Chapter 1: The New Beginning

On that memorable evening, I heard a knock.  Looking up from the manuscript and adjusting my glasses, I glanced at the clock.  It was almost 10 o’clock at night, and not the time for proper visitors.  I opened the front door, shivering in the cold winter draft.  A figure standing on the doorsteps seemed friendly and familiar, yet I could not remember where I saw that man before. 

“May I come in, Sir Whimpton?” the man asked, “the last day of winter is chilling my bones.” 

“Is this going to take long?” I tried to see the man’s face under the hooded cape.  “It is very late, and I am getting ready to go to bed.” 

“Sir Whimpton, you are writing your manuscript, and are not planning on going to sleep for another couple of hours!” the man softly answered.  “May I come in?  This is important.” 

“Well, if it’s important…” I was surprised at how he knew my plans for the night. 

The stranger walked in, closed the door behind him, and took off his cape.  In front of me stood an old man with a long white beard down to his waist.  He had a gentle face and a soft mouth, but his sharp blue eyes were probing my face with a silent inquiry. 

“May we go to your library?” the man asked, “my old body is in need of a warm fire you have in there.”  Surprised even more, I silently pointed the way. 

“My name is Ehram,” the man introduced himself as he entered the dim room, “and I am the head of the Wizards Council.” 

“You are … who?” I did not think I heard him correctly. 

“I am a wizard,” he said simply, sitting down into a warm velvet chair by the fireplace.  

I could not believe that this old man was trying to make me believe in children’s tales – after all, I was the youngest and most promising historian in the Werkshire museum, I knew better!  Seeing the disbelief in my face, Ehram took a short tree branch out of his pocket and pointed to my feet.  In the next moment, my old worn-out slippers disappeared, and I saw a pair of new leather shoes lined with fur protecting my feet from the cold stone floor. 

“This is a magic wand,” the man explained, “but one has to have magic powers to use it.”

I slowly backed away from my night guest, staring at the magic wand.  Ehram quickly continued, putting the wand back in his pocket, “I apologize for such a late visit, and for upsetting and alarming you.  But the matter that brought me here is urgent and could not wait.  Tomorrow is the first day of spring, a very important day in the history of Lukzor.  Tomorrow marks a new era for us all.”

I listened to the man but his words made no sense to me. 

I fell asleep… this is a dream…, I thought to myself. 

“Sir Whimpton, you are perfectly awake!” said Ehram. “We are in need of your services.  Tomorrow, according to our prophecy, a forbidden spell will come to live, and your skills are required.”

“What skills could I possibly posses that someone like YOU would need?  I am a historian, all I can do is write.”

“Well… The history of Lukzor is changing.  As we speak, all the wizards are gathering in the Cryll Valley to prepare for it.  So, you see, you are exactly what we need.”

I sat down at my desk, perplexedly looking at the papers spread out on it.  My entire adult existence I wanted an adventure of a lifetime.  Often my history professor Mrs. Harper and I dreamt of magnificent places I would discover.  The desert lands would be my backyard, and I would dig through them, finding artifacts, putting together pieces of ancient civilizations.  The ice lands would be my winter getaway where I would find long-lost frozen cities of forgotten empires.  I wanted to explore the history of humankind, and so I became a historian.  First in my class, I thought of myself as the time traveler in control of his future yet searching his past. 

But the future played a trick on me.  I was jobless for many months until the Werkshire museum finally hired me upon Mrs. Harper’s recommendation.  Bound to a small dark room in a dusty museum hallway, I nearly gave up on my grand dreams. 

And now there was this old man, sitting in my chair in my library in my house, who claimed to be none else but a wizard, who performed a trick I could not explain…  The possibility to visit his world, the world of magic, was incredibly tempting, although I still had doubts it existed. 

“Dear Sir…” I started.

“Ehram.”

“Ohm... yes, Ehram.  This is all rather sudden, and I don’t even know if I believe or trust you!”

“Charles, I was around when you were growing up, you just need to remember it.  Could you recall your happiest memory, please?” asked Ehram.

I closed my eyes, concentrating.  My happiest memory, by far, was my thirteenth birthday, when I received an old artifact as a gift.  I was holding the little rock tightly in my hand, hoping to feel its history, and wondering who could have given me such a wonderful present.  “Mr. Bloom is here!” yelled out my mother, calling me to say “hello” and “thank you” to our new next-door neighbor.  I ran towards her, laughing happily, and then saw the man she called Mr. Bloom.  It was Ehram!  “Do you like your gift?” asked the neighbor, pointing to the rock in my hand.  “It is 500 years old!”

I gasped, opened my eyes, and looked at the man sitting in front of me.  Now I recognized where I have seen him before – he lived next to my family’s summerhouse for some time.  Still, too many questions were swarming in my head. 

“If I go with you, what exactly will I need to do?  And where exactly is your magic land?” I asked, slowly gaining confidence in my late night visitor. 

“Our world is called Lukzor, and although it is all around us, it is hidden from the human eyes.  When you join us, you will become our official historian and write our chronicles.” 

“Where would I live, what would I eat?” 

Ehram smiled, “You will be provided for.  Charles, nothing will ever be the same, not for Lukzor, and not for you.  You will be in complete control of your future.  Isn’t that what you’ve always wanted?”  Ehram smiled and glanced at the clock.

“Unfortunately, we do not have time for any more questions.  We have to go now, before the clock strikes midnight.” 

The arms were showing 2 minutes to twelve, 2 minutes to the next day, the first day of spring, the first day of the rest of my life. 

This is the new beginning, I thought.  “Let’s go!”

With an ease of a young man, Ehram jumped up, grabbed my elbow, and quickly guided me to the hallway. 

“Put on your coat,” he instructed, as the arm on the clock struck midnight and started beating the first of the twelve bangs.  The evening shadows suddenly seemed to be changing into shapes of different animals. 

“Quickly!” hurried Ehram, grabbing his cape and pulling me away from a silhouette of a bear on the wall.  Sensing danger, I quickly followed the wizard who ran out of the house.  We jumped inside the carriage standing in front of my doorsteps, and two horses pulled us away.   I turned to see my house disappear in a dark cloud behind us.

Saddened by the rush with which we left, I turned to Ehram for answers. 

“My apologies,” said the wizard, “I did not think we would be found so quickly.  There are those in Lukzor who thrive on chaos and destruction.  Kidnapping you would have awful consequences.” 

“What is so special about me?” I asked, trying to figure out which of my human earthy talents are worth fighting for. 

“It is your special gift they are after,” said the wizard, “the gift you are not aware of, the gift no one else has.”

Reviews

[sheets]

Your on your way to writing what could be a very good book. This type of genre has a strong following on this website. I do look forward to reading more. Feel free to join my group when you have written more. The name of my group is very original, it's called, "finally, a group where people read other writers works." Look forward to reading more.

[A. Amos]

From the first line to the last, purely amazing write. I would be back to read next chapters. This can be an interesting movie for sure....

[JRB]

keep up your work its going to be a nice write,
Jan/uisiom

[Wildecat]

I have always been facinated by magic and wizards and fantasy. I have a good freind who is a fantasy writer her name is Jane Lindskold. Here are a couple of other great fantasy writers. Terry Goodkind and Mercedes Lackey. Good luck I like what I have read.

[Michael Raymond Robinso..]

Captivating indeed. I'm hooked. Though as others suggested, a bit more of character development would enhance the beginning. No need to give anything away, but just allow the reader to get a sense of Sir Whimpton before he's swept away to his new beginning. This insight may then clarify the line: "This is a new beginning, I thought. "I'll go!""

[Tesh]

An intriguing start. ^^

I have a suggestion. " Ehram smiled, "It is up to you." -That just jumped out at me, because I don't think you can smile and talk. You could change it to "Ehram smiled and said..."

I wonder why Sir Whimpton wanted to go with Ehram so suddenly. Perhaps a little more character development like some reviewers suggested is a good idea. Also, I'm curious about the gift Ehram is talking about.

I like the names you came up with for the story, especially "Lukzor." It sounds like a pretty cool place.

Good job! I shall read on!

Tesh : )

[ShadowWolf]

A very interesting beginning but I think you might offer more details about Sir Whimpton and perhaps a bit more about Ehram before the appears at Sir Wimpton's door. I look forward to the next chapter.

[Bonnie]

What a tantalizing beginning!

I love stories about magic. This one has mystery as well.

It definitely caught my attention and I wanted to continue reading.

So, I guess I should go read the next chapter!

[Scott Lynn]

Engaging, but it needs a little more character development before just shoving the reader into the action and mystery. But it has great potential, and will definitely be an excellent read when it's done.

[YellowFre]

Aye, a little too arupt if you ask me, but who am i to judge? Following...