This was awesome!
I felt as light as cotton. I flew higher than the seagull and jumped faster than the mountain goat. I didn't want to attract attention. Therefore I revel in the barren hills where no human had ever visited.
Belzarbi just touched his paw to my head, then I felt something wrap around my legs. As if I was wearing shoes made of clouds but invisible. I could jump in the sky without fear of falling. I dangled freely in the air, and greeted a flock of wild geese who looked confused at me. I also easily climb high mountain peaks.
That Demon in the form of a white wolf said he was a demon who ruled the sky. So anytime he could make me fly and I didn't have to pay anything. At first glance he told me that every demon had an element that he mastered. Belzarbi mastered the element of wind. He also said that he was quite old and his abilities were high so he could make his master fly whenever he wanted with ease.
I didn't think he was physically fit. If he was the ruler of the sky, he should have taken the form of an eagle or a seagull.
"I like this form," Belzarbi said when I asked him.
"Oh, weren't you born like this? I mean- you can actually have other forms?"
"No human has ever seen the true form of a Demon. We can change forms at any time and become whatever we want," responded Belzarbi modestly.
"Hmm, how about I ask you to change into another form? A human for example?" I tested him.
"Ah, that's easy," said Belzarbi for a moment before a gray mist enveloped his massive body. Then he transformed into another form. He was now a handsome young man with long silver hair woven with silver cords. He wore luxurious accessories that only the king's concubines could possibly match. His feet were bare and did not touch the ground. He was shirtless and only wore a striped cloth covering his waist and part of his legs.
"Can other humans see you?"
"No, unless my master orders me to reveal myself. Besides, some high level sorcerers can also see me. We prefer to be invisible. Because humans always look at us with greedy eyes," Belzarbi said. With his human form I became more comfortable talking to him.
"Greedy eyes?"
"Because Demon can work miracles,"
"Is that why you asked me to hide that I am your master?"
"It's for your good, you're not strong enough yet, Nin-shagari. You're still a child and humans are cruel creatures. They can do unimaginable things to force you to grant their wish," the silver-haired Demon explained.
Sorcerers who were not officially registered by the tower of Babylon would be reported to the king. I would be forced to become the king's sorcerer because Belzarbi said I was still not strong enough. I didn't know much about the sorcerer profession. I know there are some who live near my house. They were all king's sorcerers who occasionally had to be willing to be called to war or just grant the King's request.
When they were not in the tower, they receive payments from the citizens to curse or treat curses.
"I'm a little hungry, can you bring me bread and honey?"
"Do you have the ingredients in your house? Does your family barn have wheat and honeycomb or fresh dates?" Belzarbi asked back.
"I don't think so, father said he'd just bring a bag of oats and bacon when he got home from work," I tilted my head trying to remember.
"Then I can't provide it," Belzarbi shook her head.
"Then can you create for me some glass marbles that sparkle like stars in the night sky?" I said with hope. I had always wanted to have it like Odurna, the son of a priest who likes to play it alone without wanting to lend it.
"Do you have obsidian stone? Or enough money to buy it?"
I shook my head.
"Then how about a big horse with shiny fur? Can you give it to me?" I said, a little annoyed.
"Do you have enough savings or money to buy it?"
I shook my head once more.
"Didn't you say I could order you to do anything but bring the dead back to life? But you just shook your head and said I had to have money to do it," I protested, crossing my arms in annoyance.
Belzarbi smiled at my innocence.
"If a sorcerer can do all that - they can live a rich life. But in reality they still have to work for the king or sell his magical services to humans. We can't give anything beyond the master's power,"
"Then can you give me gold? I want gold coins that are so abundant that the pockets in my shirt can't fit anymore," I challenged him.
"Don't you understand? Well, you're still a kid. So I can just give you this coin,"
Belzarbi snapped his fingers then a bucket of gold coins spilled onto my head. It tastes cold and smells of copper. I was excited and thought how many things I could buy with all this gold. Before I could continue my delusion any further, Belzarbi bewitched it again so that the gold coins turned into mud.
"It's an illusion, not real gold. I can give it to you, but fake gold is easily damaged and the current king of humans will give severe punishments to sorcerers who forge gold and gems,"
"Still, didn't you say you could do anything as long as I could pay?" I challenged him a little. I hoped to be sarcastic but his expression remained calm.
"A Demon can't lie to His masters. I can give you real gold. You name someone who is quite rich. Then I will take his gold for you," said Belzarbi again with a calm smile.
I felt my heart jump when I heard it.
"You mean you're willing to steal for me?" I shouted.
"We are not either good and bad, our master can tell us to do anything. Including stealing, killing, cursing and destroying whatever you want," said Belzarbi again with a bit of a cruel smirk on his lips.