The Will of Wizards

[Astrael]

((Just a fun little story I'm working on... thought I would pop in here to share it. I'll have some more meaty things down the road; this pretty much sets up the premise of the story.

Oh- and sorry for any spelling errors in advance. I wiped my computer last week and I haven't had time to install word yet... so this was all done in notepad))

Terras' smile couldn't have been brighter as he ascended the steps to the mystic's tower, dressed in his finest silk robes, every hair held flat against his head, and feet manicured down to the last toenail. The bright day around him seemed to smile as well, the sun bright and high in the sky, the trees in their fullest greens, and the warm breeze that confirmed the beginning of summer. Today, after all, he would be crowned as the prince of the kingdom, a day that he had been waiting for since his birth. It was the culmination of all of his lessons as a child, and a start of all the things he was to learn as a ruler.

The young man, barely sixteen, strode into the stone tower with all the lessons Antarus had impressed upon him, pacing himself to look dignified but not pompous, and his gaze lifted, but not into the sky. Image, after all, was the key to being a great king. It was important to instill confidence in his subjects and display the pride of his kingdom to other rulers. A misstep in a delicate negotiation could lead to disaster down the road.

It was the duty of the king to represent the will of his people, and therefore crucial for his image to be perfect. Terras passed many mystics as he ascended the spiraling staircase of the tower, the alchemists and wizards bowing at him as he passed. They knew he was not prince yet, but it was better to be safe then sorry when it came to royalty.

Near the top of the tower, Terras stopped and knocked on a door that led off from the stairway. There were only a few doors he had to knock at- his parent's chambers, the battle room, and here. Terras wited patiently for the door to open, listening as a few beakers were broken and curses spoken behind the aged wood. A tall and wrinkled old man opened the the door, his wispy grey hair flying out in all sorts of unnatural directions and wearing a smile matching Terras'. "My boy! Wonderful!" Antarus rushed forward as Terras braced himself for the enthusiastic hug. "How wonderful you could make time for me today! Come, come sit."

Terras carefully stepped around the various notes and books strewn all over the floor, coyly replying, "It wasn't like I had a choice- father made me visit you."

"Makes no difference," Antarus shooed off some moths and cleared some boxes and papers off a chair for his pupil to sit on, "I'm sure you would have come anyway."

"Don't be too sure; after you spilled dye on my shoes last week, the cobbler nearly beat me." The old man merely smiled in reply, continuing to bustle about his workroom. He was obviously looking for something, but as usual, Terras was suprised Antarus could find anything in all the clutter.

"So... what is it exactly I'm here for? I don't think I have time for a lesson. The crowning ceremony is in only a few hours." Terras looked anxiously as Antarus who was consumed in his search.

"A present, of course." Terras' eyebrows arched at this. Wizard's gifts were not given lightly, and to be taken with equal caution. "Aha- here it is!" From an ancient and dusty chest, Antarus pulled out an equally dusty leather scabbard that was as long as the old man's arm. Quickly, he blew and wiped the leather clear, bustling over to Terras with excitement.

"What is it?" Terras asked cautiously, taking the scabbard with both hands.

"A sword of course- haven't the guards taught you anything? Now go on. Have a few swings with it." Carefully, Terras pulled out the blade and was stunned at its lightness and the mirrorlike sheen down the gracefully curved blade.
"It's amazing..." Terras gave the sword a few careful swings and it sung as it cut through the air, taking almost no effort to lift or move. "Does it have a name?"

"No- I've always thought that naming thing was always stupid. A sword's a sword. It's a piece of steel. A tool. Do you name every hammer you come across or shoe you wear? People have names. Naming every tool in the shed something different just becomes confusing."

Terras chuckled and gave the sword a few more vigorous tests. "But surely this is no ordinary sword. It's lighter and far more agile then anything I've trained with... or that the blacksmiths have made, for that matter. It's like it's not made of steel at all."

"Do I have to think for you?" Antarus slapped Terras on the back of his head, "The sword is more magic then steel. It's a wizard's sword."

Terras lowered the blade and looked quizzically at his tutor, "A wizard's sword? I don't think you've mentioned them before."

"I haven't- and with good reason. Wizard's swords are rare and powerful things. I didn't want to give you mine until you were responsible enough to handle its power."

Terras examined the blade from the pommel to its hilt, finding nothing that couldn't have been done by a gifted blacksmith. "So what makes this blade so magical? Does it cut through any object, or make it burt into flames?"

Antarus shook his head, "Don't you listen to anything I say? A sword is a tool. you are a person. The sword can't do anything without you."

Terras paused in his examination, looking straight into the man's fading eyes, "That... doesn't make much sense."

Antarus pulled his hand through his tangled hair, pulling out a number of broken strands. "I'm not sure how to put this more clearly. The sword can do anything, or rather, make anything happen. Your will guides its purpose." Terras' face lit up as the power of the sword dawned on him. "I don't think I have to tell you to be careful with it."

Terras' expression didn't move an inch, "You mean... anything?"

"Well; anything within reason. I may be disorganized, but I'm certainly cautious when it comes to magic. Anything but kill another person. Or take away their free will."

"You mean, you made a sword that can't kill people?" Terras replied

"Well, that would be dangerous!" Antarus said, defensively, "What if a man were to accidentaly sneeze near you and you wished he weren't there, even if the thought was only in passing. I wouldn't want to be responsible for that. But you could cure his cold. That would be permitted. It'd be nice too"

Terras sighed, but wasn't surprised. Wizard gifts were rarely what they seemed, yet the sword remained a potent tool. He thanked his tutor profusely for the gift and headed for the door, his mind already on the other innumerable tasks he had to complete for his crowning.

Antarus smiled as his pupil left. The sword was always a better learning tool then a crown could ever be.

[theredbaron]

Christ man, where have you been?

[Astrael]

umm...away? I used to RP/write a lot more, but my college schedule fluctuates, so some quarters I'm overloaded with stuff and others I have tie to get back to writing =)

[Astrael]

Terras' coronation was more perfect then he could have possibly planned. Every guest (even the Dutchess of Marlon, whom he fancied) turned out for the event, and there was not a step out of place. It seemed the rehearsals had paid off after all. Even his father, whose mood tended to shift with the daily news, was in good spirits, and gave more praises for Terras then Terras had ever heard in his life.

The ceremony was short and sweet, as his mother had wanted, the weather too warm for the atendees to parade around in their finery. The bishop gave a short benediction and recited the royal pledge that Terras repeated in turn so that he could be knighted by his father. Using Antarus' sword, Terras' father tapped both his shoulders and returned the blade to his son. His little sister, Annabelle, brought forth the silver circlet that was his crown and his father reverently and delicately lifted it up for the crowd to see before placing it on Terras' head. Terras tried his best to maintain his composue as crown prince, but when Annabelle giggled at the sight of her older brother, he couldn't help but return the smile.

The reception was far less stately then the ceremony, and with the onset of twilight, the guests were allowed to relax and speak freely. The buffet was set up behind the castle on the carefully manicured lawn that was cut just for the occasion, torches and lanterns buring brightly around the perimeter. The soft cool grass and the lively music brought everyone to their feet, and the servants were hard-pressed to keep the glasses filled with wine and spirits. Terras was the center of the party and he himself was surprised at his popularity; though he had always been fair looking, the ladies had never been as interested as they were that night.

"My lord-" said a light airy voice behind him. Terras turned from his converation with the Baron and Baroness of Gerinhal and his lungs froze in place. It was none other then Lila, the Dutchess of Marlon herself. Terras quickly turned and excused himself from the Baron and Baroness and turned back so he could give his whole attention to Lila.

Terras tried to keep his eyes on the more prudent aspects of Lila- her golden honey curls... her rosy cheeks... her vibrant green eyes- but he had a hard time avoiding her ample bosom and refined curves that ran from her slender neck down to her smooth thighs. Quickly Terras pulled his eyes up again, but Lila didn't seem to have noticed. With a polite cough, Lila cleared her throat and continued in her soft, airy voice, "I am sorry, my lord, for bothering you; I know your time is valuable tonight."

"For you," Terras bowed deeply and picked up her right hand, placing a soft kiss on it, "bothering me would be impossible."

Lila gave a soft blush and cleared her throat again, "I know we have not spent much time together, but... and please, do not think me too forward, but..."

Terras gave a warm reassuring smile, "I think the spirit of the party is making fools of our speech. Perhaps we could find somewhere quiter to talk?"

Lila gave a wry smile and a polite nod, holding out her left arm for him to guide her with. Without hesitation, Terras took up the offer and led her down the hill to the reflecting pond, where the nearly-full moon slowly shimmered off the still water. Lila sat on the edge of the pool, quietly slipping off her shoes and diping her feet in the water. Terras followed suit, the chill water numbing the pain of leather shoes.

"I don't think people were meant to wear shoes," Terras began, "otherwise they wouldn't hurt so much after a day of wearing them!"

Lila giggled and relaxed, lazily kicking her feet through the water, "Be glad you are not a woman then," she said, holding up one of her jewel-encrusted shoes, "Leather at least has some flexibility to it."

At this, Terras openly laughed and grabbed the shoe from her, examining it more closely, "How can a man possibly force such beautiful feet into such an ugly shoe?"

Lila flicked her foot up, spraying Terras with droplets of water. "Those shoes are beautiful!" Lila said, grabbing the shoe back from Terras, "My father spent nearly half the family treasury on them so I could be a proper lady."

"You don't need shoes to be a proper lady," Terras said, moving towards Lila until their shoulders met. "I've always believed that royalty; true royalty, runs in the blood."

"Oh?" Lila said playfully, "And what made you draw this conclusion?"

"Well- why else would great kings spawn even greater kings, and lords and ladies intermingle with each other if not to strengthen the power of the leadership in their veins? My father is a great ruler because he comes from a long lineage of great lords and kings dating back-"

Lila raised her hand and softly placed her finger on his lips, silencing him instantly. "Your father is a great king," she said in a whisper, moving herself against him until her breath was on his cheek, "but I think you will be far greater."

With the softness of a flower's petals, their lips met, and blood pumped through Terras' veins more strongly then any practice with the guards could have.
_____________________________________________________________________________


Terras walked the halls of the castle the next day with an extra spring in his step, his smile a little brighter than usual and greetings a little more jovial. He and Lila had spent the entire night together undisturbed by the reflecting pond. It seemed the servants had seen he and Lila go off together and politely covered for their absence. Terras was grateful for it- although he had always dreamed about Lila, but the night itself put even his fantasies to shame. Their passion seemed to multiply itself in ways he had never thought possible. He had been with women before (after all, as prince to the throne it was his duty to plant his seed), but Lila was like a league unto her own.

After sleeping the morning away and attending to his princely duties (swords, as the guards reminded him, could not practice themselves), Terras made for Lila's guest quarters, stopping by the gardens to pick up some select blossoms. He knocked on the door politely and stood back with a giant smile, his makeshift bouquet held gingerly to his chest.

To Terras' surprise, a man opened the door, not much older then Terras was. Dressed in deep purple linen with intricate golden embroidery, he could be no less than a noble, and his extra half a head of height combined with his confident stance made Terras feel like a child in his presence. The man cautiously eyed Terras without speaking a word, the moment of silence broken when Lila appeared in the doorway next to him.

"Oh! Terras!" Lila quickly darted over to Terras' side and gave his hand a warm squeeze, placing a light peck on his cheek. "I would like you to meet to whom I am betrothed, Lord Erankius of Rotherswood." At this, the man in the doorway gave a deep bow and Terras' heart stopped completely.

[Kaez]

(( Wow, man. It's been a long time since I've seen your name, that's for sure. And after reading that? ... You were missed.

Really, the quality of your writing rivals most everyone on the forum. Your dialogue is solid, your descriptions flow, your grammar is rarely flawed and most of such errors could be attributed to notepad, even. It was really just an extremely easy read. If I were to issue one complaint, it would be deeper than any of that and be with the heart of the story itself.

The entire concept of it: the young boy becoming a prince, the old wise man gives him a sword... it's just not all too original. So I encourage you to keep in mind that the premise you're building the story off of is one that -many- stories have been built off of. Doing that, with your writing ability, I have no doubt that you'll make this the unique, entertaining story that it has all of the potential to be. ))

[Astrael]

((Thanks for the review ^^

Yes, I realize the premise is rather by-the-book, but after such a long break, I just wanted to put out something comfortable and fun. I'll be mixing it up in the next few parts; it's just getting there))

[Astrael]

"I am pleased to meet you, Terras," Erankus said, rising again to tower over Terras, "I am afraid I did not get a chance to speak with you at the reception."

Terras' breathing was shallow as his lungs resisted his effort to drop dead on the spot. Did he know? Did he suspect? Would he find out about it? Though Terras was fair at the sword, Erankus' arms were huge, and he didn't look like a man who would take news of his fiance cheating lightly. Terras' mind spun and he started to feel dizzy from the lack of air.

"Terras?" Lila wrapped her arm around his side, only worsening his symptoms. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah... I'm fine. I'm sorry- I shouldn't have come." Terras took a step back, but Lila pushed him forward and sat him down on the stool in front of the vanity, facing the bed that she lightly sat herself upon.

"Nonsense," Lila said, pushing Terras through the door with considerable strength for her size, "I've been meaning to talk to you ever since last night." Terras' lungs siezed up anew, but neither Lila nor Erankus seemed to notice. In fact, Erankus went into another room as if nothing was amiss.

"I'm... I'm sorry about last night..." Terras stumbled on his words, his eyes darting to the other room witing for Erankus to pierce him with a crossbow bolt. "If I had known you were already engaged, I would never have taken advantage of you."

Lila gave him a curious look, "What are you talking about? Last night was amazing- I wanted to tell you that no man has ever made me feel that way before. I'm fact, I was wondering what you were doing tonight..."

Terras snapped to a standing position, his wits at the end of his rope, scanning the room for some sign or another. What was going on here? "I don't know who put you up to this," he siad sternly, "but this is insane."

Lila stared blankly up at him with a genuinely confused look, "What do you mean, Terras? I like you, and I wanted to express that to you in the best way I could... What are you looking for?"

"You have a husband! Or at least near enough to one! Doesn't that mean anything to you?" Terras began pacing, torn between darting through the door and finding out why Lila was so strangely unruffled by the affair she had committed.

Lila glanced at the room where Erankius had dissapeared and back to Terras, "Erankius? He is my husband, but surely you know the difference between a husband and a lover." Lila stood and grabbed Terras by the hips, slowly and sloftly stroking her hands up his sides. "I have kept my passion a secret for too long, Prince Terras, and I intend to let you enjoy every moment of it."

Terras was held transfixed by Lila's softness, the smoothness of her caress. He was paralyzed by his infatuation with her. Slowly she looked up with a rougish grin and pulled his head down to meet hers, his resistance slipping against his inner desires... But some shread of his reason screamed out at the last second, every alarm in his head igniting in defiance. "No!" he yelled out and pushed Lila onto the bed. "You are betrothed! To Erankius... who is in the other room!... This is insanity!"

Lila sat up, unfazed by Terras' reaction. Terras turned and ran for the door, fumbling with the lock for only a second before he was free to sprint down the hall. "Wait! Terras! What did I do?..." Lila's voice echoed down the hall behind him.

Terras ran through the halls of the castle as fast as his legs could take him. What was wrong with him? Better yet, what was wrong with Lila? In the many years he had known her, she had never said more than pleasentries, and now she was like a succubus come for him. Could she really have been that repressed?

The servants he passed darted out of the way as their prince came running through, casting their eyes reverently downward. Terras tore past them without giving them a single look or thought. Where could he go? He rounded the corner and found himself in front of the mystic's tower yet again, the plain cylindrical tower dwarfing him in its shadow. Of course. Without thinking, he had come here again.

He entered the tower with almost as much apprehension as if he were going to meet his parents. Antarus had cared for him in ways that his parents had never been able to; loosing the wizard's respect was something Terras did not like to do often. Still, offending the him was less dangerous then offending his father, who would likely throw him out of the tallest tower without a second thought if he heard the news.

Terras knocked on the door and waited patiently again for Antarus to open it. The old man smiled as he opened his door, his eyes twinkling as they looked proudly on his pupil. "Ahh- my boy! I was wondering when you were going to be here for your lesson. Come, sit down, sit down." Antarius deftly manuvered around the obstacles on his floor, but Terras, after shutting the door, knocked quite a few over in his rush to get over to the workbench.

"Antarus, I... I have something I need to tell you..."

Antarus continued absentmindedly shuffling around some papers and books, "You forget your line again at the coronation ceremony didn't you? I keep reminding you; land before king, or you'd better take wing..."

"Coronation? No! no-" Terras shook his head emphatically.

"I'm sorry my boy; I meant to be there, but there was just this one little experiment I had to observe." Antarus shuffled by Terras with an armload of papers, which he placed on a desk so he could swish the contents of a few beakers. "I just get so caught up in my work sometimes..."

"No! It's about Lila!"

Antarus paused from his antics and looked over his shoulder, "The Dutchess of Marlon?" Terras nodded slowly and Antarus dropped his beaker, spilling a dark blue liquid all over the papers he had been carrying. With a dexterity that Terras found alarming, Antarus rushed over and began patting Terras on his back. "You certainly aim high on your coronation night! A dutchess- I never thought you had it in you!"

Terras' head swam as though the entire world had been turned upside down (and he wasn't so sure that it hadn't). "What are you talking about? It's terrible! She's betrothed!"

"Oh, you've always been one for trouble," Antarus continued, "but I never thought you would go quite that far. I think you've surpassed your father by quite a bit..."

Terras threw up his hands and shooed off the old wizard, "My father? What are you talking about?"

Antarius ran around to the other side of the workbench and sat down, "Oh nothing; nothing. Now, tell me what's bothering you so."

Terras gave Antarius an exasperated look, "I spent the night with the Dutchess of Marlon, and she is betrothed to another man! Why does everyone seem to be ok with that?"

Antarius gave Terras a mocking smile, "I don't think you'll ever learn anything I tell you unless I open up your dense skull and carve it in there myself. A-ny-thing."

"The sword?" Terras looked at Antarius with complete confusion even as he uncontiously fingered the sword at his side. "What does that have to do with this?"

Atarus rolled his eyes, "How many times must I repeat myself? Anything. Anything. Anything. The sword can do anything. Can I make it any clearer?"

"The sword didn't do anything!" Terras said, the frustration plain in his voice, "Lila expressed an interest in me and I took her up on it. I didn't use the sword and...stab her into it!"

Antarus reached across the table and gave Terras a smart smack, "The sword is the tool; your will is its guide. It's not a weapon. It can't even hurt anyone; it's just shaped that way for carrying and aesthetic reasons."

Terras shook his head, "I didn't want this!"

"Oh, but yes you did!" Antarus said with a gleeful smile, "Who was it you were so infatuated with at your sister's third birthday party? Who did you ask me to brew a love potion for when you heard the Lord of Marlon was coming?"

"That was ages ago! Lila never showed any interest in me, and you spent many careful lessons impressing how futile it was to try to trick her into a relationship!"

Antarus smiled, "Well, at least not all of my lessons fell on deaf ears. Now, let's think for a minute. I know it's hard. You are, after all, a prince- and there are plenty of people to think for you, but let's try to do this on our own." Terras muttered something under his breath, but Antarus ignored it, "The sword does anything you want it do do. Or rather, makes anything you want to happen, happen, depending on how you wish to phrase it. You've given the sword no thought; no direction on which to work since I gave it to you, yet you seem to still have that childish infatuation with Lila, the Duchess of Marlon..."

Terras sat and paused for a minute. Was it really that simple? Did the sword actually work? As the monsoon of thoughts in his head settled, the pieces began falling into place. It was surprising that Lila had talked to him at all, let alone spend the night with him... and it was certainly strange that her betrothed could ignore such nervousness in him, especially when Lila began moving so close to him. On top of that, Lila had been so passionate; so insistant...

Terras looked up at Antarus with a mask of guilt. He had been given a wonderful gift, and he had wasted it on a night fulfilling a childish fantasy. "I'm sorry Antarus... I should have listened more closely..."

Antarus looked over in surprise, "Sorry? For what?"

"Wasting your gift to me on a selfish thought." Terras replied, "All the good things I could do... or at least try to do, and this happens.... I expect you'll be wanting the sword back..."

"Back, why? The sword is yours; I have no right to take it from you. And I daresay you'll be needing it."

Terras' eyebrows hunched in, "What do you mean?"

"Well; unless you want the Lord of Marlon to drive you through with the nearest pointed object he can find, I expect you'll need to keep people from thinking that what you did was wrong."

"But... isn't that... wrong?" Terras gripped the pommel of the sword for support.

"You have the sword," Antarus pointed out, "You can make the rules whatever you want."

Terras was torn. Turning himself in would probably work him into loosing the crown, weather by his father ripping it off his head or the Lord of Marlon... well, better not to think of that. On the other hand, simply covering it up... well, no one would be hurt by it. Lila didn't seem to be hurt, and she had the most to loose from it.

Terras stood and thanked Antarus for helping him see the situation clearly. The wizard shook Terras' hand and reassured him that everything would be alright before seeing him out the door. Terras seemed too distracted by his own thoughts, however, to notice the twinkle in the old man's eyes.

[AEShenhav (Ali)]

(( I just read though your story Astrael and I must say, your technical writing is superb with only a couple places I felt needing revising. I'm surprised that there's very little grammatical errors in spite of being written in Notepad. Also, your dialogue between characters is fantastic. It's natural, effortless and flows well.

The story though, is a more than a bit cliche with a couple interesting ideas mixed in. It's a little boring at the moment but it looks like this is just the beginning of a much larger storyline. I like the idea of a sword that can't kill, and even more so that can do anything else. I would like to know about more about the world though. The places, people, magic, yadda and yadda.

Still, I'd suggest that you maybe try and take the cliche idea and twist it more. What if the sword didn't do anything? What if it was all within Terras or there wasn't actually magic at all? How do people react when they find out or do they even believe it? Even though the base of the story is bland, you can use that to go a bit crazy with the details to a point where it'll twist into something new.

Overall, I was entertained. You words are easy to submerse into and the story starts out well, albeit a little fast. Keep it up though, I'd like to see where you're going with this. ))

[James]

((Well that's interesting.

Firstly your writing style and quality is very good. There's a few mistakes throughout and at times you were a little repetitive, bringing up the same word in quick concession, which does disrupt the flow. Other than that, very good.

The story? I'm still undecided if I like it or not. I don't think you have quite managed to make a connection between character and reader yet, which means I don't think I'm quite invested into the story yet. I don't quite care yet. But it is entertaining and I think it can only get better so keep it up.))

[Astrael]

Oct 19, 2009 14:50:33 GMT -5 AEShenhav (Ali) said:

Still, I'd suggest that you maybe try and take the cliche idea and twist it more. What if the sword didn't do anything? What if it was all within Terras or there wasn't actually magic at all? How do people react when they find out or do they even believe it? Even though the base of the story is bland, you can use that to go a bit crazy with the details to a point where it'll twist into something new.

((You're 2 steps ahead of me sir. The beauty of the final reveal rests in the subtlety in which it is unraveled))

[R.J.D ((Thasiloron))]

((Well, it does seem a bit cliche... But it seems a bit early to judge it so soon. Methinks there are some plot twists ahead. Grammar and details look legit. I approve on that basis.

Also, can the sword divide by zero?

*vortex appears*

OH SHI-))

[WJChesek ((Evern))]

((It was a good read, I look forward to seeing where you take it.

No errors that I caught, and like everyone said, you seem to be taking a semi-cliche base and turning it into something interesting.))

[Raquel]

I've only read two stories so far, including this one...and neither of them were finished. But even still, this is definitely my favorite read yet.

Everything's been said though I didn't take much of a problem with the clicheness. A couple of errors here and there, but otherwise, I'd be strained to tell you what to change.

[Astrael]

So! Why am I necromancing this thread and where have I been? Both excellent questions! I was digging through my computer this weekend and stumbled accross this story. I remembered where I wanted to take it, but fresh eyes (and 3 years) let me refine the story into something I'm much more happy with! So I finished the story and went back and revised large portions of it so it flowed better and helped reinforce the central lesson of the story (which I finally articulated).

Thank you all for the feedback, and I wanted to answer a few thoughts and note some changes here:

• Yes, it is a little cliche. I wrote this as an attempt at a children's parable/story. The dialogue and story elements are meant to be familiar and safe to explore the lesson of the story.
  
• On that note, I realized that the story had a lot more adult content (sex) than a children's story allowed. I changed the shame to just be a 'kiss', but an older person with more mature imaginations could easily substitute sex in there and not miss a beat.
  
• I heavily edited the transitions to make them go smoothly. I realized after reading it a third and fourth time that I was writing it very piece wise and it was cutting into the fluidity of the story. I needed to make a big effort to stray from making an RP-like story (that I'm more used to) and getting back to a whole short story
  

That all being said, here is the completed story. Not to say that it's done (I think there are some improvements to be made still) but at least complete story-wise. Re-posting it below.

[Astrael]

Terras' smile couldn't have been brighter as he ascended the steps to the mystic's tower, dressed in his finest clothes, every hair held flat against his head, and feet manicured down to the last toenail. The bright day around him seemed to smile as well, the sun bright and high in the sky, the trees in their fullest greens, and the warm breeze that confirmed the beginning of summer. Today, after all, he would be crowned as the prince of the kingdom, a day that he had been waiting for since his birth. It was the culmination of all of his lessons as a child, and a start of all the things he was to learn as a ruler.

The young man, barely sixteen, strode into the stone tower with all the pomp a prince could muster. Today, he took his first step into becoming master of all the realm, where his opinion would be law and his desires the will of the land. Terras passed many mystics as he ascended the spiraling staircase of the tower, the alchemists and wizards bowing at him as he passed. They knew he was not prince yet, but it was better to be safe than sorry when it came to royalty.

Near the top of the tower, Terras stopped and knocked on a door that led off from the stairway. There were only a few doors the future prince had to knock at- his parent's chambers, the battle room, and here. Terras waited patiently for the door to open, listening to the sounds of breaking glass and muttered curses from behind the aged wood. A tall and wrinkled old man opened the door, his wispy grey hair flying out in unnatural directions and wearing a cocky smile to match Terras. "My boy! Wonderful!" Antarus rushed forward as Terras braced himself for the enthusiastic hug. "How wonderful you could make time for me today! Come, come sit."

Terras carefully stepped around the various notes and books strewn all over the floor, "It wasn't like I had a choice- father made me visit you."

"Makes no difference." Antarus shooed off some moths and cleared some boxes and papers so his pupil could sit, "I'm sure you would have come anyway."

"Don't be too sure; after you spilled dye on my coronation shoes last week, the cobbler nearly beat me. It took him all week to make a new pair." The old man merely smiled in reply, continuing to bustle about his workroom. He was obviously looking for something, but as usual, Terras was surprised Antarus could find anything in all the clutter.

"So... what is it exactly I'm here for? I don't think I have time for a lesson. The ceremony is only a few hours away." Terras looked anxiously at Antarus who was consumed in his search.

"A present, of course." Terras' eyebrows arched at this. Wizard's gifts were not given lightly, and to be taken with equal caution. "Aha- here it is!" From an ancient and dusty chest, Antarus pulled out an equally dusty leather scabbard that was as long as the old man's arm. Quickly, he blew and wiped the leather clear, bustling over to Terras with excitement.
"What is it?" Terras asked cautiously, taking the scabbard with both hands.

"A sword of course- haven't the guards taught you anything? Now go on. Have a few swings with it." Carefully, Terras pulled out the blade and was stunned at its lightness and mirror sheen. It was a handsome blade that curved smoothly down the front like a soft wave on the sea to a fine tip. The pommel was a simple leather-wrapped handle, but a fine filigree of gold wound around the exposed metal in mezmerizing patterns and shapes that seemed to flow as he twisted the blade in his hand.

"It's amazing..." Terras gave the sword a few careful swings as it sung and cut through the air, taking almost no effort to lift or move. "Does it have a name?"

"No- I've always thought that naming objects was stupid. People have names. A sword's a sword. It's a piece of steel. A tool. Do you name every hammer you swing or shoe you wear? Naming everything you value just becomes confusing."

Terras chuckled and gave the sword a few more vigorous tests. "But surely this is no ordinary sword. It's lighter than anything I've trained with... or that the blacksmiths have made, for that matter. It's like it's not made of steel at all."

"Do I have to think for you?" Antarus slapped Terras on the back of his head, "The sword is more magic then steel. It's a wizard's sword."

Terras lowered the blade and looked quizzically at his tutor, "A wizard's sword? I don't think you've mentioned them before."

"I haven't- and with good reason. Wizard's swords are rare and powerful things. I didn't want to give you one until you were responsible enough to handle its power."

Terras examined the blade from the pommel to its hilt, finding nothing truly magical about it other than its fine craftsmanship. "So what makes this different from a normal sword? Does it cut through any object? Make things burst into flames?"

Antarus shook his head, "Don't you listen to anything I say? A sword is a tool. You are a person. Like any tool, it just enchances you. Can you make anything burst in to flames?"

Terras paused in his examination, looking straight into the man's fading eyes, "That... doesn't make much sense."

Antarus pulled his hand through his tangled hair, pulling out a number of broken strands. "I'm not sure how to put this more clearly. The sword makes things happen. It’s a tool that you use. Your will guides its purpose. It makes your will happen. I don't think I have to tell you to be careful with it."

Terras' expression brightened as he began to understand, "So it can do... anything?"

"Well; anything within reason. I may be disorganized, but I'm certainly cautious when it comes to magic. It can do anything but kill another person."

"You mean, you made a sword that can't kill people?" Terras replied

"Well, that would be dangerous!" Antarus said, defensively, "What if a man were to accidentally sneeze near you and you wished he weren't there? Even if the thought was only in passing, I wouldn't want to be responsible for that. But you could cure his cold. That would be permitted. It'd be nice too"

Terras sighed, but wasn't surprised. Wizard gifts were rarely what they seemed, yet the sword remained a potent tool. He thanked his tutor politely for the gift and headed for the door, his mind already on the other innumerable tasks he had to complete for his crowning.

The coronation was more perfect then he could have possibly planned. Every guest, even the Dutchess of Marlon, whom he fancied, turned out for the event, and there was not a hair out of place. Even his father, whose mood tended to shift with the daily news, was in good spirits, and gave more praises for Terras then the new prince had ever heard in his life.

The ceremony was short and sweet, as his mother had wanted. The weather was too warm for the attendees to parade around in their finery all afternoon. The bishop gave a short benediction and assisted Terras in the royal pledge so that he could be knighted and crowned by his father. Using Antarus' sword, Terras' father tapped both his shoulders and returned the blade to his son. His little sister, Annabelle, brought forth the silver circlet that was his crown and his father reverently lifted it up for the crowd to see before placing it on Terras' head. Terras tried his best to maintain his solumn composure as crown prince, but when Annabelle giggled at the sight of her older brother in such a stoic composure, he couldn't help but return the smile.

The reception was far less stately then the ceremony, and with the onset of twilight, the guests were allowed to relax and speak freely. The feast was set up behind the castle on the carefully manicured lawn that was cut just for the occasion, lit by torches and lanterns around the perimeter. The soft cool grass and the lively music brought everyone to their feet, and the servants were hard-pressed to keep the glasses filled with wine. Terras was the center of the party and he was surprised at his own popularity. Though he had always been fair looking, the ladies of the court seemed to take a new interest in him. Being a prince certainly had its perks.

"My lord-" said a light airy voice behind him. Terras turned from his conversation with the Baron and Baroness of Gerinhal and his lungs froze in place. It was none other than Lila, the Duchess of Marlon herself. Terras quickly turned and excused himself from the Baron and Baroness and turned back so he could give his whole attention to Lila.

Terras tried to keep his eyes on the more prudent aspects of Lila- her golden honey curls... her rosy cheeks... her vibrant green eyes- but he had a hard time avoiding how beautiful all of her aspects had become in the last few years. Quickly Terras pulled himself together, but Lila didn't seem to have noticed. With a polite cough, Lila cleared her throat and continued in her soft, airy voice, "I am sorry, my lord, for bothering you; I know your time is valuable tonight."

"For you," Terras bowed deeply and picked up her right hand, placing a soft kiss on it, "bothering me would be impossible."

Lila gave a soft blush and cleared her throat again, "I know we have not spent much time together, but... and please, do not think me too forward, but..."

Terras gave a warm reassuring smile, "I think the sounds of the party are getting to me. Perhaps we could find somewhere quieter to talk?"

Lila gave a wry smile and a polite nod, holding out her left arm for him to guide her with. Without hesitation, Terras took up the offer and led her down the hill to the reflecting pond, where the nearly-full moon slowly shimmered off the still water. Lila sat on the edge of the pool, quietly slipping off her shoes and dipping her feet in the water. Terras followed suit, the chill water numbing the pain of wearing leather shoes.

They sat quietly for a moment until the silence became too awkward to bear. "I don't think people were meant to wear shoes," Terras began, "otherwise they wouldn't hurt so much after a day of wearing them!"

Lila giggled and relaxed a little, lazily kicking her feet through the water, "Be glad you are not a woman then," she said, holding up one of her jewel-encrusted shoes, "Leather at least has some flexibility to it."

At this, Terras openly laughed and grabbed the shoe from her, examining it more closely, "How can a man possibly force such beautiful feet into such an ugly shoe?"

Lila flicked her foot up, spraying Terras with droplets of water. "Those shoes are beautiful!" Lila said, grabbing the shoe back from Terras, "My father spent nearly half the family treasury on them so I could be a proper lady."

"You don't need shoes to be a proper lady," Terras said, moving towards Lila until their shoulders met. "I've always believed that royalty; true royalty, comes from authority."

"Oh?" Lila said playfully, "And what made you draw this conclusion?"

"Well- why else would great kings spawn even greater kings, and lords and ladies intermingle with each other if not to strengthen their authority? Jewels and gold can buy some things, but power comes from kings. My father is a great ruler because he comes from a long lineage of great lords and kings dating back-"

Lila raised her hand and softly placed her finger on his lips, silencing him instantly. "Your father is a great king," she said in a whisper, moving herself against him until her breath was on his cheek, "but I think you will be far greater."

With the softness that made tingles run down their spines, they kissed, and blood pumped through Terras' veins more strongly than any practice with the guards could have.