Spellbound
Chapter 13

As Nat and Pen approached the log cabin deep in the heart of the Scarlant Forest Nibbles took flight from Nathaniels shoulder and flew to her perch just outside the front door which was open and there standing before the two students was Azadain in his beautiful purple attire. He smiled at the impending arrival of his two students and waved to them. They both returned the wave and proceeded up the stairs to stand before the great Wizard to hear him say to them....

“Welcome Friends, are you ready?” said Azadarin welcoming them both into his home.

Both Nat and Pen said “Yes” at the same time and walked inside what was to be there home for some time marvelling at the books, gadgets, crystals and special keepsakes Azadarin had collected.

In every corner, at every turn there was something wonderful to look at and something the two of them had never seen before. It was as if they were walking into a museum that was dedicated to Magic Only and it quite took their breath away. Nibbles flew inside just before Azadarin closed the door and took up her spot in the rafters hanging upside down smiling at Nat and Pen as they put their packs down on to the floor and turned to listen to what Azadarin had to say. Nibbles was so impressed that Aza had cleaned house and added on some rooms for the two humans she was really coming to like, because they really would need to rest after he got through with them. Azadarin spoke gently to them both and asked them to sit down at the dining table.

“My Friends...Nathaniel and Penelope....welcome to my home here with Nibbles in the woods that I love, it is an honour to have you both here and I hope that you have bought your thinking caps with you because we have much to cover in a short amount of time...behind you are the rooms I have made for you to rest in so please go and put your packs in there and get settled then join me back here as soon as you are ready if you would be so kind?” said Azadarin pointing to the new rooms and smiling up at Nibbles hanging upside down in the rafters.

She smiled back.

Azadarin and Nibbles watched as Nathaniel and Penelope put their packs down, unzipped them and take out a notebook with a pencil each then turn to walk straight back into the room and sit down at the table to commence work.

“Good to see....I am glad you are keen to start, first a small history lesson....” Azadarin started to say and was interrupted by Nibbles in the roof rafters.

“Covered that Aza!” she said confidently from up in the rafters.

“Really?” said Azadarin with surprise written all over his face.

“Yep...they both know” said Nibbles positively.

“Ok then...lets get straight to the point then of why you are both here!”

Azadarin turned his gaze from the roof rafters and his talking furry friend then seemed to grow in stature and get taller before their very eyes. This was scary at first but it also made for two people unaccustomed such seriousness pay complete and undivided attention instantly to who was standing and towering over them now.

“I chose you both because you showed courage in the face of terror, I chose you both because you looked out for each other, I chose you both because you are both the smartest young adults in the village, I chose you both...to succeed me here within the walls of The Magic Guardians.” said Azadarin in a voice dripping with focus and intent.

The air inside the log cabin became thick and heavy as if it was charged with lightning as soon as Azadarin spoke. Nat and Pen started to sweat and remained fixed on their new teachers movements just waiting for the next outburst from him. They didn’t have to wait long.....

“I am the last of my kind and when I die you will become the heirs to my log cabin and the continual maintenance of one furry talking bat in the roof rafters, you see...she has been blessed with eternal life.....”

“Cursed more like it.....but do continue Aza” said Nibbles quietly to him.

“.....and as a result you will make sure she is fed, groomed and kept busy are we clear on this?”

“Yes Azadarin” said Nathaniel.

“Yes Azadarin” said Penelope now looking into the rafters at he new friend with tears welling in her eyes.

“I only ask two things from you both...can you guess what they are?” said Azadarin sitting down in his comfy chair and instantly had Nibbles in his lap curling up to go to sleep.

Nathaniel spoke first...

“umm...to make sure we don’t let you down and study hard?”

“Close!” said Azadarin now patting Nibbles successfully to sleep in his lap.

“Truth and Hard Work?” said Penelope with a certain amount of uncertainty in her voice.

“EXACTLY...TRUTH AND HARD WORK!!!” and with the volume that came from Azadarins throat when he said this Nibbles awoke with a start and flapped about the comfy chair checking to make sure nothing was wrong. She had been asleep and was just about to enter dreamland when Azadarin yelled what he did and she got scared. Eventually she settled back into his lap but not before giving him a contemptuous look on her face to which he rubbed and scratched her belly and she was asleep again in the wink of a blink.

“Nathaniel and Penelope, in a few short days I am going to teach you how to hide, attack, shape shift and create magic that will help you defend yourselves against two people who are hell bent on the destruction of all things that The Magic Guardians hold sacred” said Azadarin in a much lower serious tone to the two new students bug eyed listening to him talk.

They did not want to miss a thing that was said.

“Alright now that miss nosey wings here is asleep and snoring rather convincingly...lets begin at the beginning, basic’s first...then the hard stuff....repeat after me if you would be so kind” and Azadarin spoke the words of the first spell Nat and Pen were to use to hide from some one.

“IMMERSIS MORPHARO” said Azadarin remaining perfectly still and now that he had started this ‘call & response’ lesson he was awaiting the two of them to repeat what he just said with keen interest.

“Immersis Morpharo” came back the response in unison from Nat and Pen and they both looked at each other when they said it waiting to see what it would do and to their disappointment....nothing happened.

“Now you two well done...you remembered what I said but your hearts were not in the response so lets try again..oh and by the way please put your pencils down and concentrate on the position you leave them on the table...lets try again shall we....all together this time”

And all three of them said at once...“IMMERSIS MORPHARO”

The pencil completely disappeared from sight, it wasn’t there, it wasn’t on the table any more...it was gone.

“Well done...that can be a tricky one to start with if you have never done the study before but you both have done scathingly well with your first spell” to which Nat and Pen smiled at Azadarin and each other...and as usual for the two of them they started saying the words in their heads to memorise what was just taught to them as they would do in school.

Later after they finished that evening they would go over it again and again making things around the log cabin disappear much to the dismay of Azadarin.

“Now...you have to bring the pencil back now or you will have nothing to write with ok?” said Azadarin chuckling to himself quickly but then again realising the severity of the situation and he stopped at once. The spell for that is ‘Apearego Morpharo’ so with me if you will?”

All three of them said at once...“APEAREGO MORPHARO” and instantly the pencils reappeared.

When they did both Pen and Nat collected them in their hands and felt them. They were still the same pencils and felt just like they did when they put them into their back packs at home in the village. As soon as they knew the pencils were ok to use they scribbled the first spell neatly into their notebooks and awaited the next spell from there teacher.

“Now you two that was how to hide something including yourselves if you get into a tight spot and need to disappear till trouble passes or get away from something wicked trying to catch you are we clear on this?”

Both Nat and Pen said in unison...

“Understood Azadarin”

“Good” he replied and the next spell was uttered by him very gently, 'Torchundo'...now say it at your pencil again....oh and by the way ...I hope you have another pencil handy”

Both Nat and Pen said in unison...“Torchundo” and instantly their pencils caught fire and were nothing but two lines of black ash on the table rendered completely useless now in front of them both. They looked at each other in complete and utter surprise then excused themselves to go back into their rooms and retrieve two new pencils, then they came back to the table...grinning.

They were enjoying this immensely...and they were really good at it. Azadarin had taught some real clunkers before in his Wizardly times but Nat and Pen were different, he felt something from both of them that was new and different. And so it was for the rest of the time they were in Azadarin’s and Nibbles company and until well after the sun went down.

Then it was time for some luxurious dinner that was comprised of....Poached Confit of Bruschetta with Hazelnut and Rum Fudge for sweets. Then Azadarin allowed them both to re-cap what they had learned in their own rooms and together like they would in the library then it was into their pyjamas and after a quick ‘goodnight ’ to Azadarin and Nibbles, who was now finishing off what was not eaten off the dinner table with gusto, Nathaniel and Penelope went to bed.

Nibbles looked at Azadarin now who was obviously tired from all the teaching he had done and she asked him gently looking through his beard towards his face.....

“You did good today, I think these two young adults are bringing you out of your boredom Aza and by all accounts they did really well from what I could see...and hear” said Nibbles proudly to her friend.

“Yes Nibbs...those two have a gift that I think they don’t even know they have yet, but they will and I’m sure they will look after you...especially Penelope” and Nibbles looked up into Azadarins eyes and she started to cry.

“Let's get some rest now Nibbs....big day tomorrow if all goes well” said Azadarin and he carried his dear friend cradled in his arms into his bedroom and went to bed with Nibbles curled up in her favourite spot in her own bed next to his.