The Torchbearer's Quest
THE INCIDENT

It was thefifteenth of August; the start of the new school year. The school teemed withlife as parents accompanied their children to their dorms, met teachers, andexplored the premises.

Two familiesstood at the base of the marble steps. A man and woman gazed up at the schooland drank in past memories, a little girl, no more than six, nestled betweenthem. The father pointed to the marble pillars that supported the entryway. TheCouncil’s crest had been erected above the pillars: a golden lion with eagle’swings.

“Do justly,love mercy, walk humbly,” the father said to his daughter. “You’ll be learningmany things here, but these three are the most important.”

The parents andthe child were all tall and striking. The father wore a simple linen shirt andtrousers, the mother a pale linen dress. Curled strands of long brown hair fellgently down the back of the girl’s white dress, errant locks floated in a warmgentle breeze. Her honey brown hair and hazel eyes mirrored her father’s, thoughher curly ringlets were distinctly her mother’s. She bounced with excitement asshe took in the scene before her.

The mothersmiled and said, “She’ll learn these values soon enough.”

Anotherfamily stood nearby in a nervous huddle. The man and woman appeared almost plainin the company of such a distinctive family. The slim woman bounced a bundle ofpowdered pink cloth in her arms that emitted a soft cry. A little boy, skinnyin the extreme, with long dirty blonde hair and bright blue eyes, smiledtentatively beneath a smattering of freckles.

Just then a coupleof boisterous boys ran between the two families knocking the little boy over.The little girl trotted over to where the boy lay sprawled out in the softgrass. She looked down at him and smiled, offering her hand.

“Thanks,” hesaid, winded, as he took her hand.

“I’m Willow,”she said.

“Rohan.”

Shesmiled, and Rohan thought it was like sunshine itself.

He reached downand brushed dirt from his pants. When he stood up, his face was red, and hewhispered as fast as he could “You’re pretty.”

Willow gave hisarm a solid punch with her clenched fingers.

Her show ofaffection caught him off guard, and he dropped a long, thin wooden cylinder hehad been carrying. Willowpicked it up and examined the curious object before she handed it back.

“You’re awizard,” she stated matter-of-factly.

“Yes,” hebeamed proudly. “You?”

“No. I’m justme.”

“I like you.”

“I like youtoo.”

Her handbridged the divide between them again, and she towed him up the steps as thoughit was the most natural thing in the world. Their parents made eye contact,laughed and introduced themselves, before following their little ones into theschool.

TEN YEARS LATER

Willowsat on the bottom step of the marble staircase. She fidgeted endlessly, herhazel eyes scanning the vacant grounds of The Credo School for Little Saints. Beforeher was the vast manicured lawn. Moonlight glinted off the broad moat thatencircled the school, its arched stone bridge just beyond her view. She gazedat the glassy lake seeming to slumber under the stars, and heard the braying ofhorses from the stable.

She breathed inthe sun baked earth, the freshly cut grass, and the faint perfume of wild flowersthat had curled up for the night. She rose, and her white linen dress, cinchedat her waist with a light blue ribbon, fell gracefully below her knees.Stretching to her full height, her slender figure was accentuated.

No sign of him.A deep sigh escaped her lips.

Witha heavy breath she turned around and climbed the marble steps to her dormitoryroom. Reaching the landing, she spun around for one final look and let loose amusical laugh.

The figure of ayoung man emerged from the darkness. For the first time in three very longweeks, she felt like she could breathe again.

She ran downthe stairs and across the lawn as fluid as a gazelle. Rohan broke into a run.They collided into each other harder than either of them intended and tumbledinto the soft grass in a heap of laughter.

Willow got toher feet and helped him up.

“Summer break stillhasn’t cured you of clumsiness,” she joked.

“Oh, come on.You know that’s what you replace most endearing about me,” he said with a wink.

“You’re a dayearly,” she accused.

“And yet youwere still waiting.” He punched her gently on the arm.

She shrugged. “Agirl can always hope, can’t she?” Her gaze drifted downward, and in a softbreath said, “I missed you, Rohan.”

He took herhands. Lanky and awkward, taller than he was just three weeks ago and dearer toher than ever.

He blushed;glad it was too dark for her to see. “Three weeks isn’t long, Willow.”

“You didn’tmiss me?” She pretended to be wounded.

Rohan flushedscarlet. “You know I did. Why do you think I made my parents bring me back aday early? If it was up to me, I’d have never left.”

She looked pastRohan, as if searching for something. “So where are Mr. and Mrs. Brewster, and Kelby for that matter?”

“Kelbywanted to stop in Speratus and get a malt. I taught her to swim over break.”

“Good for youboth. Your family is staying for the Opening Ceremonies Celebration, right?”

“Yup, asalways. Professor Edgar’s giving them a room in the dorms since they’re freeuntil the other students come tomorrow.”

Willow linkedher arm through Rohan’s, and they slowly walked toward the school. “I wish itcould always be just the two of us, like right now.”

Willow had fewfriends, none closer than Rohan. She was one of the few students at Credowithout magical talents, and while no one understood Willow and Rohan’s relationship -- theycertainly appeared to be a couple, although they claimed only friendship -- thegeneral masses shrugged their shoulders and ignored them, the non-witch and theawkward boy sorcerer.

“I know, I’m atotal catch,” he laughed.

They walked insilence for a few paces. Willowsensed that he wanted to say something else. But as the seconds increased, shesaid, “Oh, yes. Quite the catch. How did I ever get lucky enough to have you asmy best friend?”

Rohanchanged the subject, “I’m starved. What do you say we ransack the kitchen?”

“Of course youare. You’re always starved.”

They had cometo the stairs. Rohan took her hand, and they tramped up the steps.

They spent mostof the following morning relaxing under the shade of a mossy oak near the lakeshore. Years ago, someone had strung a wooden plank into a makeshift swing thatstill hung from one of the lower boughs of the oak.

With the flickof his wand Rohan muttered, “Oscillo,” and enchanted the swing to push itselfat the perfect pace for Willow.

The soft windcaressed her face and ruffled her dress. Rohan leaned back against the sturdytrunk and caught up on his summer assignments. School had not even started, andhe was typically behind.

Willowlost herself in day dreams, thinking about the special place they lived. The village of Speratus was one of the smallest in thediminutive country of Carus, home to both humans and magical beings. The greatLord Protector chose those who lived in their country to ordain as His own --His chosen people. Long ago the Germantias Council was established to governthe entire world of Tutis from Speratus, and a Chief of Council was anointed.

Credo was foundedto provide a haven to the children whose parents worked for the Council, and togive them a home, as well as schooling, where they would learn to live the waythat the Lord Protector had instructed his people. They too would serve thepeople and creatures of Tutis when they were grown.

Amoss covered log floated in the lake. A bump stuck up with two knots thatresembled the eyes of a sea serpent. Willowstudied it for awhile as it reminded her of tales she had heard. “Do you think sea monsters exist?”

“Nah, notlikely. Most of the stuff about the sea is myth, you know. You can’t trustfisherman, after a long day on the water and a pint too much ale.”

Friendlychatter reached their ears. Rohan lifted his head and watched his fellowclassmates and their parents arrive.

“We shouldprobably get some lunch,” Rohan said as he gathered his books.

Willow smiled.He did always think of food. She could not recall him ever missing a singlemeal, and yet he was practically skin and bones.

Rohanstarted to walk toward the school, when Willow cleared her throat. “Umm...forgetsomething?”

Rohan turned,his eyes following Willow as she continued to swing. “Don’t think so.” He attempted to hide his smile, and thenoffered her a slight bow and pulled out his wand from the waistband of histrousers and gave it a twitch. “Desino,” he said with authority in his voiceunlike any she had heard before.

The OpeningCeremonies Celebration was hosted by the playful Fauns that lived nearby in thesurrounding forests. Those rambunctious spirits were half human, half goat. Abovethe waist, they resembled friendly men with small rosy noses. Below, they wereall goat, complete with hooves and a short tail. Their love of dance and allthings melodious made them the perfect hosts.

Willowmade her way through the Entrance Hall to the steps. She was dressed in aformfitting sky blue gown; her honey brown curls bounced like tightly-woundsprings with each step. Several Fauns, some donning cockeyed top hats andcolorful bowties over their bare chests, stood in a loose semicircle on thelawn. They played music so sweet on tiny silver flutes that it could breakhearts. In her soul she knew that she was a free spirit as they were. At Credo,she felt like a wild bird trapped in a cage when she was cooped up in classes.

“Oh, there youare dear.” A skinny woman with dark blonde hair and bright blue eyes came upfrom behind and placed a slender hand upon Willow’s shoulder.

“Mrs. Brewster,it is so good to see you.” Willowturned and gave her a hug and then bent down to the little girl standing besideher. “Hi, Kelby. You look so pretty. Rohan told me that you learned how toswim. Congratulations!”

“Thanks,Willow.” Kelby’s smile beamed beneath a healthy sprinkling of freckles.

“The boys willbe another minute or so. Shall we go on ahead?” Mrs. Brewster suggested,gathering the folds of her long, pale pink dress in her hand to descend thestairs.

The Brewster’shad become like a second family to Willow. Her parents had not been able toattend a single Opening Ceremonies Celebration since Willow’s very first one, ten years before. Herheart sometimes felt sore from missing them, but she knew they loved her. Hermother once wrote that the reason they worked so hard was for her sake. Shedidn’t understand, but her prayers comforted her. She knew her mother wastelling the truth.

Rohan insistedthat Willow stay by his family the following year and just like that atradition was formed.

Ten minuteslater, Rohan and Mr. Brewster met up with the girls.

“Hey there,Willow. How have you been?” Mr. Brewster said bringing her in for a tight hug.

Hewas slightly bulkier than the rest of his family, which gave Rohan some hope offilling out one day. His open and friendly face was bespeckled with freckleslike his two children.

“Really good.And you, sir?”

“You know Itold you not to call me sir – it makes me feel old,” he said grimacing beforewinking at Willow.

“Sorry, it’s ahabit.”

“Just don’t letit happen again,” he said in a stern voice that quickly turned to laughter.

Rohan wasobviously uncomfortable; dressed in a black dress tunic that stood outstrikingly against his pale skin and his long blonde hair slicked back.

“Youlook handsome,” Willow said quietly as they followed his family across the lawnto the festivities.

He reddened. “Youlook...you look...umm...phew!”

Willow giggledand said, “Thanks. You’re being daft though.”

“You’re toomodest. I mean it, Willow. And you’re too critical of yourself.”

“Well, I appreciatethe complement as much as the next girl,” Willow said. “It’s just...” She shook her head. “It’s justvery strange to hear you talking like that.” She took his arm and pulled him closer to the bonfire. “Come on. I thinkProfessor Edgar is going to start.”

The Fauns’beautiful music came to an end, and a very petite man with a slight paunch,dressed in a robe of midnightblue and a cone shaped hat the same color, stepped in front of the blazing fire.

“Ladies andGentleman, may I have your attention please?” His voice, remarkably strong forhis short stature and plump belly, carried easily across the expansive lawn. “Forthose of you who are new to our school and therefore do not know me -- I amProfessor Rayne Edgar, Headmaster of Credo School for Little Saints.”

Professor Edgar had duelresponsibilities: serving as both the Chief of Council and the Headmaster ofCredo. He was a wizard more comfortablewith the “old school” way of life, the only one left who still dressed in whatmost considered outdated attire. He was so small and was capable of such greatmagic that it was rumored about Credo that he possessed Elfin blood, while hislong, snow white hair and beard and small bright eyes spoke of his gentlenature. His jovial spirit filled the halls of Credo.

“Iwould like to extend my sincere welcome to you and your families. My officedoor is always open. Please feel free to stop by anytime...especially withpie,” he said patting his bulbous belly.

The crowdlaughed at his joke.

“Also I would liketo remind my students, as I do every year, that any prejudices againstnon-magical students will absolutely not be tolerated. I would like to believethat Tutis has long sense abdicated the ignorance of narrow mindedness. Everyonehas a purpose here, and we’re intricately created to fulfill said purpose. Andnow…without further ado, let the celebration commence. And more importantly thefeast,” he said to more laughter.

An hour later,after Rohan filled his plate to overflowing for the third time, and Willowcould not possibly see how he could eat another bite, she said, “Do you want todance?”

“I wasn’t madefor dancing.”

“You know thatI don’t care.”

“How charming.”

“I’m justsaying that we have this same conversation every year. You know you are goingto give in -- you always give in.”

“To you. It’s not my fault that you are sohard to say no to.”

Willowflashed a smile, “It’s settled then. Let’s go.”

“Very well,”Rohan said without enthusiasm, but not before popping another morsel into his mouth.

He was aterrible dancer, but even after he crushed her toes once or twice, she stillspun in graceful light-footed circles.

Eventually thefire began to die down, and the Fauns’ sprightly music changed to a soft, soothinglullaby. One by one fireflies extinguished their bulbs, when the fire lit upagain brilliantly and thunder rolled through the sky.

Willow foundherself lifted about the flames, looking down at the startled people below her.She felt a stabbing pain in her heart. She flinched, and fell toward the ground.Just before she was to hit, every wand of the assembled witches and wizardsaimed toward her, and she floated gently to the ground.