Chapter 3: A Cursed Legacy

“There’s something that I have to tell you about yourself first,” she said. “And remember, you said I had your trust. Are you ready?”

“Wait!”

“What is it?” she asked.

“Okay, I’m ready now.”

“You have magic abilities.”

“So, I put a curse on myself that I don’t remember because I have magical abilities?”

“Wess!”

“Okay, I’m a bit skeptical, but I’m trusting you,” he said. “Can you explain it to me?”

“Of course,” she said, “I’ll start at the beginning...”

“ ... A long time ago when humans were still hiding in caves. There was another species closely related to Hominids. This species was connected to the energy of the universe. Anywhere they went, they would affect the world around them. When they were together, their powers balanced each other, but they would cause things to change based on how they felt when separated. A group of them, tired of changing things uncontrollably, figured out how to control it in the form of magic.

Some of these ‘magic users’ used this magic to control and enslave the humans. But others used the magic to help humans. There were a lot of wars, famine, and plagues. One day, a powerful magic user fell in love with a beautiful human girl. He took her as his wife, and they had a child, Wesscillious. When the child was born, they had no idea how he would affect the world.

Years later, they realized that pure magic users could no longer have children together. They could only breed with humans. Their descendants could use magic, but only the most powerful could affect the world around them without using magic. They also learned that the original magic users wouldn’t die. Their body would die, but the magic-user would be reincarnated as the first descendant conceived after their death.”

“That’s an interesting story, but what does it have to do with me?” Wess asked.

“When a new incarnation is born, they still affect certain things like their names,” CJ said. “Their name is always some variation of the original.”

“So, you’re saying I’m related to Wesscillious?” he asked.

“No,” she said, “I’m saying, you are Wesscillious.”

“What about the part where I put a curse on myself?”

“I think that something happened to you that was so bad that it made you feel like your entire life would be that bad. And if you could somehow believe that life isn’t that bad, you could end this curse of misfortune.”

“Well, my life has been that bad. So, do you have a plan as to how I could convince myself that it’s not?”

“Sort of,” she said, “but I’m not sure how well it will work.”

“That’s good enough for me,” he said, “If there’s a chance of fixing my life, I’ll believe anything. But can we get something to eat? I’m starving!”

They took the path back to the mansion to get something to eat. While eating, Wess realized something. Since he met CJ, his life hadn’t been that bad. The only time that he even felt bad was when he was by himself. It made him think that there was more to this self-curse. Maybe even more than CJ is telling him or knows. All he really knew was, he would follow her to the end of the earth and jump if it would give him a better life.

After they had finished eating, they walked back up the stairs. When they got to the top of the stairs, CJ told Wess to go back up to his room, and she would meet him there. She headed back toward her room, saying that she had to get something. Wess grabbed his bag and continued to the spiral staircase and up to his room. He just sat on his bed waiting for CJ to arrive. I wonder what she had to get, he thought. A few minutes later, she walked into his room.

“Sorry,” she said, “But I had to get something that belongs to you.” She held it up so that he could see it.

“What is it?”

“It’s a Key!”

“I can see that,” he said, “I meant what does it go to?”

“This,” she said, “is a magic key. It will open anything that belongs to you. Allow me to show you.”

She walked over to the door in the back of his room. “May I?” she asked. He nodded, and she entered. She walked over to the roll-top desk, inserted the key, and opened it. “This is your spell book, “she said, pointing to a huge book sitting on the desk. “Whenever you’re ready, you can study and learn the spells in here. When you cast a spell, you simply think it in your mind. Don’t say it out loud! And if you learn a new spell, write it in the book. Any questions?”

“Yes,” he said, “Why do you say, ‘don’t say it out loud’?”

“Because,” she said, “when we think, the idea is the same no matter what Language, dialect, or accent in which we think. The spoken word doesn’t always translate the same. The spell may not work. It could go wrong or become a different spell entirely.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” he said, “my luck is bad enough as it is.”

“That,” she said, pointing to an amulet with a green stone, on the desk, “is your magic seal. It will help you focus your magic and protect you from certain curses. Some magic-users add additional spells to them. pick it up.”

Wess picked it up. He felt as if it was talking to him. There were no actual words, but as he listened, he started to understand. Wess slipped the chain over his head and let the amulet settle beneath his shirt. It began to glow. Then the talisman burst into flames. When it didn’t burn him, he realized that it was a magic flame. It did, however, start to burn his shirt. The rest of his shirt fell to the ground and burned to nothing as the amulet became pure light. Then the light absorbed into his chest. When the light faded, the charm was gone. In its place was a tattoo. It was an intricate tattoo made up of symbols that he didn’t yet understand.

Now he felt different. He didn’t know the feeling, but it would be connected if he had to put a word to it. To what, or how, he didn’t know. It just seemed like a connection to him. He touched the tattoo, but the pain caused him to jump and remove his hand. “It feels like I got a real tattoo, or at least how I think it would feel,” he said as he walked into his bedroom. He went through his bag and found a new shirt. As he slipped the shirt on, he asked, “Does this mean that I’m a wizard?”

“No,” she said, “words like wizard, warlock, and witch are derogatory terms made up by people who don’t understand. We are called Wessier or Magic-Users. I will leave you for now. Read the spell book and learn!”

This time he watched as she left. As she walked away, she just faded out slowly until she was gone. That’s why I didn’t hear her arrive, he thought. I need to learn how to do that! He went back to the desk and sat in the chair in front of it. He opened the book. What language was this? He couldn’t even read it! As he looked at the words on the page, he started to feel a sense of familiarity. A part of his tattoo started to glow then faded. It slowly came back to him. He could remember writing this!

The first spell Wess wrote as Weston was a camouflage and protection spell. As he read the words, Wess realized that he wasn’t saying the words in his head. He saw the words, and he could somehow understand like the book was reading itself to him. Then he read the magic reversal spell. He continued to study the book. Four hours and almost a hundred spells later, he was only on page three. This will take forever; He thought as he closed the book. He needed to walk and stretch his legs. He stood up and walked into his bedroom. CJ was standing in the doorway.

“How long have you been standing there?” he asked.

“Not long,” she said, “but I can’t enter unless you give me permission too.”

“You have my permission to enter any time you want.”

“I appreciate that, but you should be careful saying things like that. Words can be tricky, and you never know who could be listening.”

“I’ll remember that, but you, CJ, are the only one who I allow to enter whenever you want.”

“That’s an honor and a privilege for me, but why do you say that?”

“Well, I don’t have any friends, but if I did, you would still be my best friend.”

“I’m glad,” she said, “I have a few friends, But I feel closer to you than any of them. I consider you my best friend as well. But now, it’s time for dinner.”

“Good, I’m starving!”

“Shall we then?”

“Let’s!”

Wess and CJ both walked out the door and headed down to the dining room. By the time they got there, the food was on the table. CJ and Wess picked out their food and sat at opposite ends of the table. As they ate in silence, Wess had time to reflect on everything that had happened these last couple of days. The more he thought about it, the more questions formed in his mind. He resolved to find the answers as soon as he could. After they finished eating, CJ invited him to walk in the garden with her.