Chapter 4: Amber and His Hatching Magic
1522 Words
The thing about the egg, it looked odd and a bit scary.
Maybe for Tyler it looked magical at some sort, but at the same time, it looked really weird. And the aura it radiates was unusual.
"That's the last egg by the way." Amber cut in.
"What do you mean the last?" he emphasised.
"When the humans faced great tribulation, most of the creatures died together with the mortals." He stretched his arms and flexed his neck. Tyler realised he had been crouching, examining the details of the egg. "But of course not everyone died. The Olympians, demigods, and minor gods saved some of them. One reason maybe because it's their holy animal or just cute to them."
"Oh, so if this was the last Gryphon's egg—" Tyler wondered "—who the heck would incubate this?" he wondered nervously.
"Alright." Amber fixed his posture. "Tyler, I'll show you something."
And by that something, Tyler froze. He wasn't ready for any magical things but Amber stood and took to the long thin box beside the flower vase near his mum's plate collection. When he brought it, cressets escaped and a whiff of burning wood danced around Tyler's nose as Amber untied it. He opened the box and revealed a broomstick. It has a long polished redwood frame with gold no-slip grip handle emblazoned with unfamiliar characters. The seat has a soft cushion blending with the colour of the frame. The tail twigs are glowing red suggesting that it was on fire but Tyler thought it's a magical broomstick so he didn't bother.
"I admit, that's wicked!" Tyler exclaimed. "So Amber, What is this used for?"
"YOU DON'T KNOW?! GODS!" Amber bolted furiously.
"Seriously? Are we guys not allowed to joke around?" he rolled his eyes.
"This—" Amber flexed his broomstick. More cressets escaped, creating a mini swirl of ember "—is called an Ember Broomstick. There are several kinds depending on what kind of wizard you are." he explained.
"Why? Can't you guys just have one type of broomstick?"
"Nice idea but no. Broomsticks are quite personal to us." Amber answered. "This is the product of our hard works during training. This is like a diploma to us. These elven characters were my name." he traced his finger over the rough, rugged surface of his broomstick. Tyler squinted and he could see that the characters were pulsating a faint glow of red, yellow, and gold.
"Wow. So what are the others called?"
Suddenly, it began raining insanely outside. Like someone switched the rain button and the droplets poured all at once. A streak of lightning lit the skies and a loud thunder followed. Which was odd. Because the news said that they would experience hail, not thunderstorm.
Amber didn't seem to get bothered by it. So Tyler listened. "We have the Ripple, Vine, Frost, and Ebony Broomstick." Amber continued. "But not everyone has them. Some skilled wizards abandoned theirs of the reason that they can fly while some have Teleportation skills. In my case, I don't have such. Elder witches and wizards told us that each of us has magic unique to everyone. But we have to find its heart and unlock it. That is a personal journey Naflamuss had told us."
Tyler blinked. "So, you met the Naflamuss guy?"
Amber nodded.
"Sounds cool and... dangerous!" Tyler agreed. "About the egg, who will be the Mommy Gryphon? Who will sit on this, day and night?" He asked. Amber did not respond immediately but gave him a smirk instead.
"You still don't get it, do you?" he asked. "This is why I'm bringing out my wand, right?" Amber slid his arm through his pocket and magically took out his wand. "I'll do what I can and use magic to mimic the warmth of an incubator. And please, whatever I will do, just watch. No need to panic." Amber ordered.
"Whoah whoah whoah! Hold it right there mister! You mean right now?!'' Tyler took a step back. "Like right now?! You're kidding, right?"
Amber laughed. "You're such a coward. Trust me, it won't magically hatch and appear as big as a lion! That's ridiculous." Amber cleared "And please, I'm trying to concentrate."
"Very well then. I'll just stay here and... shut up." He tried to sneak and go upstairs but Amber shot him a deadly look telling him to get back you, you numpty and immediately he settled and took seat awkwardly.
Amber placed the egg inside a box and wrapped it with black cloth beaded with mini crystals and he spread multiple unfamiliar glowing stones around it. He concentrated and focused on his breath and wand.
He raised and waved his wand gently. With life, he chanted.
''Effio Calidus!".
An orange cloud formed at the tip of his wand and filled the spaces of the box. Embers hissed and crawled all over the egg. The whole box was glowing red and the whole room grew warmer. After a few seconds, the mini clouds vanished and faint red lights glowed like Christmas lights circled the egg.
Thunder declared itself once again. With Amber's current state and the thunder crackling outside, he looked like a perfect wizard performing dark magic, less the enormous giant egg.
Tyler was awestruck in his seat and he approached closer and tried to touch the egg.
"Don't Tyler!" Amber caught his hand.
"Uhmmm,"
"Those faint red lights inside aren't bulbs or something. Those are enchanted obsidians."
Tyler blinked "Wicked."
Helmina went back from the living room carrying another a cup of tea.
"It's just your father. He won't go home tonight," she informed.
Which father? The mortal or the god? he thought. Like he had known the fact that he's a demigod for a long time. "Because of the storm?" he replied instead.
"Yes. He said that a tree was hit by lightning and crushed anything beneath it. It also blocked the highway so he decided to stay rather than drive in the midst of this storm." she said.
"Anyway, I used this broomstick to travel from Spain to the airport. And I used a spell of course." Amber blurted.
"But we met you at the airport? How? I mean, the guards did not see you?" Tyler wondered.
"Tyler, what humans can only perceive are the things that their brain can only process. Of course their brain won't comprehend magical things," he said. "And if they would have to witness it, the βέλο or veil in English, but we call it as Veíllos, would hide—more often—disguises it into something they could understand," he explained. "Well, we didn't really expect to spill everything to you now, you know? Because it would be too much for you. But, we thought if not now, then when?" he asked. "And when you showed that letter, we knew something is up."
Tyler stared at Amber and his mum and examined their faces. It still sounded like a dream. He thought, if everything was a stupid prank, he wouldn't know where he would get mad. Now that they have told him a bunch of secrets, he felt small inside. He felt like a first grader in a classroom full of uni students. "So, I guess all these years you've been hiding these things from me.'' He concluded and then locked eyes with Helmina.
"Yeah? I guess." Amber smiled awkwardly "Let's just wait until tomorrow for this egg to hatch." he shifted. "I'm tired and I'll try to sleep. I'm tired you know."
Helmina held Tyler's hands and pulled him closer to her chest. "Tyler," she hugged him tight. "I'm sorry if I have to hide everything from you. It's just—" she stuttered "I'm afraid. I'm afraid of losing you. I'm sorry, I just wanted to protect you from everything, Tyler." he could feel his mum was on the verge of tears, so he managed to act it cool. He hated seeing her cry, especially if because of him.
"Mum," he moved "It's fine, okay? I mean, it's kind of surprising but I appreciate your concern. It'll be fine. Don't worry." he hugged her again.
"Anyone would love to escort me to my room?" Amber asked awkwardly. "Sorry for breaking the moment."
They all smiled and Tyler felt a little lighter inside.
"Eat dinner later Amber." Helmina reminded.
"Yes." Amber took his broomstick and tucked his wand inside his pocket.
"Tyler..." Helmina called.
"Mum?" Helmina held his arm again.
"I know it's hard for you to believe all these. And it's all coming very fast. But I want you to know that all I ever wanted is to protect you."
"It's alright mum. I... at first I don't know what to feel but you know..." he cleared his throat "I'm used to surprises." he smiled.
"Let's go," Amber called. And Tyler led him to his room.
"Alright take a rest."
They both went upstairs and led him to his room. Amber's room was a guest room intended for their visitors. It had a single bed, neatly made, a table topped with an old lampshade, one straight back chair, and a single slab of flat wood above his bed for books and small cactus plants.
"Good night! See ya later." Amber smiled, before closing the door.
He went back to his room and recalled what Amber said before. The idea was so crazy. Wait for the egg to hatch wasn't a good idea at all. He was so worried. What if tomorrow would be his last day? That would be ridiculous.
"Ok Tyler, everything's going to be fine." He said to himself.
- Writer
