Free Creators Guild: A Wizard's Beginning by R. W. Weston Page A

lasted a little longer, but both were tired so they decided to retire for the night. The next few days they were unable to travel very much because of heavy snows. They had been traveling in a south easterly direction and the snow began to come faster and thicker. Fortunately they were traveling on the horses or they would already be up to their wastes.  They found a cave to rest in for the next few days as the heaviest of the snows continued to come down.
    *      *       *
                  "Master I have failed you, the boy has gotten away and he lives," whimpered Marcolin.
                  "Indeed, what happened? He was a young boy, with no knowledge of magic, or so you told me,” replied the dark voice, penetrating into Marcolins’ mind, tormenting him.
                  "He.. He had no knowledge; there was someone else with him. All I know is whoever it was that was with him controlled the magic."
                  "Very well then maybe I shall let you live to serve another day, please sit and have a drink."
                  "Thank you master," he said. 
                  As he took his seat the floor beneath him opened, dropping him into a dark cavern.
                  "Well that was a waste of a slave now wasn't it," came a voice from the shadows of Maglons throne room.
                  "He was a waste, and now he will have time to think of his failure for a very long time.  This is a secret that only two people know of now, it is a hole in time, or better said, a place where time forgot. It has no end that I know of, and because time forgot this forsaken hole, time does not pass as we know it. So as I said he will have a very long time to think of it. He will wait until the Dark Lord decides he is ready to take the miserable soul of the man."
                  "What is it you would have me do now father."
                  "Apparently, he has been found by the Order. Assuredly he is now under their protection; however we must find him, before he goes into hiding. I leave it to you my child, find him and bring him to me by any means that you must. Preferably alive, but if dead we can still consecrate his body to the Dark Lord, he can still serve his purposes."
    *      *       *
                  "We’ll stop here for a few days,” Maglin said, “Roland, the next few days are going to be difficult for the two of us. Tylon, from you we will need complete silence; we need to be undisturbed. I am leaving you in charge of taking care of the animals as well as the camp, do you both understand me?"
                  "Yes sir," they both replied. Both had grown used to Maglin being short with them, each night he would take Roland just outside the camp and teach him.  He was helping him to remember all the important information he needed to know.
                  "Tell me what are the five elements of magic, and what do they stand for."
                  "Earth is the essence of all that grows; with it a wizard can bring new life to the driest of ground. With magic it can be altered to destroy living things as well.  I vow to never use it to destroy innocent lives, and to protect mother earth.
                  Fire, friend and foe as it gives us heat, but it can also destroy what has been created.  With it a wizard can cleanse a person or the earth giving way for new life to form. It is the key element of magic to heal, for with fire comes purification, and with purification comes healing.  I vow to never use it to destroy but only for the purposes of good.
                  Wind, with this a wizard can assist in the toughest of tasks. Wind appears to be the lightest, but it is deceitful because it is the strongest.  I vow to use wind with caution, for I know it can destroy, and even the smallest of creatures depends on wind, as do