This choice: An elaborate carved wooden wand covered in golden filigree a single large gem. • Go Back...Chapter #5An elaborate carved wooden wand covered in gold... by: lord thanatos   Sealed inside a glass case and resting on a bed of green cloth, is a magnificent wand. http://www.magicwandstore.com/images/wan... Elaborately carved with various symbols and figures, and topped with a single large piece of smooth multicolored crystal, the wand is a work of art, and perfect for any collector of the rare and unusual. Noting that there's no price tag, start to search around for anyone you can ask about it when the clearing of a throat coming from right behind you causes you to jump and spin around, coming face to face with an especially tall and lanky elderly gentleman wearing crimson robes with a mesmerizing pattern woven into the cloth, and leans heavily on a long black cane topped with an absurdly large green gem that you're certain can't possibly be real, as if it was, it would almost certainly be worth millions of dollars on today's market. The man's head is bald, covered with a number of elaborate and mystical looking tattoos. He also possesses a large crooked nose, and a long white beard. His most notable facial feature however was his eyes. Dark and mysterious, they hinted at hidden knowledge mortal minds were never meant to know, his gaze carrying a weight that only extreme age can bestow, making you believe that, as old as the man appears, his true age is likely far far older.
Amused by your reaction, the old man chuckles. "Hasn't anyone ever taught you it's rude to stare boy?"
"S-sorry!" you stammer, with some difficulty tearing your gaze away from the old man's highly unusual appearance, somehow instinctively knowing that getting on this guys bad side would be a very bad thing.
Waving off your apology, the old man says "Bah! No harm done. Now, did you need something, or did you just come in here to stare at an old man like he was some sort of spectacle?"
Having been reminded of what you'd wanted in the first place, you turn back towards the display case, gesturing towards the elaborate wand you saw earlier. "Yea, this old wand, how much is it? I couldn't find a price on it." you explained.
Looking in the direction you're pointing, the old man's voice takes on an almost reverent quality as he explains the history of the item that you've set your eyes on.
"Ah, the wand of Circe! Quite the interesting history that wand has. Crafted and first wielded in ancient Greece by the goddess Circe, the wand possesses the power to transform it's victims into practically any form the wielder desires. Taken as a trophy by the hero Odysseus and passed down through his line for many generation before finally being lost. Since then the wand has served a number of masters, some good some evil, often changing the course of history, before eventually coming into my possession."
More than a little skeptical of the old mans story, ancient Greek goddesses and magical artifacts being difficult for anyone to swallow, you nonetheless replied "Uh, that's great and all, but how much is it worth? I really think it would look great as part of my collection."
Sensing your disbelief, the old man frowns slightly. "Ah, we have a skeptic in the room I see. Well young man, skeptic or no, I'm prepared to offer you this priceless artifact for.. say, a mere $43.37." the old man says.
You blink. While it was quite a bit cheaper than you'd expected, especially for a supposedly "priceless" artifact, the price the old man had just quoted you was still quite a bit, at least for a teenager such as yourself without a steady source of income, possibly more than you actually had on you at the moment. Still, you defiantly wanted the wand if you could afford it, even if it wasn't magic, and if by some chance the old man was actually telling the truth about that, something you found highly unlikely, well, you'd have to be a fool to turn him down. "Uh, it sounds good, but I'm not quite sure I have that much money. Is there anyway you could maybe lower the price a little?" you asked.
Smiling mysteriously the old man replied "Sorry, but all prices are final. However, I'm certain that if you just look you'll find that you have exactly the amount you need to purchase this item."
Shrugging, you do as he asked, opening up your wallet and digging around in your pockets for any loose change you might have missed, coming up with the required forty three dollars and thirty seven cents exactly. While holding out the money, looking up at the old man, you ask "How did you...?"
Snatching the money from you before you can change your mind the old man laughs. "How did I know how much money you had in your pockets? It's simple really, I'm a wizard. Feldan's my name by the way, just in case you missed the sign."
You start to object, stating that wizards aren't real, and there's no way that this... Feldan could possibly be one, but, failing to come up with any other excuse as to how he could have possibly known the exact amount of money you were carrying, down to the exact penny, you decided to let the matter drop. shrugging you instead replied "Okay, so your a wizard. can i have my purchase now?" you requested.
"Still a nonbeliever eh Jesse? Well, you'll soon learn better." The so called wizard said, stepping behind the counter and opening up the case before carefully handing you the wand, only to draw his hands back at the last moment. Gazing deeply into your eyes, a look of the utmost seriousness on his face, he tells you "One last warning before you leave Jesse Rayburn. The wand of Circe is very powerful, but that power makes it difficult to control, especially for someone both undisciplined and untrained such as yourself. It was crafted by a goddess after all, and some small spark of her consciousness still resides within it. In order to control it properly you must not allow anything to distract you, concentrating fully on the task at hand so as to perfectly visualize both the intended target, as well as the desired form of the recipient in as much detail as possible. Otherwise, the wand may pervert your intent, transforming your target into a form far different that what you originally intended, often to the determent of either the recipient or yourself, so be very careful when using it. Also, keep in mind that a great many individuals would love to gain possession of such an item, many of them quite unscrupulous, so it would be in your best interests to be careful who you reveal the wand and it's power to."
Wondering how the old man could have known your name, as you certainly hadn't told him, you decide nonetheless that it would be best to take his words to heart. Nodding slowly, you reply "I think I understand. I'll be sure to exercise proper caution when using the wands power."
"Good, good!" the old wizard says, handing you the wand before slapping you on the back, then placing one hand on your shoulder and escorting you to the door. "Now, remember, if there are any problems with your purchase, you have one week to return it. After that time has passed however, all purchases are final, and if any problems do come up you're on your own." with that, the old man opens the front door of the shop, before practically shoving you out of the store and back out into the mall. Realizing the old man had never given you a receipt for the wand, you turn back around to ask for one, only to freeze, eyes bulging and moth open in shock, as you find that the old mans store has vanished, Only a blank wall remaining to mark it;s location.
Though you're somewhat shaken by this, wondering how an entire shop can simply vanish into thin air like that, the wand in your hand looks and feels real enough, so you soon shake it off, deciding that you had better things to do right now, like testing out the abilities of the supposedly magical artifact you'd just acquired, starting off by___________________?   indicates the next chapter needs to be written. |
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