhere else to go. Unlike what they thought the road was not finished as the old mage walked through a wall and disappear. Richard and Leon looked each other then they put their hands on the wall. It passed through like there was nothing there. Richard found that fun so he kept doing it a couple of times until Leon dragged him to pass through the secret passageway.

"Kids, welcome to Mage's den," said the old mage.

Behind him was a town full of magical beings running about. Richard saw a unicorn, a fairy and even a griffon. Those were all evil magical beasts he heard about in his father's tales. As they were moving the old mage kept on explaining the sights around them. Leon was so excited. This was it! This was the life he was searching for.

"Ha, we finally arrived. Kids, this here is the school you are going to attend in the future, Hogwash! And if others ask who brought you here. Tell them it was Principal Dumbledoor" and the old mage disappeared right in front of their eyes, leaving behind the two little kids.

Chapter end