The way to become the Great Sorcerer

Chapter II: A Failed Protector

Cloud forest, may be one of the sights that I have to enjoy in this world. A picturesque scenery that will surely imprint in your mind. One of the memories that you will never forget. I heard that Cloud forests often exhibit an abundance of mosses covering the ground and vegetation. Cloud forest trees are much shorter and more heavily stemmed than in lower altitude forests. I chuckled but I instantly regret it since it triggered the wounds that made me cough. Maybe thinking about the cloud forest and their descriptions is not a good time. Pressing my wound, I gather my magic to heal it but as expected it won’t heal. Tortured for years without using my magic power did take a toll on my body. Escaping the prison was a hard decision especially if you’re this useless.

I rested under a tree to regain my energy, escaping the prison takes a lot of time, I had to act all defenseless and s**t to buy me time, being tortured again and again almost mess my brain, the only thing that they did to make me sane is to count backward to one thousand, trust me, it doesn’t help. For Twenty years living in that hell hole, I forgot about the colors of the world, how it looked. Oh, how I missed those times when the smell of newly brewed coffee enters my nose, the sun that slowly peeks indicating that a new day has come, my family, greeting me with a smile as they say the words ‘Good morning’.

But I should’ve known that happiness is not something that will permanently stay. The world that I took for granted was slowly vanishing in front of my eyes. I remember the sting in my heart as the room that I brewed my coffee and looking at sunrise was burn down to crisp, the family that greets me every morning were slowly massacred. But what pains me the most is to see the woman that taught me great things and made me experience beautiful things, slowly fading away, her cold body lying endlessly in my arms. I vividly remember the exact words that she left me after saying goodbye.

‘My sweet little boy, you don’t know how much it joys me how I get to see you grow as the man you wanted to become, can you hear this one request for this poor teacher of yours?’

I nodded as tears went streaming down my face, her lips frown, wiping the tears away from my face, she smiles gently as always. How come she’s still so beautiful even if its the last moment of her life.

I remember how the moonlight shines as bright as ever, the stars that twinkle like they always do, it’s as if the world didn’t care about the cruel things happening. The woes of those who were left behind, the cries that are calling for help, the lives that were lost. It was like an unpleasant lullaby that instead of giving you a good dream it gives you nightmares and insomnia. It felt so bitter that I can’t help but scoff. I thought, ‘is it worth it to protect the world that never once cared for anything?’.

Staring at the tall trees of this dense forest, I sat there in a daze, almost lifeless. The trees waves when the winds touch them, it’s as if the winds were inviting them to dance and the tree gladly accepted. The sound of the leaves rustling we’re utmost enchanting. Supposedly chants of joy. I scoff as I envied them, how unlucky of me. Tears fall from my eyes to my cheek; I dint know what’s the reason for my tears maybe because I was sad or guilty. I just feel so helpless.

I watch my teacher died Infront of me and the only request she asks was not met. I was captured before I can do her request, I failed her not just her. I also failed my family. I’m a failure, I know. So why did I escape that hellhole? Why didn’t I just endure it and die there? But If I do, I die with regrets, I’d die being a failure.

‘Remember, Damian, even the dimmest light can still shine in the darkness, there is always hope in a hopeless situation’

She smiles at me as she pats my head. It was one of those times that I gave up the challenges that she assigned to me, daily tasks that I had to do as her young aspiring student, eventually, I always cried buckets to express my anger and disappointment but even so she always finds a way to cheers me up, giving me lessons in life that I always remember when I face through hard challenges. But, Isis, what should I do? I failed a job that I haven’t even done. 

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, Isis, your student is not an aspiring one after all.” I sob, can’t control my composure as I beg for forgiveness, all alone, in the middle of the forest. Ignoring the pain in my stomach.

A gentle touch was felt in my head, I flinched, looking up, regretting that I let my guard down for a minute but what I saw was not danger nor it can cause me harm. It was- “Isis?” my voice trembled, disbelief was written on my face She was wearing a white dress that compliments her beauty, her black hair moves as the wind blew. She was still as beautiful as the last time I saw her; my tears stream down my face and as always, she wiped my tear as if her actions will stop my cries. I notice her body was transparent enough to see the other background of the forest, my frown was evident. She looks at her body and smile at me, knowing what I was thinking.

“You are not a failure, my child. Don’t be too hard on yourself.”

Her voice is as calm as the river banks in the forest, her smile as gentle as the sunlight that pours in the vast forest. I was at a loss for words, I didn’t know what to do or what to say, But I do know that she came to me because she heard my cries, she felt my regrets my sorrows. “Isis I-.”

She smacks my head before I can finish my sentence. I touched the part where she hit and looking at her in disbelief. Not because she appeared before me but because she smacks my head out of nowhere. “Ungrateful brat, I spent all of my life teaching you! I chose you to be my students and here you are saying that you are a failure? No one will ever say that my student was a failure. Only I can declare if my student is a failure or not, you don’t have any rights to do that!”

Ah, yes, I remembered, my teacher, is a loud and obnoxious one. Her image from the other sorcerers was righteous and gentle the kind of woman that is fitted to have been part of the Kindest Moms in the world, but it’s only just an elaborate hoax. Sorcerers who met her tried to keep her from the image of what a great sorceress is. A great sorceress needs to be kind, fair, and justified.

 I Look back on the time where the 12 elders always nag her for her attitude, saying that it will ruin the image of a Great sorceress but my teacher only ignores the concerns of the elders. Her famous retort was ‘I’m the strongest here in this room, I can do whatever I want’ A jerk? Yes. That is my teacher. Nevertheless, she still shows how to be A good Great Sorceress, ignoring her bratty attitude my teacher, was kind, fair, and justified. She made her own rules, a powerful woman that I always looked up to.

“Damian, you were never a failure to me. The moment I chose you, I know you will have the power to make a big difference. Ah~Those times where you never let go of me and beg me to become my student. I miss those, maybe that is also one of the reasons why I chose you. Your determination moved me, Damian, those times when you think about giving up you will eventually cry because of the guilt, to be honest, it was annoying, but you will still hold on and continue those tasks you didn’t finish. You are no longer trapped and in prison, that’s the first step in doing what you have to do, even if there are only 2 weeks left” He said with a sour look, but I know that she only did it to cheer me up, which helps.

“Go and do your quest, show those 12 bitches that you are the student of Isis Dewin, the former Great Sorceress, and that YOU are not a person to mess with!” She encourages with a loud voice that boost my confidence, I wiped my tear and nod to her, showing her that I’m ready to do the request that I was given. 

“But first heal yourself, you look absolute s**t” She broke the inspiring atmosphere by commenting how I looked. I glared at her in return which she retorts by sticking her tongue out. I stand up being careful about my wound, I leaned my back against the tree that I’ve been using to rest. Gathering my energy, a luminous yellow light glow into my hand and in a second my wound was instantly healed, I sighed in relief carefully standing on my own. A mocking sigh was followed after, I glared at her again. “So are you alive or not?” curious as I steadily walked away from my current location, who knows that those bastards in the prison already knows that I’m gone and is heading to go and look for me, worst-case scenario, I’ll be captured here if I don’t begin my journey.

This forest is vast, I might have a hard time trying to find some road or civilization. “I’m here but I’m not living.” She answered my question. I tried to avoid some twigs that are in the way and smacking some. Isis was distracted by something, I tried to gain her attention back by asking again. “What do you mean?” It will be impossible for her to be here especially when I saw her died right in front of my eyes. I grimace at the thought, shaking my head to erase those memories, I glance at her anticipating her answer to my question.

I stopped in disbelief at what I saw. Isis, which I don’t know why was currently telling cute things to a frog. Her face leaning so close and I tried hard not to vomit. this would be the grossest sight I have ever seen in my entire life. “What the hell are you doing?” My forehead wrinkles, looking disgustingly at her, trying to find any reason, logical reason for what she was doing. Instead of answering me, she picks the hairy frog and put it near my face, I backed away instantly, horrified at the sight I saw. “Aw does poor Damian doesn’t like frogs” she continues leaning it to my face and I continue backing away. “Isis stop” I warned her shoving her hands that have a frog! But she only laughs in return, I tried to warn her again but then I felt a dark presence coming at us at a rapid speed. Isis also felt it as she hurriedly but carefully freeing the frog. “Shadow Hunters, run” Isis shouted as I bolted away. 

Running away in the vast forest with lots of branches that can surely harm you is not a good thing. A couple of branches was in the way, I raised my arms to shield my face in order to protect my eye. Being blind can be the worse handicap in my escape, I wouldn’t mind having a lot of scratches. A minute has passed by but I have no time to rest and catch my breath those hunters are still closing up to me in a matter of time, I might end up a rodent again that will be caught in a mousetrap.

 “Damian use the spell that I taught you, it will help you since it can mask out your physical body and your presence” Flinching a little when Isis's voice ringed in my head. I stopped and gather my mana to initiate the spell. I can already feel that the hunters are already closing in. Putting my index finger in Infront of my face, I chanted the spell “By the power vested on me make the seen, unseen” I watched as my body started to vanish. I finally heard the noises of the shadow as I close my eyes shut expecting them to find me. “You are still the scared boy I knew.”