Of Magic And Men
Chapter Six

Peter and Alaya made their way outside where the sun had started to rise. They started to walk back to Merlins tent in quiet. Even with Alaya had just told him, he still didn’t know what Merlin wanted with him, Merlin had mentioned magical potential but what use could that be if he didn’t know how to access it. Peter was stuck in his own mind, running circles trying to figure out what to do. He wanted to help but how, even with all the information Alaya had just given him, she still hadn’t covered how he could help. He realized that something felt off. He looked around him and noticed Alaya wasn’t beside him anymore, looking behind him there she was standing in front of Merlins tent, he had walked too far, almost reaching the tree line. This is what he got for always being stuck in his brain. He quickly snapped out of it and jogged back to where Alaya was standing with her hand on her hip, looking somewhat annoyed again. Great, why did he always have to get on her bad side. To try to make amends, when he reached the tent he held up the curtain for her so she could enter ahead of him. As they entered the poorly lit tent, there was Merlin already sitting on the edge of his bed, anticipating their arrival. “I’m sorry for having to end our last conversation so abruptly, us elves live for a long time, but death comes for us all eventually.” Merlin explained. “Merlin, can you explain something to me please, what exactly do you need my help with?” Peter wanted to finally replace out what was going on here. “Well, Peter, we need you to defeat the darkness that plagues this realm and turn the tide in this war. That’s the short answer, the long answer is, due to your lineage you are the only one alive now that can help us.” Peter was dumbfounded, he was the only one who could help? he was just a farm boy from an average village, wasn’t this some sort of storybook cliché? This sort of thing never happened in the real world. The operative word being real, this wasn’t the “real” world anymore and he had to get used to that. “Okay, Peter, you have got to suck it up and be a hero.” he thought to himself. “these people need me, and I can’t sit around and do nothing.” “I’ll help you but if we win and I survive, I want to go home, I want to go back to being a farm boy, or maybe try my hand at fishing.” “I cannot promise your survival but I will do my best to get you home.” Merlin smiled and stretched out his hand for Peter to shake. If Peter shook his hand, that would be it, a deal would be struck and there would be no going back. Peter hesitated for only a second before reaching out his hand and grasping the elderly mans hand. That was it, Peter had made a promise and he never broke a promise before. “There is a short trail behind my tent, follow it until you replace the cave system. Before you enter you must claim what is rightfully yours, a sword left behind by your father. In those caves you will replace beasts of which you have never seen. My magic is keeping them at bay for now but I fear I cannot hold them for long.” “I will stay here with you, father, if your magic is dwindling, I must be here to guard you.” Alaya was quite protective of her father, Peter felt a pang of longing to see his mother once more. “No, Alaya, you must go with Peter, the caves are long and winding, you know them like the back of your hand, we don’t want our saviour to become lost.” Merlin seemed apprehensive, like he wasn’t letting on to everything he knew. “Very well father, as you wish.” As they wrapped up their conversation a tall thin elf let himself into the tent, he was carrying a plate filled moderately with eggs and potatoes, placing it gently on Merlins side table the elf left without saying a word. Thinking a good place to take their leave, the pair took the opportunity to exit the tent. Once outside, Alaya turned to Peter mentioning that he should pack his bag, and ready his things, they wouldn’t be coming back until the cave system was clear. Once packed they made their way on the trail through the densely packed forest, Peter was aware of a feeling of being watched, constantly looking around him to check for who it could be. Though he saw no one the feeling didn’t go away, “Do you feel that? It feels like we’re being watched.” Peter knocked his bow, he didn’t know what was watching them but he would be ready if something made itself known. “There are many creatures that would see us dead, given half the chance, but I sense nothing nearby.” she put her hand on his arm for him to lower his bow. The feeling of her hand was soft and warm, Peter noticed, it calmed him, putting the bow away he noticed they had arrived at the cave entrance. The entrance was massive in his opinion, four times his height and three across, Peter stared up in amazement almost forgetting their task. Alaya calmly walked over to the cave entrance and begun moving her arms in the air, it looked like a weird dance until a blue light began to appear in front of her, the light obeyed, following her hands, until she put palm heel to palm heel and the light flew to the ground just in front of her. “Qui vocat te!” as she spoke the light grew brighter and brighter until Peter had to cover his eyes to not be blinded, stealing a half-glance, he watched as the light faded away. What stood in it’s place was a sword piercing the earth, the hilt was golden and leather bound, on the pommel a shining blue gemstone. The sword gleamed in the sunlight, it was beautiful. But first. “Was that magic?! Holy heavens on high! That was incredible! How did you do that?” Alaya stood at the entrance beaming with pride, for the first time letting a smile show through her rough and tough facade. “Yes, that was magic, I am still a novice so I still have to use the motions and incantations, however those more advanced such as my father can conjure magic just by wishing it so.” “Will I be able to do that someday?” Peter asked, genuinely curious. “Perhaps, if you live long enough, farm boy.” Peter couldn’t help but notice she was poking fun at him, was she trying to flirt? Impossible, she thought him an annoying simpleton, he pondered this for a moment before coming back to reality. “First task, prove you are strong enough to remove this sword from the ground.” Alaya stepped back to let Peter come closer, and crossed her arms as if to challenge him. Peter knew there had to be some kind of trick to this, he grabbed the grip and gave a light tug, just to test his theory, he was rightfully suspicious. The sword didn’t budge, not a bit, so he grabbed on with both hands and pulled, still nothing, Alaya chuckled to herself, she was enjoying this. Peter thought maybe if he focused he could harness a tiny bit of magic, he didn’t know any spells, but he would give it a shot. What could go wrong?