Chapter 3

"Joshan, come and sit with me for a moment." Rodrik called from his seat by the fireplace.

Joshan walked into the room. "Yes grandfather, what do you need of me?"

"Please sit down I have some things I need to tell you." Rodrik said as he pointed to a chair next to him. "It is revealed to me that it is time for your training to begin."

The boy sat down and said. "But grandfather I am only fourteen seasons. You said I had to wait till I came to my majority at sixteen."

The old man grimaced and looked blankly into the distance. "That was my intention, but sadly the gods have made it necessary to change my agenda. I am a healer of the Order of Turik and we must pass our knowledge to the next practitioner before our death. I am growing old and I will soon go and sleep with my fathers."

Joshan's face paled at the news. "But I am not ready grandfather. Who will teach me?"

"Our ancestor Jon Todur was one of the First Born of men, and served as the acolyte of Turik the Guardian of the Soul. Jon was gifted beyond all other men in the arts of healing and distinguished himself in the Great War. At the time of the fading, he was appointed to the Magus Prime and became the founder of the Yellow Order." The old man paused. "We are his descendants and share his gift."

"Is that why people come from all parts of the world to be treated by you grandfather?" The teen paused then asked. "You said we. Do I have this gift too?"

"Yes, I feel the presence strong in you." The old healer smiled. "My fame is partly due to the gift, but mostly it is because I can affect cures when no other is able. Few people today remember the Magus Prime or the Gifts they were given."

"Papa you said you know when you will die. Surely it is not as soon as you think. I am not old enough to stand in your place regardless of this gift. I know not how to use it." Joshan's voice sounded weak as he spoke.

"It is time to pass to you the signet of Jon Todur. It is a ring of great power to any who can wield it. If the gods deem you worthy it will fit your finger, if not you will only be required to care for it until you pass it to your son before you go to the fathers." He took a chain from around his neck and held up a black ring with a yellow stone set between two dragons. "I was not chosen to wear it, only to keep it." He smiled sadly. "I believe even so it allowed me to channel more ethereal energy than most of my order."

Joshan's eye's followed the signet as it gently swayed on the golden chain. "It's beautiful grandfather."

Rodrik held the ring out to his grandson. "This ring carries the responsibility of keeping it safe at all times. Someday the prophecy predicts the return of the Magus Prime and this ring must be ready for that day. No man has worn this ring since Jon Todur took it from his finger and passed it to his son. Now I will pass it to you." He motioned for Joshan to take the ring.

The boy took the chain and held it up to look closely at the exquisite workmanship that was used to craft it. "Should I try it on Papa?" He asked quietly.

"I would like that. If it fits then I can pass knowing the signet has chosen well and the end of evil is near." The old man sighed. "I have heard that malevolence once again grows in the south and the dark one's minions prowl the woodlands at night preying on hapless travelers."

Joshan removed the ring from its chain. It slipped easily onto his finger and the stone flickered as power flowed into it from the ethereal matrix. "It fits Papa." He exclaimed. "I can feel energy flooding my body."

"By the Triune Fathers, it sure does. The gods have blessed you beyond all others." His face darkened. "The days of the Prophecy have arrived and you are doomed bring glory to our family and to stand against the Dark One and his servants."

The ring continued to channel energy into the stone until it achieved a brilliant glow. "Grandfather, what is happening?" Joshan asked with an edge of fear in his voice as he watched display of color.

"The signet is bonding with you. Let your mind rest a minute and try to sense the ethereal energy. Its influence will show a direction if you allow it." Rodrik instructed while he watched the event unfold.

Joshan slowly released his fear and let his thoughts fall silent as he entered a deep meditative state. He learned this technique at an early age, and used it often when concentration was needed. He felt a presence in his mind and an apparition slowly materialized before him. The figure was dressed in a flowing yellow robe and seemed to exude a comforting inner peace as it drew near. Joshan drew back as the creature reached out to touch him, but when contact was achieved wave after wave of intense ecstasy enveloped his body.

"Do not fear me child. I am here to help you. Relax as I show what service I require from you." Joshan felt the knowledge and wisdom of the ages flood into his consciousness. It was like someone lit a bright fire on a dark night. "Time is short little one, evil will assail you before the sun sets today, be ready. Always remember me, you know who I am." Maxla said as he withdrew from Joshan's mind.

Joshan opened his eyes and stood. He closed his fist and raised the ring to his upper body. In a flash of bright yellow light he was adorned with the Healers Robe of the Magus Prime servant of Maxla the Guardian of the Soul. It was made of a light fabric similar to silk and was soft to touch. There was an iridescent quality to the color that caused it to shift through several shades of yellow. The inlay on the sleeves and hem was of a black metal he did not recognize that matched the metal of his ring. He was now at the very core of his being truly Magus Prime. He turned to his grandfather, "Where is the chest? I need my belt and necklace."

The old man removed a bundle from a box beside his chair and handed it to his grandson. "I brought these with me, because I knew if the ring fit you would need them." He slowly stood and walked to where Joshan was standing. "Let me help you put them on."

The belt was made from black leather with gold filigree and a large yellow gem set in the center of the black metal buckle. The necklace was made of the same black material and adorned with the third gemstone of yellow.

"What metal is this Papa?" He asked as he buckled the belt around his waist.

"It's called Nichromium and it's very rare and expensive." Rodrik picked up the necklace and placed it around his grandson's neck. "This medallion alone would buy a life of ease for most people."

Joshan felt the ethereal energy flow through him as the stones drew power from the environment. The gems filled with brilliance until the robe glowed with dazzling yellow light. He could feel the life force flood his youthful body, every muscle, bone, and cell soaked in the unblemished strength provided by the talismans he wore. He felt young and agile and yet old and wise. For the first time he understood the power his grandfather carried for so many years. His thoughts were clear and deep and when he closed his eyes and focused on the stimuli from around him he could see the imperfections he could repair and those he could not.

He looked to his grandfather who was watching with a smile on his face. "I am light as a feather and strong as a bull. There are two sides to this fate. I can heal in ways undreamed and yet I have the ability to kill and destroy at the same time."

Rodrik looked out the window and noticed the sun was sitting low on the horizon. "While you are acclimating to this change, I must meet with the village elders to discuss some business. I may be late, so don't wait up for me."

Joshan watched his grandfather walk out the door and a strange feeling of foreboding nagged at his mind, but he shrugged it off and reconnected with the matrix of power around him.

A few minutes later he felt rather than heard a scream and a sharp piercing pain raked his body. He was drawn to his grandfather's life force and could feel it slipping away. He ran through the door and out into the road. The prone form of his grandfather lay face down in the dust and blood was pooled under a knife wound in his side. Three men were standing around him and one was searching his clothing. Another was holding a bloodied knife and smiling cruelly.

Joshan let out a feral scream and a discharge of energy caught the attackers and held them motionless as he ran to Rodrik's still body. He laid his hand on the wound and he saw the damage caused by the knife. There was a puncture wound in the Aorta and blood was flowing freely into the chest cavity. He wrapped the cut with intense energy and willed the tissue to mend.

He heard a weak voice in his mind. "My son, it is time for me to sleep. The wound is mortal and even a healer of your power can not give back life that is lost. Let me go and rest assured I am at peace. I will wait for you in the hall of my fathers." Joshan released the energy and felt the soul of his beloved Papa go dark.

Joshan stood and faced the men. "Why?" He asked in a cold menacing voice as he returned to them the ability to speak.

Their eyes were wide with fear as they watched the anger build in the shimmering eyes of this unearthly being whose power held them fast. The one holding the knife relaxed slightly when he saw he was a boy. "The old man had something we wanted, and he refused to cooperate. We weren't commissioned to kill him, only to retrieve what was ours. He chose to fight, so his death is his own fault."

"Your lies are useless here. I can see the truth and I know who you are and who sent you. You are Mordoc, a captain of the Legion of Zordarok, and I have what you seek."

He raised his hand so the ring was visible to the men. Joshan laid his palm on the shoulder of the assassin, and with a single thought raised his blood pressure to a deadly level. Beads of blood oozed from every pore. The capillaries in his eyes bulged and burst until only red orbs remained. A trickle of blood snaked its way down both sides of his contorted face.

Joshan was master of the soul but this creature had no soul. He had willing left it at the feet of his unholy mistress in temple of Zordarok. He searched for it until he located and connected with it in the mind of the evil woman who controlled the men before him. She tried to push him out but he held fast. "Did you believe you could strike down the grandfather of a Prime Magus and remain unscathed? We know you and we will come for you. We are the Magus Prime of the Triune Fathers." He said as he withdrew from her consciousness.

"What are you going to do to us?" One of the men fearfully asked.

Another joined with his friend. "We were just doing what we were told. Please have mercy on us."

They paled as they watched their leader begin to sob from the intense agony he was experiencing. Mordoc dropped to his knees and spoke. "Mercy my lord, please have mercy."