Chapter 1: Nothing Lasts Forever

If there's one thing that I've learned throughout my inevitably short life, it's that everything, no matter how strong or sturdy it is, will eventually give in to decay. People, buildings, society, empires, even state of mind. Everything always leads to the same end, no matter what form it takes. Death, disease, corruption, suffering, war, it always ends the same way. My grandfather didn't believe that, and for a short time he made me not believe it aswell, but in the end...that belief went out the window, like I said, it all ends the same, even him.Thats a depressing thought, isn't it? My last few months, or so I thought, had given me alot of time to think about everything. My name is Luke Calligan and I have a very short amount of time left in life.

I have some disease that nobody has ever seen before and the thing about it is, nothing helps. The doctors, as useless as they are, had tried every medicine they can think of. The mages had tried spell after spell, potion after potion. Some of them even made it worse. They say that "everything's going to be fine." They didn't need to lie to me and treat me like a child. I could feel myself slipping away even now. Every day I felt weaker, bit by bit I could feel myself getting sicker, like poison spreading through my body, but the worst thing is, it's so painfully slow. I had been diagnosed with whatever I have nine years ago, even though it had started before that. It's taken years to ware me away, and now I'd started to lose my will to carry on.

I decided to go for a stroll to clear my head, or atleast to try. I got up from my bed. How long had I lay there? Minutes? Hours? I had never been good at keeping time. I slipped on my leather boots that sat next to my bed and rose shakily. I didn't feel well. Often when I feel like this after a while, my body locks up, I collapse in a coughing fit and try not to choke on the blood that I will start to cough up. This, however, wasn't going to dissuade me from taking a walk. I looked at myself in the mirror across from my bed. This, I thought, was the first time I had looked at myself in the mirror in weeks. I realised just how grim I looked, with dark rings under my dark brown eyes. It looked like I didn't know how to smile anymore. My brown hair was starting to grow long but was still short enough to avoid getting a haircut for another few weeks and my brown eyes seemed to lack any kind of excitement or happiness. I sighed and decided that I would take the extra long path through the forest. I liked taking walks, I always had. My grandfather used to take me on walks through the forest to Reathing's Rock, a beautiful waterfall that will take the breath away from anything with a mind to admire it. I always remembered it as being so peaceful, so calm. My grandfather used to sit me down and teach me all the names of the birds whos songs we heard. I had been happy then. So very happy...

I shook my head. I shouldnt dwell on such depressing thoughts. If there is one thing that Grandfather tought me, it was to enjoy the little things in life. I remember what he said word for word. "Learn to love life, lad. No matter how it makes you feel inside, enjoy the little things, focus on what is, not what was or what will be." The thought of him made me smile, I couldn't help it. I missed him, after my parents died he took care me, tought me right from wrong, and now he's gone too.

He left his estate and all his belongings to me. My grandfather was rich, but he prided himself as being one of the people. He wasn't of a noble birth, but earned his fortune as a teacher of the arcane. I had never seen my grandfather do magic, but you didn't need to see him do magic to know he was powerful. He radiated a kind of energy, unique and scary in its own way yet kind and calming. I walked out of my room and down the stairs. The building would have been deathly quiet had it not been for my footsteps echoing throughout the estate. There was never any need to have servants to clean the house as it essentially cleaned itself thanks to my grandfather's enchantments. The only people who really came to the estate anymore was the gardener who would check in to see if I was ok. I cut across the library and opened the heavy door to go in to the main hall. I grabbed my cloak from the hanger next to the door and stepped out in to the sunlight. I was glad that I grabbed my coat as it was colder than I had expected, but still bright and sunny. Then it hit me as I hand't realised what day it was. It was the first day of Spring.

I gulped in the fresh air with a few deep breaths and set off down the dirt road leading the the village of Kasterleigh. It felt good to be outside, even with the gripping chill. I was about a five minute walk away but I already heard the disturbence. People were yelling. Nothing much ever happens in Kasterleigh, so I set in to a steady jog. When I arrived, the village blacksmith, Marcus, along with around seven more villagers, was yelling at a tall, hooded man. "Get out of our village you Talverri dog! There is nothing for you here!" The hooded man stood a little straighter. Marcus was a tall man, and was built for his trade with wide shoulders and large meaty hands, and even though the mans shoulders weren't as wide as the blacksmiths, the hooded man still towered over him.

"I assure you I mean no harm."

He had a slight accent, but it was hard to tell, as if he had multiple accents combined in to one, like a man who had lived many places over the long years. If Marcus hadn't exclaimed that the man was from Talveron, I wouldn't have been able to pick up on it.

"I just need to find someone and I will be on my way." The man continued.

"Who are you looking for?" I said loudly.

Everyone turned to face me. Marcus and the other villagers' eyes widened when they cought sight of me.

"Master Calligan! We hadn't expected to see you here, little master. To what do we owe the pleasure?"

I raised and eyebrow. "I live here, Marcus. As do you, and I expect to be treated no differently."

The blacksmith smiled and gave a short bow. "Of course."

I turned to the hooded man. "Now, who are you looking for?"

The man took off his hood and smiled.

"I'm looking for you, Luke Calligan. My name is Marius Hawke. I was a close friend of your grandfather, may his soul be at rest."

Marius was older than expected, with his jet black hair that was combed back over his head starting to show a few steaks of gray. He had startling blue eyes that glinted with intelligence and something else, something more childish.

Marius smiled. "It has been a while since we first met, Luke. I doubt you would remember. You were, what, four? How old are you now?"

There was a sadness in his voice, the kind that couldn't be faked. I realised that he must be thinking of my grandfather.

"If you were such good friends, then why weren't you at his funeral?"

Marius bowed his head and sighed. "Walk with me." he said, and at that he started to stroll towards the way I had came.

"Master Calligan" The Marcus interrupted "Are you sure you should trust him?"

I looked at the blacksmith. "It's fine Marcus." I said as I followed Marius.

"It has been a while since I last saw your grandfather's estate. It's such a lovely place." I looked at him suspiciously, still not fully sure whether I should trust him.

"Answer my question. Why weren't you at the funeral?" I said, allowing my annoyance to show slightly.

Marius sighed again, more shakily this time. "I was....busy." He stopped and reached in to his cloak and brought out an envelope. "Your grandfather sent this letter to me two weeks before he died. I think you should read it." He paused. "It might answer some of your questions."

I took the letter, not knowing what I would find inside. I turned it over in my hand to inspect the seal. It was sealed with red wax and depicted, in great detail, an owl with outspread wings clutching a scroll. It was definatly my Grandfathers' seal. I opened the envelope and pulled the folded letter out. I took a deep breath to prepare for any emotion that might show itself whilst reading the letter, unfolded it, and began to read.

To my oldest friend, Marius

I sense that my time on this world will come to an end. I know not how, but I can feel it coming. There are so many things that I wish I could talk about, but for now I will discuss the most important.

My grandson, Luke, has a strong connection to magic, as I do. I can feel that one day he will become very powerful. However, there are problems. One of which is his illness, the other is that I will not be there to teach him and guide him.

And this, my dear friend, is why I call out to you with dire need. When it is possible, I would like you to retrieve Luke and take him to Keepers' Valley.You are one of the people I trust most in this world, and if anyone can train Luke to the best of his ability, it is you.

Train him, guide him, and be there for him where I cannot.

Take care

Arthur Calligan

My hands were shaking. A mixture of emotions washed through me. Sadness, longing, anger....He knew? He knew and he didn't tell me?

"Why didn't he say anything?" I said shakily. I looked at Marius. "Why didn't he say anyhting?" I repeated.

"I....I'm not sure. Knowing your grandfather, he must have had some reason to not say anything." He looked away. "He probably expected me to arrive earlier. I am truly sorry, Luke. I really am."

I was angry, but it wasn't his fault. I sighed and said "It isn't your fault. If you couldn't come then you couldn't come." There was a long silence, nothing but the birds chirping away. I gestured towards the house and Marius nodded.

"So you've come to take me to Keepers' Valley?" I asked.

"Yes, and I intend to respect Arthurs' wishes. Even though we both may not like it, I will do anyhting in my power to convince you to come."

With a shock, I realised that it was the first time I had heard anyone reference my grandfather by name in a long time.

"There's no need to convince me." I said

Marius looked at me sideways. "Is that so?"

I returned his look. "Did Grandfather ever mention what my illness was to you?"

He nodded slowly. "Yes...yes he did. A very grim subject." We were approaching the estate now. "What are you trying to say?"

I looked straight ahead. "Because of my illness, I don't think that I..." I stopped. My eyes widened as pain grasped my body. I gasped, then collapsed face-first and started coughing up blood. Marius turned and, realising what was happening, rushed to my side. He turned me on to my back and leaned me on to him, so I wasn't lying down flat on my back. My lungs felt like they were on fire, my muscles felt like they were being torn apart and my head felt like it was going to burst. Tears welled up in my eyes. The pain was unbearable. I couldn't breath due to both the coughing and the blood.

"Hold on, boy." Marius said as he placed his hand on my chest as pale blue light emerged from his hand. The coughing eased. The pain worsened for a second, but then began to ease untill I eventually stopped coughing alltogether. There was still a dull pain in my chest, but it wasn't too bad.

He grunted "I didn't actually think that would work..." Marius said. "You alright?"

At first I didn't respond. I spat the remainder of blood on to the grass and wiped my mouth, then rose shakily. Marius rose with me, supporting my weight.

"I'm doing great." Sarcasm put an edge to my voice. "Let's just get inside."