The ghostly form of the wizard hovered in the air, his spectral robes rippling in an unseen wind. He gazed down at Shiv with an expression that was both curious and gentle. His translucent face bore the wisdom of countless years, but there was something else—something new—in his eyes as he appraised the young man before him.
"Interesting," the wizard mused, his voice soft yet carrying the weight of ancient knowledge. "I see something within you, yet it is... different. You are untouched by mana, a shell without magic flowing through your veins. You are unlike anyone I've ever met."
Shiv stared at the glowing figure, still in shock from witnessing the wizard's resurrection. The rain had lightened to a drizzle outside the cave, but inside, the air felt charged with magic. The wizard's words made little sense to Shiv, but he couldn't deny the gravity of the moment.
The wizard smiled kindly, inclining his head slightly. "I am Veylin, once the greatest wizard of this realm. And now... I must thank you for what you have done. You laid my body to rest with respect. For that, I am in your debt. What would you ask of me in return?"
Shiv blinked, the question catching him off guard. What did he want? He had spent so long feeling the weight of his parents' death, consumed by loss and loneliness, that the idea of asking for something—anything—felt foreign. He let out a quiet, bitter laugh, the pain in his heart twisting into his words.
"I don't need anything," Shiv said, his voice steady, but his eyes betraying the sorrow buried deep within. "Those who have left this world can't come back. I've learned that the hard way."
Veylin's eyes widened slightly, his translucent form still as he considered Shiv's answer. "Nothing?" he echoed, his tone filled with surprise. "In all my centuries, I have never met a soul who would turn down an offer from the greatest wizard of this world. No one has ever said no to me before."
Shiv shrugged, his lips curving into a sad smile. "There's nothing you can give me that would change what's already happened. I'm alone now... and no amount of magic can fix that."
For a long moment, Veylin was silent, his glowing figure shifting in the dim light of the cave. He could see the emptiness in Shiv, a hollowness that came from losing everything that mattered. And in that, the wizard found a connection—one that ran deeper than he had anticipated.
"I understand," Veylin said quietly. "I, too, was once betrayed. Alone. And in the end, I died without anyone at my side." His voice softened, growing more thoughtful. "There is a loneliness in you that mirrors my own. But perhaps... there is something I can offer after all."
Shiv looked up, confused. "What do you mean?"
The wizard's eyes brightened, a spark of inspiration lighting within them. "My time in this world is short. A month, perhaps. After that, my spirit will pass on, and I will be no more. But before that happens, I could teach you—train you, if you would allow it. Magic is not just about power, Shiv. It's about finding purpose. And I sense that you, too, are searching for something."
Shiv's brow furrowed. "Magic? I don't even know what magic is."
Veylin chuckled softly, a sound like the rustle of leaves in the wind. "Let me show you."
With a wave of his ghostly hand, the air around them shimmered, and suddenly, from nothing, a flicker of flame appeared. It danced above the wizard's palm, swirling in the air like a living thing. The cave filled with a warm, golden light, the shadows retreating from the brilliance of the fire.
Shiv's eyes widened, the spark of curiosity igniting within him. He had never seen anything like it—something so simple, yet so wondrous. The fire flickered, casting a soft glow on his face, and in that moment, memories flashed through his mind: his parents' laughter, their warmth, their love. He remembered the last words they had spoken to him before the accident.
"Live on, Shiv. Stay happy."
His heart clenched, but not with pain this time—with something else, something he hadn't felt in months: hope. As he watched the flame dance before him, something shifted within him, something he couldn't quite explain.
"I'll do it," Shiv said, his voice quiet but resolute. "I'll learn magic."
Veylin's eyes gleamed with approval. "Are you certain? Magic is not an easy path. It requires discipline, patience, and understanding. But if you are willing, I will teach you everything I know."
Shiv nodded, his mind made up. "I'll learn. I'll do whatever it takes. If this is a way to move forward, to fulfill my parents' last wish for me... then yes. I'll learn magic."
The wizard smiled, a warm and knowing smile that spoke of endless possibilities. "Very well, Shiv. We begin tomorrow. In one month, I will disappear, but in that time, I will teach you all that I can."
Shiv felt something stir within him—a sense of purpose he hadn't felt in a long time. He didn't know what this new world of magic held for him, but for the first time in months, he wasn't afraid. There was a path ahead, and he was ready to walk it.
And as the fire flickered out, casting the cave into darkness once more, Shiv felt the weight of his past begin to lift.
A new chapter of his life was about to begin.....