Chapter 5: Something Begins

In the not too distant moments following Roy's visit at the tower, the villagers gradually extended their trust towards him. With increasing frequency, Argus began to see a procession of men and women, drawn to him like moths to a torch. Offerings emerged—a bounty of herbs, plants freshly gathered, and trinkets of little use, exchanged for sustenance or gold. A few even asked him for "magical services," akin to those bestowed upon Roy—elixirs to mend wounds and thwart ailments.

That trust quickly skyrocketed however, almost every day for the next week, they kept coming with new items to trade for food, and some even ask to be taught in the ways of the Art, but Argus refused them, as being a wizard is not as easy as it seems, and while theoretically everyone could do it, they need to be wealthy as well in order to cope with the amount of components that is needed to cast and practice spells.

This symphony of visits, while discordant in its own way, shackled Argus to his tower. Alchemical research was always adding up to his to-do list, herbs awaiting study like an audience awaiting a maestro's baton. Yet, as the week waned, Argus summoned his resolve, steadfast as an anchored ship buffeted by stormy seas. It was time, he mused, to tell the villagers about his impending departure. And on this very day, when his course was set, a visitor came—a man ushering a young boy, Roy, the first to respond after the village elder's proclamation and the start of these visits.

The man knocked on the door, calmly standing in front of the tower, who at this point, the elementals were no longer there, as Argus had modified the Glyphs to make the villagers safe to approach. Not long, Argus opened the door, and saw the two individuals standing in front of his tower.

"Well, morning to you." Argus smiled. "What can I do for you?"

"N-No request I bear, Master Wizard," the man began, quivering, "but gratitude I bring, for ye've snatched me from certain death."

Argus looked at Roy, who looked nervous as well as excited to visit the wizard once again. "I see, you must be little Roy's father over here."

"Indeed," the man nodded, gratitude dancing in his eyes. "The potion ye granted me—unlike aught I've encountered ere."

"I heard you fought in a war, surely you must have seen some things in your life." Argus acknowledged, a nod dignifying the man's struggles. "Do you want to come in? I have some tea we could drink."

The man shook his head. "Oh, no, no, Master Wizard. Ye've already done a lot of things to us already. I shan't bother ye any longer."

Argus waved his hand in dismissal. "Nonsense. If you don't want tea, then, perhaps some wine? I usually don't drink because it clouds my mind, but this is quite a special day."

"I– Alright then…"

The man then entered the place with Roy trailing behind his back. As Argus fetched some glass and a bottle, the father and son duo sat on one of the chairs, the former looking a bit shocked at how well the decorations were. Though he thought that it is only natural, as he is a mage.

But then he noticed that there was a gathering of materials besides a small pouch. That corner of the room seems to be messy, with books also stacked on top of each other in that corner.

"Pardon the untidiness. I plan to embark on a journey," Argus explained, placing glasses on the table. He uncorked the bottle and examined the label. "Arabellan, a fine but rather dry wine..."

Argus then poured the wine to the man's glasses, before pouring to his glass also. Roy looked at him, looking confused. "Hey! Where's mine?"

"A young one like you isn't ready for such a delicacy," Argus chuckled. From his bag of holding, he produced a brown, brick-like object and handed it to Roy. "Here, some chocolate, one of my favorite treats. Take a bite; I'm sure you'll enjoy it."

Roy eagerly accepted the treat, savoring its flavor. Meanwhile, the man tried the wine, though it seemed unfamiliar and harsh to him. He set the glass aside.

"What's your name?" Argus inquired.

"I'm Nicholas, Master," the man replied.

"Nicholas, I'd like you to look at this," Argus said, retrieving a scroll from his bag. Unrolling it, he revealed a map, the same one he had drawn earlier. "What do you see?"

"It's... a map of Temeria," Nicholas replied, gazing at the drawing. "Though I'm not sure about these lines."

"Ignore those," Argus urged. "Tell me about this place." He pointed to a specific location on the map, the intersection he aimed to reach. "Again, forget the lines."

"That's near Ellander," Nicholas responded. "I think it's a temple dedicated to Melitele."

"A temple?" Argus raised an eyebrow. "Interesting. Have you been there?"

"Not personally, but I've been to Ellander," Nicholas explained. "Do ye plan to visit, Master Wizard?"

"Yes, I've grown curious about that place," Argus mused, marking the map with the word 'TEMPLE' and 'CITY.' "Could you do me a favor, Nicholas?"

"Of course, anything. Ye saved my life."

"Excellent," Argus replied, producing a copper coin. "Think about Ellander, as vividly as you can."

"Think?"

"Yes, think," Argus instructed. "Imagine it clearly, in every detail you can recall, understood?"

"Right..."

Argus gestured and tossed the copper coin into the air. Whispers escaped his lips as he incanted, "Virtus est scientia."

Nicholas's head spun, inundated with knowledge about Ellander: its terrain, ambiance, and scent. It appeared this journey would be expedited.

As they finished, Nicholas tried to shake off the dizziness.

"Alright, it's done. Thank you, Nicholas, you've helped me a lot." Argus rose from his seat, downing his glass of wine and heading toward the cluttered corner. "Could you inform the villagers that I won't be available daily? I'm planning a journey."

"Sorry?" Nicholas stammered.

"Tell them I can't receive visitors every day," Argus reiterated. "I'll return every week, so there's no need to worry."

"Ah, I understand. I'll convey the message, Master Wizard."

"Thank you, Nicholas," Argus nodded. "Feel free to take the wine back to your home."

"We won't trouble ye further, Master Wizard," Nicholas said, excusing himself with Roy. Chocolate in hand and wine in the other, they departed from the tower.

—

In the waning hours of the afternoon, Argus found himself at the conclusion of his packing endeavors. The finer preparations, meticulously attended to earlier, involved fortifying the tower's security measures and devising safeguards to repel any attempts at thievery or pillage. Although his confidence in the goodwill he had garnered from the villagers was resolute, he harbored no illusion that this trust would eternally stand unshaken. The glimpses he had caught within the old man's thoughts provided ample justification for his cautious demeanor.

At long last, his staff was poised in his left hand while his spellbook found its place in the other. His material pouch and the bag of holding were securely fastened to his person, completing his ensemble. With a flourish of his staff through the air, arcane particles commenced their dance, coalescing around him. He skillfully weaved an illusion in his mind, one crafted from the mental images he had gleaned from Nicholas earlier that morning. And then, with an incantation escaping his lips like a whispered secret, he uttered, "Dronilnr ve ekess wer goawy si tuor!"

A surge of magic, having gathered in his vicinity, erupted suddenly, enshrouding him entirely, and as abruptly as a candle snuffed, his vision plunged into darkness.