"Hey!"
Jason lay on his bed in his flat, sound asleep. Somehow he never felt well rested after this stupid sleep study. But he just passed that off as how badly he was laying on those stupid beds they had them in.
"Hey! Get up lazy ass bum!" Jason was jolted awake as his friend jumped onto his bed. He watched as his friend leaned over close to his ear, then yelled, "WAKE UP!"
Jason raised up his hand and mumbled something into the pillow. His friend opened his mouth again, and realized that he couldn't talk anymore. Glaring down at Jason, he kicked his hard in the side.
"HEY!" Yelled Jason, jumping to his feet. "That was not called for, Jack." His friend gave him a sarcastic look, then motioned to his mouth. "Oh... right... ummm... liberi il discorso."
"Thank you," Said Jack, walking around the bed and pulling Jason out of the bedroom. "I didn't do anything to deserve you doing that to me. All I did was come over here to bring you a wonderful gift."
Jason was suddenly completely awake. "Did you find it?"
His friend laughed, "So, is the book more important than me?"
Jason rolled his eyes, "No of course not. Nothing is more important than you man."
"That's what I thought." Said Jack, reaching around and pulling a large book bound by ceder wood and tanned leather. "You have no idea how hard this was to track down. Thirteen dealers swore they had it, and then called back and said they had just sold it. I swear someone was trying to keep us from getting this."
He placed the book down on the table as Jason rushed to open it. "Uhuh, first my dues." Jason sighed, getting up from the couch and walking to a book case, he pulled out a small piece of paper and handed it to Jack. "In that vault number in bank 4." His friend gave him a quizical eye, "The whole thing?" Jason rolled his eyes, "Of course it's the whole thing. Do I really look like a guy that would chop a mythical sword into pieces?" Jack smirked a little, saying, "Well... I don't know. You kinda have that look to you."
Jason laughed, playfully punching his friend in the arm. "Alright, so lets see what we have." Reaching down Jason carefully opened the first page. It was filled with golden writing, scrawled in a language few knew anymore. "What's it say?" Said Jack, peering over his shoulder.
Jason sighed, pointing to several tall curves. "This book was written by the high council for the mages of the black order. This book is protected from destructive spells, and from aging. Non-mortals be ware, this book is protected from any immortal from touching it."
"Wait!" Said Jack, taking several steps back. "Didn't you say you were an immortal?"
Jason sighed, "No. I said that I had lived long enough to be considered an immortal."
"Oh," Jack said, clutching his chest, "Had me worried there for a moment."
"I couldn't notice," Jason mumbled, turning his attention back to the book. "Within this book are the spells that we made to combat those who stood against the mage hierch. May the power of the mage live on into the generations that are forever challenged by those who would hunt us."
Jason reached down, his hands gently running across the final symbol. "What?" Jack said, looking worried at the way Jason had contorted his face.
"This symbol," Jason said, not taking his eyes from the golden curve, "It also means 'love us.' "
After a long pause Jason turned to Jack. "Thanks dude. You helped me a ton on this."
Jack smiled, moving to Jason's side and pulling him to his feet. "Anything for you man. We both know how much you deserve this." Jack pulled Jason into a tight hug, then without another word, he was gone.
Jason flopped himself back onto the sofa, letting out a breath that he didn't know he had been holding in.
About five years ago Jason had turned 18, and received a package from his father. This wouldn't seem abnormal to most people, but Jason had been an orphan since he was little. There was no return address, only the words, "From your loving father."
Inside was a small book filled with words that Jason didn't understand. But as he was flipping through the small book, he happened upon a small note that was scralled in english.
"I hope that this letter finds you in good health. Your mother and I are so very sorry that we had to send you away. If you havn't already noticed, you have magical abilities. You are born from a long line of magi that have more recently begun to be wiped out.
"19 years ago, you witnessed the death of a very close friend. It completely ravaged your mind. You became angry at the world, and would simply attack anything that even looked at you wrong. You were exposing magic left and right, we finally decided that you were a threat to yourself, and to magi as a group.
"So your mother, myself, and friend of the family got together and performed a memory spell. We rid your mind of the occasion, and hoped that this would fix the problem. But we soon found out that we had made a critical error. The spell that we used wiped all memories from your mind. It was as if you had just been born.
"So we were forced to use another spell. We changed your body to that of a baby, and planned to re-raise you. But not long after this, we were attacked by the witch hunters again. We all fought bravely, but the witch hunters had discovered new artifacts that defended them from our spells. We were overcome, and when we knew we wouldn't survive, your mother performed one last spell.
"The spell was meant to send you to a nearby friends house. But unknown to us, they had been attacked before by the witch hunters, and thier house was completely destroyed. Luckily you were picked up by a passerby, and taken to the authorities, and after no one claimed you, you were put up for adoption.
"The book that we have sent you is an introductory to magic, and will teach you the basics of your abilities. You probably can't read it, but that can be fixed. Simply say, "Permetta che me capisca le parole." while you have your hand on the book. Then the words should become as clear as any writing you know.
"My one last request of my son, is that you will not let your abilities go to waste. You were... are such a talented mage.
"Sincerely,
"Your loving parents
"P.S.
"If you go downtown to the Central Banking Group, there will be an account under the name Lester. Your name will be on the account, and you will be able to get out all the money you need. By now there should be several million dollars."
Jason had been a little doubtful at first, he simply tossed it aside, and left it be. But after several days of almost constantly thinking about it, he decided to say the words.
Picking up the note, he placed his hand on the book, and said, "Permetta che me capisca le parole." Suddenly his mind was filled with a rush of knowledge. The words scrawled on the front of the book suddenly became completely understandable.
Jason had been practicing magic ever since. But he was careful never to let any people see it, since he was sure the witch hunters still existed.
Then about 3 years ago, Jason had met Jack Mikel. They had become instant friends, and had continued thier friendship, even after... 'that day'.
Jason didn't like to talk about it, since it had been a very scary day for him. He had been out in the city, when he had been witness to an 'almost accident'. The brakes on a bus had broken, and it wasn't able to stop as it came barreling down the street towards several people in the cross walk. People screamed and ran in all directions, but one old lady wasn't fast enough, the bus was almost on top of her, when Jason jumped into action, with a quick spell the lady was tossed up in the air, and held suspended while the bus passed underneath. Then setting her down, Jason was able to stop the bus, and get everyone to safety.
But to many people had seen him do magic. They weren't happy, or thankful for him saving them. They were terrified of him. Several people were calling the police with reports of a man with 'super-natural powers'. The cops were everywhere around him in moments, and had it not been for him having his book with him, it might have been Jason's last free days. He was able to locate a memory spell, and was able to use it to wipe the memories of everyone who had seen him.
After that Jason went into hiding. With the money that his parents had left him, he had all his valuable possesions locked away in different vaults in different banks, bought a flat that had high security, and then, he never came out again.
Later he realized he was doing exactly what his father had told him not to. He soon fell out of pratice, and forgot all the spells he had worked so hard to memorize. After several months of relearning the spells, he realized there wasn't enough in this single book. He really needed to find other books like it.
So he decided that he was ready to tell someone about his magic. He talked to Jack, and suprisingly he wasn't scared or anything like that. Jack was actually really excited. He told Jason he always knew that magic was out there, and was so excited he was right. Jason made him promise (through a magic spell) that he wouldn't tell anyone.
Jack agreed to help Jason get more books, in exchange for some of the artifacts that his parents had left him. After working out which ones Jason was willing to let go of, Jason agreed.
So it had been this way for the last 2 years. Jason would find the name of a different book in his old ones, and would ask Jack to find it for him. Jack would hunt around for a while, and get it to Jason is exchange for some object that he wanted. Most recently it had been a 13th century sword, endowed with protective powers.
But Jason's abilities is what truly helped Jack in his time of need. Jack's grandmother grew extremely ill. The doctors said they had never seen such an agresive virus before. No matter what they threw at it, it continued to grow stronger. After she had been in the hospital for several weeks, her heart began to fail. The doctors said she only had about two to three days left.
At this Jack broke down and told Jason everything. Jack was truly sad about his grandmothers condition, though he had told Jason before that it didn't affect him much. Jason listened carefully to what Jack was telling him, and realized this was a virus he knew about. It was a magical virus, immune to anything that scientists had invented.
Jason told Jack about this, and told him he could remove it. "But there's one thing you have to do." Jason said. "What?" Asked Jack, "I'll do anything to have my grandma healthy again." Jason looked him straight in the eye and told him that he had to bring his grandmother to Jason's flat.
Jack was very hesitant about this, but after a little while of thinking about it, he realized this was his only chance to get her healthy again. So one night, after the security guard had gone home, Jack snuck into the hospital, got his grandmother into a wheelchair, and took her to Jason.
After several hours of constant magic pulsing through Jack's grandmother, she began to look better. The virus was slowly being defeated. As the sun peeked the horizon, shining light into the back bedroom where she was laying, the virus had been completely exterminated.
Jack had been eternally greatful to Jason, and told him he would help Jason with anything he needed. Jason told him he was simply trying to be a good friend, but Jack still said, "Anything you need Jason, you be sure to let me know. You have no idea how much what you've done means to me."
Jack's grandmother was returned to her suberian home, without the knowledge of what really happened, and Jack and Jason continued to become closer friends.
As Jason lay on his couch, reminising about all these things, he realized that even though the spells in the book may help him, it could harm Jack. Was he willing to risk his friendship with Jack to know what lied within the cedar covers of that book.
Jason finally made his decision. Jack's friendship was worth more than any spell he might find within that book. He wouldn't risk anything that could harm Jack. Taking the book, he placed it into a small safe where he kept all the books. "And this is where you will stay." Jason said, as he closed the lid, and secured the lock.
Feeling as though a great weight had been removed from his chest, Jason went about his daily business. Maybe it is just better this way.
As he opened the door a tall elf burst through the door slamming it behind him. "Thanks for letting me in buddy. I am being chased by the police."
Very slowly two things registered in Jason's mind. First of all there was a mythical being standing in his foyer, and secondly, he had obviously done something wrong since he was running from the police. Jason blinked a couple times, then said, "Um... explain that to me please. 'Cause I don't need a criminal in my house."
The elf smiled. "Oh not like that. It's not the real police, it's some of the people from M Tech. They found my hiding place and were trying to capture me. As I was running I noticed the large amount of magic energy eminating from this house, and decided that this was probably a safe place to go."
Once again it took a few moments for Jason to be able to comprehend all this information. Finally Jason turned his back on the elf, and made his way into the kitchen. As Jason walked away he felt his skin begin to crawl as the elf began to perform some magic spells. "What are you doing?" Jason asked.
"Oh it's just a locking spell. It should prevent anyone from being able to open this door." The elf smiled again, finishing his work.
Jason shook his head, walked into the kitchen, and began to brew himself some coffee. Finally deciding it was taking to long, he muttered, "Préchauffage." Causing the water to instantly boil. Pouring out his coffee he drank it slowly, allowing the warmth to engulf his entire body.
Suddenly his mind was completely alert, there was someone approaching the house... someone that ment harm to him. Setting down his cup, Jason moved to the front window, and peered outside. In his front lawn there stood half a dozen men dressed from head-to-toe in black uniforms. They carried small disks attached to their arms, and laser pointers in their hands.
Jason almost didn't notice as the elf joined him at the window. "That's them." The elf said, "That's the ones who were chasing me."
Jason watched as the group moved away from the front lawn, and toward the enterance to the building. "This is not good." The elf said, his voice becoming slightly panicked. "They have anti-magic weapons, and if they find us here, they will be able to break in."
"Then they won't find us." Jason said calmly, moving to the front door. After dismantling the locking spells, Jason stepped out into the hall. Placing his finger at the top of the doorway, he began a spell. "Scellez cet endroit des yeux humains." As his finished this line, he began to more his finger down the frame, making small symbols with his touch. "Forcez leur esprit à sa cette vue." His finger left a silver twist where he curved his touch, "Cachons loin dedans ici." Now almost the bottom of the frame, Jason had to bend down to finish the lines, "Scellez cet endroit des yeux humains." Finished the last symbol, Jason placed his palm on it and whispered, "Activez." The door shone bright for a moment, then became almost ethereal. Jason opened the door and stepped back inside, then left the door open.
The men walked up the stairs, and stared right at the place where the door remained open. "There should be a door here." One of the men said, his voice low and gruff. "The building plans state that there is a room here."
"Perhaps there is magic protecting it from us." Said another one of the men, his voice more high pitched and squeeky. "Perhaps we simply need to blast this wall down." Then he lowered his laser pointer, aiming it at the open door.
"No!" Said a different man, "They probably just altered the area to allow for a bigger room next door. If we blast the wrong wall, and cause damages, it would call attention to us, and out employers. We can't risk it."
"You're right," Said the fourth, "We will just continue searching. I mean, who in their right mind would let an elf into their flat."
The men moved away from the door, and continued up the stairs. The elf let out a loud sigh, and grabbed Jason's hand. "Thank you so much. You have saved me from a most terrible fate."
Jason sighed, "And I am guessing you are going to want to stay here until the men leave."
The elf made a foolish grin, then nodded. "Yeah, I will need somewhere to stay."
Jason sighed again, shaking his head slightly. "Alright, you can sleep on the fouton."
The elf nodded excitedly as Jason went back to his bedroom. 'All this excitment,' Jason thought to himself, 'And it's not even 2 AM yet.' Falling back against his pillows, Jason instantly fell back to sleep.
Jason was awakened from his sleep by a loud knocking at the door. Trying his best to pull himself from this groggy state, Jason made his way to the front door. The pounding continued, as Jason yelled, "I'm coming, I'm coming."
