Chapter 21: There and Back Again

As the seasons changed, so did the hearts of mages until spring came around again. Krissa breathed in the smells of spring, a delightful mixture of fresh wildflowers and freedom. She strolled up the walkway to the palace as she finished her morning walk. As she got the bottom of the greatest sorcerer’s tower, a smell of rotten dragon scale mixed with unicorn blood gave off a foul odder followed by a loud boom. Krissa picked up her pace as she climbed the deteriorating stair.1

Outside the door Krissa could hear voices rise from the student and teacher at work.2

“Moranna!” Nathan’s voice screeched, “I said just a little bit!”3

Krissa silently pushed the door open revealing a man in his early forties and a frustrated young girl about fifteen who looked like she was almost in tears. The two were standing around a black caldron. No matter what the mage said the girl seemed to hold her ground, but this time he was pushing it.4

“That’s all I put in,” she argued.5

Nathan lifted the ladle from the caldron scooping dried bits of dragon scale from the bottom of the caldron. “Then what do you call that?”6

“I did exactly what you told me,” Moranna fought back. “That,” she pointed at the extra dragon scale, “was not me!”7

“Then who was it?”8

“I don’t know!” she almost screamed the words at him. “Will you trust me for once?”9

Nathan stiffened for a seconded then his face shriveled as if to yell back, but Krissa’s voice cut him off guard, “yelling at her won’t solve anything. You know that, Nathan.”10

He spun around almost loosing his balance, “Krissa,” he blew her name out with the breath he was holding. “Do you ever knock?”11

She shrugged, “do I need to?”12

“It would be nice if you did every now and then,” his reply was bitter.13

Krissa turned to address Moranna, “your highness, will you excuse us. I need a word with Master Nathan…alone.”14

“Will everyone stop calling me that!” she about shouted at them. “Besides,” Moranna shrugged, “I already know what this is about.” 15

Krissa shrugged and closed the door, facing Nathan who now leaned against the far wall. She watched his lean figure rise and fall as he struggled to contain his heavy breathing. His tan face was white as snow. Shadows formed under his emerald eyes which seemed to be fading. Dust and bits of dragon scale flew off his warn out white cotton shirt and pea green breeches in clouds. His light brown hair was a wild as ever.16

“Nathan,” she started slowly and calmly after examining the mage, “this is the fourth time this week.”17

“Well she needs to learn,” he cut her off. His voice came out almost in a whisper.18

“I don’t want Larissa’s magic,” Moranna argued, “How many time do I have to tell you that? Besides her magic isn’t me.”19

Nathan shook his head and ignored the princess.20

“Why did you want to start teaching again?” Krissa asked, “even after…” she was about to say Larissa’s death but every time someone mention it, Nathan wanted to hide from the world. “The accident,” she substituted. She could really feel for the mage, but how could she really? Krissa and the others had moved on. Nathan, some how, could not.21

She watched Nathan close his eyes then shook his head, “I don’t know.”22

“Nathan, I know that’s not true.”23

He didn’t answer his eyes still closed.24

Krissa thought she could see a tear leaked from an eye. “What is this really about?”25

Nathan’s eyes flashed open shaking his head, “I have no idea what you are talking about.”26

“Come now Nathan,” Krissa said putting her hands on her hips with a glare, “I know you better. Look at yourself! You lock yourself in your tower shut away from the world. When William asks you to do something for him, you refuse. Even though you spend all your time up here it’s a mess, and when either Tasan, Will, myself or anyone talk to you your like a stranger. Nathan what is happening to you?”27

He turned away and looked out the window. He watched the sun’s orange rays as it set in the distance. When he finally spoke, his voice was quiet and far off, forever drowning in his sorrow, “She comes to me… in my dreams.”28

“Who?” Krissa asked shaking her head to make sure she had heard right.29

Nathan ignored her, “She’s always there telling me things no one knows. Not even myself.” He sighed in his own little world, “she talks to me as she use to.” He closed his eyes fondly remembering, “Her voice playing that soft melody…”30

He paused gasping. Memories were the source of his pain.31

Krissa waited patiently for him to finish. He shook his head again and continued in a whisper as a silent tear tricked down his cheek, “I don’t know what I’m doing anymore. I can’t sleep because she’s always there. I don’t even know who I am, and I don’t know what to do.”32

Nathan opened his eyes and turned to face her, “Krissa, I just want her back.”33

“I know you do,” she tried to reason with him, “but she’s gone. We can’t change that.”34

“Yes we can,” Nathan and Krissa were both startled and turned to look at Moranna.35

“What?”36

“You can’t change the past,” Krissa stated.37

“I’m not talking about changing the past, Krissa,” Moranna argued. She took a breath, “but I can do even better.”38

“What do you mean?”39

Moranna looked away and mouthed the words, “I shouldn’t be doing this.” She shook her head as if she didn’t care. “My mother,” she started, “found a…spell…” her voice shook. Moranna swallowed then continued, “This spell enables a person to bring a person or an animal back from the dead.”40

Nathan brightened up. Krissa looked at her shocked, “are you sure?”41

“Actually no,” Moranna admitted, “we haven’t really tested it yet.”42

Nathan looked at Krissa with a smile.43

“No!” she replied, “I know what you are thinking and the answer is no. I won’t risk it.”44

He frowned, “you’re no fun!”45

“Something could go wrong,” Krissa said, “besides Moranna could get in trouble with tampering with the spell.”46

“I think it would be kind of a learning experience for me,” Moranna spoke up.47

Krissa glared at the girl, “you’re not helping.” 48

“Krissa you won’t have to be apart of it,” Moranna said.49

“And if she does get in trouble, the both of you can blame it all on me,” Nathan said with a smile.50

Krissa thought about it then shook her head giving in, “fine. If we get caught, I am holding you responsible.”51

£52

Larissa’s mind was in fragments. Her spirit was drifting down a dirt path. Every step she drifted was another step closer before she could stand firm on the path. She walked and walked until she could see something white sitting in the distance. Larissa squinted her eyes so she could make out what it was. It was a stranger; a man.53

Larissa walked up to him. She took a good look at him. He had short grey hair with a thin film of white glitter in it and glasses that had slid sown his long nose. He was dressed in a white robe sitting on a white chair. His hand was rolled into a fist, sitting under his chin contemplating what seemed like of a board game. 54

He looked up when she approached him. “Yes,” his voice was soft and sweet.55

“Oh don’t stop your game,” Larissa stammered.56

He shook his head and replied with a smile, “I wasn’t doing very well anyway.”57

Larissa didn’t answer, but was looking at the game bored. “What game were you playing anyway?” she asked.58

“Checkers,” the man chuckled lightly.59

She shook her head.60

“What is it you seek?” he asked.61

Larissa ignored the question wit a question of her own, “Where am I?”62

“Where ever you want to be,” he replied with a shrug.63

“Am I in heaven?”64

The man shrugged, “Is that where you want to be?”65

Larissa shook her head, “No, I’m not ready to go.”66

“What makes you think that?”67

“Look at me,” she said standing back so he could get a good look at her. “I am too young to die.”68

“Larissa, some people die early in life,” the man explained, “babies die when they are born too early, children die in wars, men and women die every day no matter what age they are at. Some are young, some are old.”69

“But, I can’t die just yet,” she said choking back a tear, “I will get to miss out on all the fun things I wanted to do.” She thought of Nathan and Krissa. She missed waking up and caring for Nina. A tear slid down her face.70

“No one is really ready to die, sweetheart,” a voice said from behind her. Larissa jumped.71

It was a woman. She was dress in a white robe like the man, but her hair was black and curly.72

“Dieing is a part of life,” the woman continued.73

The man came to stand near the woman and Larissa could get a good look at both of them. She had to rub her eyes to make sure she was seeing correctly.74

“Mom? Dad?”75

“We were beginning to think that you wouldn’t recognize us,” her father chuckled.76

Larissa’s arms flew around her parents as another tear slid down her cheek, “I have missed you so much!”77

“I know,” her mother said in her ear. They pulled away from each other so her mother could look at her properly.78

“My word,” Kelna breathed, “you have grown up so beautiful.” She ran her fingers in Larissa’s hair and sighed.79

Larissa looked at George who was smiling, “my little girl is all grown up.”80

“Not quite yet,” she said with a laugh.81

He sighed, “Too bad we can’t keep you yet.”82

Larissa frowned. “What do you mean?”83

“There is someone waiting for you,” Kelna said, “he needs you even more.”84

“Think of it as a second chance,” George winked at her and she smiled. “You need to go.”85

Before she could reply he had pressed his hand on her chest and blew a stream of cool air in her face. Larissa shook her head and realized that she was falling, falling back down to earth.86

£87

“Krissa, it worked!” Larissa found Nathan’s voice easily before she had even opened her eyes. She could feel something wetting her face. Larissa opened one eye and saw it was Nathan kissing her all over.88

Larissa sucked in a painful gulp of air. “Nathan stop that, I’m fine.”89

“All thanks to Moranna,” Krissa said patting the girl on the shoulder. Moranna shrugged shyly, embarrassed by the compliment.90

Larissa was bed ridden until her strength had return. When she was allowed to leave her small prison, she was allowed to take frequent walks stretching her muscles. Sometimes with Nathan or Krissa, but most of the time she was alone.91

Her magic came back a little bit slower, but Larissa didn’t mind the wait. For weeks she tried little spell that exerted too much power at once. Once she got past the little spells she expanded to bigger magic. Nathan had said that mastering much magic at one time could cause some problems with magic. Larissa had just ignored the lesson, wanting to get back to her own powers.92

Once day Larissa wanted to try a little shape-shifting exercise just to see if she could do it. The girl stood in the middle of her room to give herself some space.93

Lets see, which animal should I pick?94

She picked out an easy one. The girl closed her eyes and imagined floppy ears, big furry feet and a fluffy tail. Larissa wiggled her nose ad she could feel her fine whiskers tickle the fur on her face.95

Yes! I did it!96

Larissa didn’t want to opened her eyes just incase she lost the picture and came back to her self, but she knew she needed to come back some time.97

She sighed then pictured her human form. The girl moved her stiff joints without opening her eyes. A wave of sickness caught her and she held still waiting for it to pass.98

When she thought it had passed she opened her eyes and was overcome with dizziness. She closed her eyes again swaying a little bit. I think I over did it, she tried to convince herself. She opened her eyes again, slowly. A pounding started in her head making her lose her focus. Before she knew what was happening, her legs collapsed from under her and everything went black.