A Slave to Magic by Lana Axe

eyes.”
    “I understand,” Kwil replied, nodding. “What
happens if the creature sees its own gaze?”
    “What do you mean?” she asked, puzzled.
    “Its reflection,” he said. “Like when it takes a
drink and sees itself in the water.”
    “I have no idea,” Nera admitted. All she knew was
what she’d heard in old legends, and she was barely paying attention. Her mind
was always filled with music, and learning about the various monsters in the
world held little appeal unless it was told in song.
    “Has anyone ever managed this?” Kwil wondered.
    Nera could not say. “I hope so,” she said. After a
pause, she asked, “Are you sure you want to do this?”
    Shaking his head, he replied, “I don’t want to,
Nera, but I have to. Whatever it takes for Master Rili to teach me is what I’m
going to do.” Leaning forward, he hugged his friend tightly. “This is my
dream,” he said. “If I don’t try, then I’ll never be more than a slave.”
    Feeling the tears welling in her eyes, Nera did
her best to hide them. She understood the yearning in his soul. It was the same
thing she felt when her father announced she had to become a sorceress when all
she ever wanted was to make music. Her dream denied her, she had resigned
herself to a life of misery. Meeting Kwil had changed all that. She was now
free to create her own future, and so was he. “Go carefully, my friend,” she
said. “And come back in one piece,” she added with a smile.
    “I’ll do my best,” he promised.
    Wringing her hands, Nera watched as her friend
walked away. He had no weapon with him, and no way to shield himself from the
monster’s wrath. Rili had sent him completely unprepared, and her heart ached as
she watched him walk away. If he didn’t return, she would find a way to punish
Rili, though she had no idea how to go about facing down a wizard.
    Kwil attempted to walk with confidence as he moved
away from the manor grounds and into the trees. Was Rili observing him? Would
he show up in a flash of light and save Kwil if something went terribly wrong?
Shaking his head, Kwil put the thought away. There was little chance the wizard
had something like that planned. Maybe he did intend for Kwil to die in this
attempt, but if there was a way to succeed, he was determined to find it.
    The frozen ground crunching beneath his feet, Kwil
pressed on to the west. With each step, he grew more anxious. Taking deep
breaths, he did his best to stay calm. After only ten minutes of walking, he
felt like he’d been going forever. Glancing back over his shoulder, he could
still see the smoke rising from Master Rili’s chimney. Determination urged him
forward, though his feet felt heavier by the second. This would either be the
best day of his life or the last.
    When his eye fell on a narrow trail, Kwil’s mouth
dropped open. This meant he was nearing the cockatrice’s cave, and he had better
start readying himself in case the creature was skulking about. Every attempt
he made to clear his mind failed. His mind raced with visions of vicious claws
and flashing scales, and his fear was beginning to take hold.
    “You can do this, Kwil,” he said out loud. “No
point in worrying about it now. You agreed to the task, so do it.” Staring up
at the sky he focused his mind to the soft gray clouds gathering above him.
Nearly becoming dizzy, he stared into the endless void, losing himself inside
it. Finally, his mind was calm and clear. With renewed confidence, he continued
toward the cave.
    Before long, the rock formation Rili had mentioned
came into view. It was much larger than Kwil expected, rising high into the sky
and spanning several hundred feet across. The stones looked to be etched and
possibly shaped by some long-forgotten race of ancients. Heading toward them,
the trees thinned out, leaving the young slave exposed. But he did not care. A
strange sensation drew him to the rocks. He had to touch them, to feel their
smooth stone beneath his