Young Writers Society

Hope you like this, it's my first attempt at writing a short fantasy story.

This is the edited version

The day just before my 15th birthday, my mentor for magic, a old wizard, Obah, gave me an idea on how it was like to use magic. In our town, you had to be 15 in order to be able to use magic.

'It feels extremely good when you first use it' he explained.'You think of it, contain the energy, then release it.'

I watched in amazement as he demonstrated a few spells. A fireball spell, a whirlwind spell, and a water spell.

Then he stared me straight in the eyes and said, 'There is a rule that you must obey, which is to know your limits. Many wizards and witches have failed to abide by that rule, the result is, you may DIE'

'Yes master, I'll remember that' I nodded my head.

That rest of the day was spent poring over the books that he had given me, they were about the many common and uncommonly used spells, or strong or weak.

I retired back home, dinner was ready.

'Had a good time today, Rick?' my mother asked, without looking up from the article she was reading.

'Yes mama' I replied.

'Tomorrow is your big day, eh?' my father grinned.

'Mama, why do I have to take an oath when I don't even know what it's about?' I asked, hoping to get a reasonable answer.

She glanced up with a serious expression, 'Why do you ask that Rick, no one is supposed to question the town's rules?'

'Mama, please tell me' I begged.

At this moment, my father joined in, he wore the same expression as my mother,'We don't know Rick, the laws were created by the Gods, and it is forbidden to question them'

'But please...' I began.

'It's late, go bathe and come down to have dinner' my mother interrupted.

I went up the creaky stairs, feeling miserable, and entered the bathroom to wash. it was cluttered with broom sticks and potions of all kinds. I looked at myself at the mirror, and inspected the dragon scar on my left cheek, I wondered all the time where I had got it from.

The warm soothing water, trickled down my back, I let the water run for a while before I got dressed.

I sat down quietly at the meal table and picked at my food. I had no appetite.

'Something wrong, my dear?' my mother asked, with a look of concern in her eyes.

'Nothing' I replied, trying to avoid her gaze.

The truth was, I wasn't sure I wanted to become a wizard. There were lots of rules to follow and I was afraid of breaking them. Obah had told me the consequences if I didn't abide by them. I shuddered at the thought.

Finally I spoke,'Mama, why do I have a dragon scar on my cheek?'

My mother suddenly became nervous,'Its a..uh scar that was given to you by the Gods'

I realised that questioning my parents wasn't going to do me any good, so I finished my meal and retired back to bed. As I entered my bedroom, I drew the curtains close and lay down on my pillow, thinking of tomorrow, even if I didn't want to become a wizard, I would be forced to become one.

Slowly, I fell into a deep sleep.

The next morning, I woke with a start, I suddenly remembered today was the day I became a wizard. I went down to the hall, Obah was already there.

'Had a good sleep?' he asked.

I nodded.

'Good, let's go, we're going to be late' he said, checking his magic watch.

I followed him to the centre of town, where the ritual platform stood. I looked up, I had passed this place many times, wishing I could be up there, now I was uncertain.

'Come on, hurry up, no time to lose' he said, pushing my up the stairs.

At last we were ready, he took out a book.

'Rick, you are about to become a wizard, are you ready?' he asked.

'Yes' I replied, a little hesitant.

Obah rattled off some words in another language, called the ancient oath. If anyone was to become a wizard, they had to take an oath. Sadly, you weren't supposed to know what it meant.

'Do you agree to the oath?' Obah asked once again.

I hesitated again, then spoke softly,'Yes'

He gently touch my head, then exclaimed, 'I declare you a true wizard!'

I felt exhilarated, energy started to flow inside me, I could feel by body changing, I grew taller, and my muscles grew bigger.

'Cast your first spell' Obah smiled at me.

I gathered up my energy, focusing it at the centre of my palm, pointing it upwards, I summoned the fire element and released the energy. A fireball erupted from my palm and shoot up the sky.

I had summoned my first spell, and now, was a true wizard.