Sitting on top of a large rock was a boy of about 3 years old, he had blue eyes, a delicate face and his hair fell to his shoulders.
Sighing,the boy got up from the rock and began to complain: "Tsk,having to act cute all the time is so frustrating,but at least as a reward those old men teach me a few things,even if it's just basic botany."
He started pacing back and forth and then pulled out a journal and makeshift pencil from under the big rock,sitting down again,he started writing in English.
"I think today is the day,today I heard from grandfather Vecell that those old men will do some kind of magic ritual where the whole circle of druids of Kovir will participate,and according to my memory,the original Vilgefortz manifested his magic powers during one of these rituals.If I take this opportunity and manifest some magic,I am sure that those old men with nothing better to do will finally start to really teach me."
When he finished writing,he climbed down from the big rock and tucked the journal back under it,he wasn't worried about those nosy old men finding the journal as he often carried it with him to jot down the plant knowledge those old men occasionally told him about.As for the language,he said it was just simple sticks he made up and the old men didn't give it any more thought,thinking it was just a child's scribbling.
When noon came, he hurried home to eat or Lyana would scold him again.
When he arrived in front of the hut, he touched the branches that formed it, after which they parted to let him pass.
When he entered he realized that his grandfather was not there, only Lyana was there with two plates on the table.
Lyana looked at him and said: "You're late, the food is almost cold".
Viltz sat down and looked at the plates and then commented:This is just salad.
Lyana arched an eyebrow and asked, "So?"
Viltz was speechless,he could only shake his head and start eating,regretting that this Greta Thunberg fanatic doesn't understand that a growing boy like him needs to eat meat.
Sighing inwardly,he finished his meal quickly and got up to leave.
Lyana, watching him go, asked, "Where are you going?"
Vitz turned around and replied, "I'm going to watch the ritual.And you?
"I'm going later," she replied.
As he left, Viltz went to the back area of the settlement, where there were about 12 hooded figures, all druids from Kovir's circle, surrounding a small tree sapling while raising their arms and chanting in a strange language that he thought was Elder Speech.
The more time passed, the louder and deeper their voices sounded, until suddenly a thunderclap was heard and then it began to rain, the little retonium began to glow and grow little by little, but what none of the druids noticed was the little boy behind them who began to glow and release a strange aura under the effects of the rain.
It wasn't until someone shouted that both the child staring at his hands dumbly and the old druids concentrating on the ritual turned to see young Lyana point to the glowing child they didn't notice before.
When so many old men began to stare at him,Viltz became a little uncomfortable,it wasn't until he saw a familiar figure beckoning to him that he relaxed,running to his grandfather,who crouched down and began to examine him more closely.When he finished examining him,he burst out laughing and exclaimed, "It's a Source!A Source!Did everyone see?old fools?I told you my grandson would be a great druid!"
...
In a small garden,a stooped old woman was pointing her finger at the various plants and flowers and explaining to a seven-year-old boy holding a diary and pencil.
"This is a beggar's flower,this is a blue lotus flower,and this is a celandine,although they look wilted,we druids can help them regain their vitality."
The old woman tapped each flower twice gently with her staff,after which they regained their vitality,looking as if they had just bloomed.
"Now you try it."
The boy crouched down before a wilted beggar flower and touched it with his fingers and channeled his mana into the flower,causing it to regain its vigor,the boy,seeing this,smiled.
"It seems you have taken in a great talent among you. "A voice was heard behind them.It was an old man,he wore a blue robe,short hair and a short but well-groomed beard.Next to him was another old man,he was one of the druids of Kovir's circle who left a year ago,and it seemed he came back with company.
The boy, upon seeing the unknown old man, looked at him curiously.
The old woman,on the other hand,stepped forward to greet the two elders with a smile. "Krogar,it seems you met an old friend on your journey,what brings you to this little place?aren't you too old to be wandering around,Desmont?
The old man in the blue robe, Desmont, smiled awkwardly and explained: "Narika, old friend, I know I haven't contacted you in a long time but I have been busy with an experiment, as I was missing some ingredients, I went out to look for them and by chance I ran into the old man Krogar, who was returning to Kovir, so I came with him to visit you".
The old woman looked at him and said: "Twenty years! You haven't visited me in twenty years!"
The old man Krogar who saw the atmosphere getting tense, decided to step aside to watch the drama, Viltz at his side, also remained silent as the old woman scolded the old man while he apologized repeatedly.
When the old woman finished venting,she turned to Viltz and explained, "This old man here is Desmont,a wizard from the Ban Ard academy."
Viltz looked at the old man with shining eyes.
He thought about the story of the original Vilgefortz,who refused the invitation of a wizard when he was young,only to end up leaving the druid circle years later,becoming a mercenary and a spy,raping,murdering and stealing,until he finally ended up becoming a wanted criminal,running all over the place,wasting his best years of life and acquiring a vile but cunning mind.
What is most incredible is that the original Vilgefortz, despite not studying at a magical academy and wasting half his life doing shady things, his calculating mind and great talent led him to be considered by many the most talented magician of his time.
Viltz began to fantasize when the old man approached him and touched his shoulder, feeling the old man's mana enter his body, he quickly pulled his shoulder away and stepped back.
The old man, seeing him recoil, was surprised and asked, "Child, did you feel it?"
Viltz replied sarcastically, "You mean how you inserted your mana into my body pretending that you were just squeezing my shoulder as a greeting...No, not at all."
The old man's jaw dropped and then he laughed: "Hahaha, you caught me, but I wasn't going to do anything bad to you, I just wanted to examine your body to see how talented you are."
Viltz, even though he knew the answer, asked with mock curiosity, "You can do that just by touching my shoulder?"
The old man nodded.
Viltz pretended to hesitate a bit and then approached the old man again, who again placed his hand on his shoulder and entered his mana to examine it.
After a few seconds the old man withdrew his hand and exclaimed, "Child, your mana reserve is the largest I have seen to date!"
He looked at the boy again with interest and asked, "Are you interested in magic?"
Viltz, starry-eyed, nodded vigorously.
The old man smiled and said softly: "If you want you can come with me to Ban Ard, there you can learn more about magic, besides, I am interested in you boy, you have a great magical talent and from what Krogar told me, you are a hard worker and you spend the day learning everything you can."
Viltzs, despite wanting to agree right away,pretended to hesitate and replied: "Thanks for the offer,I would love to go to Ban Ard to learn more about magic,but I can't decide this on my own,you will have to convince my grandfather if you want me to go with you."
The old man smiled and replied, "It's just old Vecell,no problem,I'll take care of it."
The old man took half a step to head towards old man Vecell's hut but old woman Narika stood in his way.
"Narika,old friend, you still don't want to let me go? "The old man asked helplessly.
Narika scoffed and replied, "You old fool, do you think we have been raising and teaching this child everything we have just for fun? Vilgefortz is extremely talented and if we guide him well he will become a great druid in the future,and if nothing goes wrong I can even give him my position as leader of the circle."
Narika then looked at Viltz and reprimanded: "And you, little brat, don't you know not to trust strangers?this old man just wants to trick you,Ban Ard has always lacked talent compared to Aretuza,they always end up losing in the magical competitions they do with each other,this old fool saw your potential and wants to exploit you in the competitions so you can save their faces."
Desmont,with his plan uncovered,showed no shame and commented, "This boy obviously has a great thirst for knowledge,I don't think he fits the path of a druid."
Elder Narika was about to become enraged when an aged voice was heard: "Let him go,Narika."
Elder Vecell stepped calmly out of the hut and spoke: "I have known for years, little Viltz will never be satisfied with staying in this place, sooner or later he would be gone, being under the care of one of the upper echelons of the sorcerer's brotherhood will put my mind at ease."
Then he looked at the boy and said softly, "Just remember that we are all your family here,don't forget to visit us once you have graduated from the academy."
Viltz, remembering the last seven years he spent with his grandfather and the people of this settlement, his heart was suddenly moved and he ran to his grandfather, hugged him and began to cry while stammering: "I promise grandfather, I will visit you whenever I can".
His grandfather, surprised, smiled and began patting him on the head while speaking softly: "Wow, who would think that a serene and calm child like you would start crying like that, wipe your nose, you're getting a runny nose."
Viltz wiped his tears and replied, "I'm not running my nose."
"Well boy, what are you waiting for, go get your stuff."
"Okay." Viltz nodded and hurried into the cabin.
"I didn't think you'd agree so easily." Desmont spoke.
Vecell sighed and replied, "I don't want to do it,but it's the best option for him,I don't have much time left to live,I don't want him to suffer because of me.The study at Ban Ard will take him twelve years to graduate,by that time I'll be nothing but bones,by then he'll have grown up,it won't affect him as much as if I leave him with me."
"How long do you have left?" Desmont asked.
Vecell showed his right arm,where there was a tattoo of a spider web,and said, "Not long,at most five years."
Narika covered her mouth and tears began to roll down her cheek.
Desmont sighed, "You're right,getting him away from here is the best option,at least he won't have to deal with the loss so early."
Viltz grabbed a leather bag and put what little clothing he had inside along with his diary,tied the bag on his back and walked out."
His grandfather,seeing him return,reached into his tunic to pull out a thick notebook and a small pouch.
"Take these,in this pouch is some money,and in this notebook is recorded all my knowledge of the druid's way.I hope they will be useful to you."
Viltz hurried to take them carefully and put them in his backpack.
His grandfather gave him one last hug and nodded to Desmont,who waved his hand to manifest a circular portal through which he entered.
Viltz took one last look at his grandfather before entering the portal, wondering what his destiny, now altered by his own hands, held in store for him.