Commission by  mrk-9

“Are you prepared for your final test, Ruulkan?”

“Yes, Master, I’m ready.”

Ruulkan and his mentor stood alone atop a bare mesa, one of many among the badlands. They were here just in case anything went awry during this, his final test. Ruulkan had spent a year being an apprentice to the minotaur sorcerer known only as the Black Bull. It was a long year, full of many long, taxing lessons on the nature of the unique form of magic he was to learn.

Natural channeling, that’s what the Black Bull termed his brand of sorcery. The mages in faraway cities and isolated towers cast each of their spells using the same formula each time. The same arcane utterances combined with identical motions of the hand produced a predictable result, not so with Ruulkan’s training. The Black Bull would often remind his young pupil that every gout of flame, every illusion, every single effect he produced was crafted on the spot. What it lacked in pure power it made up for in pure flexibility.

Now the Black Bull and Ruulkan stood alone in the wasteland, the site of the final trial.

“Once you master this spell, Ruulkan,” the elder minotaur began, “your training will be complete. This is the most powerful spell I can teach you at your current aptitude. After today it will be your duty to grow in its practice. One day you will be capable of truly amazing things if you continue to apply yourself.”

“Thank you, sir,” Ruulkan replied, trying to hide his anxiety.

“And you know that once you cast the ‘Walk-Between-Worlds spell’, you will leave this realm behind.”

“I know, sir,” the younger mage answered.

“Casting the spell is just the first step of your graduation. You will ride the winds of sorcery to a place where your powers are most needed. Succeed in this and you will be a full mage. Now begin.”

Ruulkan closed his eyes and focused, trying to sense the subtle power flowing around him. His long training allowed him to tap into the magic infusing all nature, feeling its ebb and flow. He deepened his focus, drawing that power into himself, willing it into the spell. He felt a surge of energy, so great he felt he would burst into flame if he didn’t release it soon. The young mage raised his hands over his head, an orb of pure mana coalescing above his horns. With a great roar, Ruulkan discharged the power and felt the world fall apart around him.

The last thing he heard as the spell took him was the Black Bull’s voice, “Well done, lad,” and then all was silent.