Ace of Wands
It was the Festival of Lights. One of the yearly ceremonies meant to acknowledge the blessing of the Shepherds, the mages who protected them and a number of other villages who lived outside the purview of the surrounding kingdoms. They lived in poor land, and it was only thanks to the blessings of the Shepherds that the land was fertile enough to support them. In exchange for their benevolence, the Shepherds only required that they follow the rituals they had ordained, particularly the festivals.
Many of their festivals were centered around the stages of the crops' development, each serving to create a beacon and focal point for the rest of the order to direct their power, ensuring that the soil would be rich, the crops protected from scavengers and pests, and the harvest would be bountiful as possible in this rugged land. However, beyond any of these, the Festival of Lights was the most important of them all, for it was during this festival that the Shepherds chose those who could wield their power.
The Festival of Lights took place in the dead of winter, during the longest night of the year. The entire night was wreathed in fires and the people celebrated from dusk until dawn, and with the breaking of day, the Shepherd presiding over the festival passed around one of his orders' artifacts. An orb of pure crystal, that shone with an inner brilliance in the presence of those with the gift.
Some were chosen from a young age, others in their twilight years. Even if one had the gift, they were not obligated to join the Shepherds, but many of them did. The chance to experience power over the earth, to be known and honored beyond their tiny village was something few people would be willing to ignore.
Of course, some were not ready. They had duties to the village, or other dreams to fulfill first, and the Shepherds did not care. So long as they possessed the gift, they would be accepted with open arms.
Of course, having the gift one year did not ensure that it would remain by the next festival. Some had been reduced to tears when the Shepherd apologetically told them their gift had vanished, lost due to atrophy and neglect. Still, they were among the rarest of people, and their gift was likely weak to begin with, but it made it difficult to deny the Shepherd when one was chosen.
Jacob didn't let that concern him. He was nineteen, and had never shown any signs of having the potential. He was perfectly happy with his life in the village, working at his father's forge. While the wonder of wielding the power of magic was intriguing, he had never displayed even the faintest sign of having the gift. Still, the idea of being able to use magic was an interesting one. For a moment, Jacob considered what he would do with that sort of power.
Jacob jumped as an angry shout filled the forge area, his father apparently tired of his daydreaming. “Sorry father!†he said, shaking his head as he refocused himself on the project before him. As powerful as the Shepherds were, without working the fields, there wasn't much that could be done. Without the proper tools, it would be even more difficult.
It didn't matter that he had done this a hundred times before, or that he would do them a hundred times again. Each aspect of the work had to be given the utmost attention lest it be ruined by a single moment of carelessness. While the metal could be melted down and used again, it would waste precious time, that was something he didn't want, especially on such an auspicious day. He calmed himself, and moved through the final motions, before plunging his project into the ice cold water. He pulled it out, studying it for any hidden flaws, before putting it aside, satisfied. His work completed, Jacob began gathering his things, ready to join the rest of the village at the festival.
He shivered as he stepped out into the falling snow, the abrupt change from the heated forge passing through his body. He took a moment to adjust, before locking the forge behind him, and heading towards the center of the village.
It wasn't a long trip, but the sun had already set, and the darkness concealed the path, making it difficult to walk. The only guide he had through the falling flakes of snow was the distant bonfire at the center of the village.
Eventually, he made his way to the village, where smaller fires were scattered about, making navigation easier. He sped up a bit, hoping to
“Ingrid!†Jacob shouted, waving frantically at his friend from across the crowd. She glanced up quizzically, before returning the gesture to him. He quickly made his way through the crowds to his blonde haired friend, sharing a grin with her.
“I thought you were going to get stuck working at the forge all night!†She said with a smile, giving him a brief hug.
“I managed to get everything done a bit sooner than expected, though given how cold it is out here, maybe I should have slowed down a bit.†He replied.
“Would you really have missed spending the longest night with me?†She asked him teasingly.
“If it kept me from getting frostbite, I might have.â€
“Never mind that, let's get something to eat!†she said, dragging him behind her towards the fire.
The hunters had been quite successful over the last few days in preparation for the festival, which was a surprise, though a welcome one. Their stores of vegetables and dried meat were supplemented by fresh goat meat, cooked over a roaring bonfire at the center of the village. They quickly seized a share of the feast, before moving away from the center of activity, staying near the numerous fires surrounding them. They listened as music filled the air, as the festival truly began. The longest night had begun, and they would stand vigil until the dawn came.
“Settle down, damn you!†The town elder shouted boisterously. Despite his age, he was still hale and hearty, and his voice echoed through the village square. While it took several seconds, the celebrating crowd quickly quieted itself, well aware what was coming next.
The Shepherd stepped forward, clad in the brown robes they were always wearing. In his hand, he held a gnarled, wooden staff that towered over him, the gem entangled with the wood glowing brightly.
“On this, the darkest of days, let a light shine forth, and show us those who bear the gift.†the Shepherd intoned, before murmuring a series of words that no one could here. Immediately, the gem went dark, and he began to walk among the assembled villagers. For the majority of villagers, he merely passed them by. For a few of them, he hesitated for a few moments, and a few faint sparks ignited in the stave, before fading out, and he moved on. Only on the rarest occasions would
Ingrid grinned as he walked by them, huddling against Jacob for additional warmth. The grin began to fade as the Shepherd paused, and gently moved them apart. For a second nothing happened, and they glanced uneasily at each other, before a brilliant light nearly blinded them,
.
Jacob stared in disbelief at the glowing orb before him, a sure indicator that he possessed the gift of magic. He looked up at the aged face of the Shepherd, who smiled at him. The rest of the village once again erupted in cheers, as he was pushed forward to join the ranks of the potential Shepherds.
Two
Jacob was in shock, to say the least. He only recalled the rest of the festival in a blurry haze. The first clear memory after being pushed forwards was walking in the door of his home, and collapsing in his bed.
The Shepherds who had facilitated the ceremonies were staying in the village for a few days, so Jacob didn't have to rush his decision, but the weight of the choice before him was a heavy one. This was a decision that could affect his entire life.
As almost everyone did after the festival, he slept through most of the day, regaining sleep lost over the course of the long night. His sleep was undisturbed, but when he woke, he felt even more exhausted than when he had gone to sleep.
Jacob struggled out of bed, and slowly made his way into the kitchen. He could hear the clanging of pots and pans as his mother busied herself with preparing the evening meal. Jacob briefly considered returning to his room, but from the way she held herself, she already knew he was there.
“Hi, Mom.†He said quietly, moving to help her, only to be pushed away.
“Stay out of the kitchen. You'll just ruin my cooking.†she said sharply. Jacob quickly moved out of her path, shifting uncomfortably in the awkward silence, only emphasized by the sounds of her cooking.
“Mom-â€
“I just don't see why you need to go and join the Shepherds. They have plenty of members already!†Jacob's mother ranted, even as she continued to make dinner.
“Mom-â€
“Besides, who else would take over your father's forge? He's been training you on that since you could walk, and do you think he has enough time to start all over with a new apprentice? Of course not.â€
“But mom-â€
“Don't 'but' me! You have too many responsibilities here!†She said, eyes shining brightly. Jacob didn't know what to say, and was saved form the dilemma as his father walked into the room, and wrapped his arms around his wife.
“Sweetheart-â€
“You too!†She said, pushing her husband away as she resumed her frantic cooking.
“Of course, dear.†Jacob heard his father say easily. Both of them had learned long ago to avoid provoking her when she got like this. It still amused Jacob that his father, who was such a slave driver at the forge, turned into such a genial man outside of it. He always wondered if he was always like that, or if years of marriage had made him that way. The two of them sat back quietly for a moment as Jacob's mother bustled in the kitchen. Once he was sure that she was well involved with her work, Jacob's father gestured towards his son.
“Take a walk with me son.†he said, easily rising from the table in the wake of his wife's work. Jacob quickly followed his father out. The sun had already set, and the sky was quickly fading to darkness. The two men walked a short distance to the fence, and relaxed, looking over the darkening landscape.
“You know your mother is only concerned about you. She's always expected you would be around helping me with the forge, and she's not ready to have you leave the nest.â€
“I know, and to be honest, I'm not sure if I'm ready for this either.†Jacob replied
“This is the sort of thing no one can be ready for. There are some who dream their entire lives of joining the Shepherds and never get the chance. It's entirely in the hands of fate.â€
“I just wonder, should I go with the Shepherd now, or wait until next year?†Jacob said, looking out at the mountain range surrounding the village. The storm had lightened, but the snow continued to fall.
“Will there be a next year? You can always leave the Shepherds, should you find the magic is not to your liking, but if you stay here for a year, what if the magic should leave you? The rest of your life, you'll wonder about what could have been, what you could have accomplished.â€
“But what about Ingrid?â€
“Ingrid is a young girl, just as you are a young man.†his father told him with a grin, “There is plenty of time for the two of you to grow closer in the future. If she should find another while you're away, who is to say you won't do the same?â€
“Dad!â€
“She cares for you, so I doubt that would happen.†Jacob grimaced at his father's teasing, “I know that losing her seems like the end of the world, but there is so much more out there to see. I don't want you to live with might have beens.â€
“Still...â€
“You can always come back. A good number of Shepherds do. It's not a lifelong commitment unless you want it to be.â€
“I know.â€
“The real question you need to ask yourself is if you'll regret not going.â€
Jacob closed his eyes in thought at his father's words. He still wasn't sure how he felt about the whole thing, but talking with his father, as always, helped bring some form of clarity to him. Even if he was still unsure, he felt calmer, more ready to deal with the decision.
“Dear! Get back in here! Dinner's ready, and I won't have it get cold because of you!†Both men winced as the voice of Jacob's mother rang out into the night.
“Coming sweetheart!†Jacob's father replied, before sharing a grin with his son, “Besides, there's plenty of time before you end up like me.â€
Laughing, the two men returned to the house.
Dinner proceeded sedately. While his mother remained agitated, both Jacob and his father managed to calm her somewhat, enough that the meal progressed without incident. The first and only meal of the day concluded, they quickly cleaned up the table, his parents retiring to their room, while Jacob left the house again, hoping the cold air of winter would clear his head and help him make a decision. It didn't.
The next day, Jacob woke with the rising sun, and immediately gathered his clothes. The few hours awake yesterday had made his mother's opinions abundantly clear, and he didn't need to hear them again today. Instead, he left the house, taking a brisk pace down to the village.
As he wandered through the frozen paths between homes, he saw the other who had been chosen. Some of them were chattering excitedly with their friends, relishing the anticipation of learning to wield magic. Others were far more subdued, much like himself. While he couldn't be sure, some of them were missing entirely, perhaps locking themselves away until the Shepherd left.
“There you are.†Jacob jerked in surprise, before turning around to face Ingrid.
“Don't scare me like that!†he said, earning a light giggle from her.
“So, are you leaving?†Ingrid asked, nervously playing with her hair.
Jacob sighed, beginning to walk again.“I'm not sure if I am yet, to be honest.â€
Ingrid matched his pace, “Why not?â€
“There's a lot for me to think about. Leaving my father alone with the forge, leaving behind everyone I've ever known...â€
“Us?†She asked, locking her piercing blue eyes with his.
“...Yes.†Jacob replied, averting his eyes from her probing gaze.
Ingrid sighed, “Those are all important things to think about, but you're forgetting the most important one.â€
“And what is that?â€
“What do you want to do? Isn't it obvious?â€
Jacob chuckled, “I suppose it is...â€
“So, Jacob, do you want to be a Shepherd?†she asked him. Jacob remained silent, lost in thought at her direct question. Ingrid stood there for a moment, waiting for a reply, but when she saw that none was forthcoming, she walked off, leaving him to discover the answer for himself.
As night fell, Jacob continued to wander. The snow that had been falling for the last few days had lifted, and the stars could be seen faintly through the clearly skies. While by no means bright, it was enough to see by, and Jacob continued to walk, the movement helping his thoughts. He soon found himself far beyond the outskirts of the village, making his way into the mountain paths. The difficulty of the obstacles didn't deter him, he simply needed to keep moving, and wouldn't let something so simple stop him. He continued on, despite the darkness, wandering aimlessly through the paths as if they held the answer he was looking for.
As he walked, the world seemed to fade. Familiarity with the paths allowed them to fade from his consciousness, leaving him alone with his thoughts. What did he truly want? What was the path he should choose? Abruptly, he stopped, and noticed he had reached the peak. While certainly far from the tallest mountain in the range, barely a hundred feet above the village itself, it did have a spectacular view, at least, during the day. Jacob sat down, suddenly feeling the ache in his legs. He didn't have anywhere else he could run to or hide. It was time to make a decision.
Did he want to stay here, take over his father's forge, and live his life in the village? It was what he always assumed his life would be, and it still had its appeals. He would be a respected member of the community, perhaps even becoming the Elder in time. He would get married, to Ingrid if he was lucky, or perhaps a girl from one of the other towns, have children a live his life. While no means exciting, it was what he had always expected, and to choose to leave it behind... he didn't know if he could do that.
Did he want to leave everything behind? Abandon the life he had lived for something different? The skills he had developed as a blacksmith would likely be useless to the Shepherds. His strength from working the forge would be useless for working magic. Casting aside everything in his life for the unknown, could he really do that? Even as the fear of losing everything filled him, a small part of him whispered, think of what you could learn, what you could accomplish. You could be so much more than what you are, if only you take the chance.
Jacob stared at the blackened landscape before him, watching the faint details emerge as the last trances of the storm were blown away by the wind, revealing the glimmering stars above. Even with the dim lighting, he could pick out each and every aspect of what he saw, their locations engraved in his very soul from years of living here.
He didn't know how long he sat there staring into the void, but as he looked into the ever deepening darkness, the path he was meant to take slowly became clear to him. In the darkness, where nothing existed but him, the truth he would grasp became blindingly obvious.
Jacob carefully picked his way down the mountain, back to the village. With instinct born of years of walking the same path, he made his way back to his home. When he finally arrived, it was likely past midnight, though he had never studied the stars enough to be sure. Jacob crept into his home, careful to avoid making any sound, lest he wake his mother. He quietly made his way into his room, put everything away in their proper place, and climbed into bed.
The day dawned, the third since the festival of Lights. Jacob rose with the sun, the long night of wrestling with his choices finally over. He had expected to feel some vestiges of nervousness, but that was all in the past now. He felt... strangely at peace. Again, he walked towards the village, though without the strained energy of yesterday. The stress of indecision was gone, replaced with resolve.
“So, have you made a decision?†the Shepherd asked. The other chosen looked at him, though a good number of them were absent, either to frightened to show, or had already given their answer, and returned home.
“I have.†Jacob replied, his voice steady.
“Are you ready?â€
“I'm ready.†Jacob said, and grinned.
It was the Festival of Lights. One of the yearly ceremonies meant to acknowledge the blessing of the Shepherds, the mages who protected them and a number of other villages who lived outside the purview of the surrounding kingdoms. They lived in poor land, and it was only thanks to the blessings of the Shepherds that the land was fertile enough to support them. In exchange for their benevolence, the Shepherds only required that they follow the rituals they had ordained, particularly the festivals.
Many of their festivals were centered around the stages of the crops' development, each serving to create a beacon and focal point for the rest of the order to direct their power, ensuring that the soil would be rich, the crops protected from scavengers and pests, and the harvest would be bountiful as possible in this rugged land. However, beyond any of these, the Festival of Lights was the most important of them all, for it was during this festival that the Shepherds chose those who could wield their power.
The Festival of Lights took place in the dead of winter, during the longest night of the year. The entire night was wreathed in fires and the people celebrated from dusk until dawn, and with the breaking of day, the Shepherd presiding over the festival passed around one of his orders' artifacts. An orb of pure crystal, that shone with an inner brilliance in the presence of those with the gift.
Some were chosen from a young age, others in their twilight years. Even if one had the gift, they were not obligated to join the Shepherds, but many of them did. The chance to experience power over the earth, to be known and honored beyond their tiny village was something few people would be willing to ignore.
Of course, some were not ready. They had duties to the village, or other dreams to fulfill first, and the Shepherds did not care. So long as they possessed the gift, they would be accepted with open arms.
Of course, having the gift one year did not ensure that it would remain by the next festival. Some had been reduced to tears when the Shepherd apologetically told them their gift had vanished, lost due to atrophy and neglect. Still, they were among the rarest of people, and their gift was likely weak to begin with, but it made it difficult to deny the Shepherd when one was chosen.
Jacob didn't let that concern him. He was nineteen, and had never shown any signs of having the potential. He was perfectly happy with his life in the village, working at his father's forge. While the wonder of wielding the power of magic was intriguing, he had never displayed even the faintest sign of having the gift. Still, the idea of being able to use magic was an interesting one. For a moment, Jacob considered what he would do with that sort of power.
Jacob jumped as an angry shout filled the forge area, his father apparently tired of his daydreaming. “Sorry father!†he said, shaking his head as he refocused himself on the project before him. As powerful as the Shepherds were, without working the fields, there wasn't much that could be done. Without the proper tools, it would be even more difficult.
It didn't matter that he had done this a hundred times before, or that he would do them a hundred times again. Each aspect of the work had to be given the utmost attention lest it be ruined by a single moment of carelessness. While the metal could be melted down and used again, it would waste precious time, that was something he didn't want, especially on such an auspicious day. He calmed himself, and moved through the final motions, before plunging his project into the ice cold water. He pulled it out, studying it for any hidden flaws, before putting it aside, satisfied. His work completed, Jacob began gathering his things, ready to join the rest of the village at the festival.
He shivered as he stepped out into the falling snow, the abrupt change from the heated forge passing through his body. He took a moment to adjust, before locking the forge behind him, and heading towards the center of the village.
It wasn't a long trip, but the sun had already set, and the darkness concealed the path, making it difficult to walk. The only guide he had through the falling flakes of snow was the distant bonfire at the center of the village.
Eventually, he made his way to the village, where smaller fires were scattered about, making navigation easier. He sped up a bit, hoping to
“Ingrid!†Jacob shouted, waving frantically at his friend from across the crowd. She glanced up quizzically, before returning the gesture to him. He quickly made his way through the crowds to his blonde haired friend, sharing a grin with her.
“I thought you were going to get stuck working at the forge all night!†She said with a smile, giving him a brief hug.
“I managed to get everything done a bit sooner than expected, though given how cold it is out here, maybe I should have slowed down a bit.†He replied.
“Would you really have missed spending the longest night with me?†She asked him teasingly.
“If it kept me from getting frostbite, I might have.â€
“Never mind that, let's get something to eat!†she said, dragging him behind her towards the fire.
The hunters had been quite successful over the last few days in preparation for the festival, which was a surprise, though a welcome one. Their stores of vegetables and dried meat were supplemented by fresh goat meat, cooked over a roaring bonfire at the center of the village. They quickly seized a share of the feast, before moving away from the center of activity, staying near the numerous fires surrounding them. They listened as music filled the air, as the festival truly began. The longest night had begun, and they would stand vigil until the dawn came.
“Settle down, damn you!†The town elder shouted boisterously. Despite his age, he was still hale and hearty, and his voice echoed through the village square. While it took several seconds, the celebrating crowd quickly quieted itself, well aware what was coming next.
The Shepherd stepped forward, clad in the brown robes they were always wearing. In his hand, he held a gnarled, wooden staff that towered over him, the gem entangled with the wood glowing brightly.
“On this, the darkest of days, let a light shine forth, and show us those who bear the gift.†the Shepherd intoned, before murmuring a series of words that no one could here. Immediately, the gem went dark, and he began to walk among the assembled villagers. For the majority of villagers, he merely passed them by. For a few of them, he hesitated for a few moments, and a few faint sparks ignited in the stave, before fading out, and he moved on. Only on the rarest occasions would
Ingrid grinned as he walked by them, huddling against Jacob for additional warmth. The grin began to fade as the Shepherd paused, and gently moved them apart. For a second nothing happened, and they glanced uneasily at each other, before a brilliant light nearly blinded them,
.
Jacob stared in disbelief at the glowing orb before him, a sure indicator that he possessed the gift of magic. He looked up at the aged face of the Shepherd, who smiled at him. The rest of the village once again erupted in cheers, as he was pushed forward to join the ranks of the potential Shepherds.
Two
Jacob was in shock, to say the least. He only recalled the rest of the festival in a blurry haze. The first clear memory after being pushed forwards was walking in the door of his home, and collapsing in his bed.
The Shepherds who had facilitated the ceremonies were staying in the village for a few days, so Jacob didn't have to rush his decision, but the weight of the choice before him was a heavy one. This was a decision that could affect his entire life.
As almost everyone did after the festival, he slept through most of the day, regaining sleep lost over the course of the long night. His sleep was undisturbed, but when he woke, he felt even more exhausted than when he had gone to sleep.
Jacob struggled out of bed, and slowly made his way into the kitchen. He could hear the clanging of pots and pans as his mother busied herself with preparing the evening meal. Jacob briefly considered returning to his room, but from the way she held herself, she already knew he was there.
“Hi, Mom.†He said quietly, moving to help her, only to be pushed away.
“Stay out of the kitchen. You'll just ruin my cooking.†she said sharply. Jacob quickly moved out of her path, shifting uncomfortably in the awkward silence, only emphasized by the sounds of her cooking.
“Mom-â€
“I just don't see why you need to go and join the Shepherds. They have plenty of members already!†Jacob's mother ranted, even as she continued to make dinner.
“Mom-â€
“Besides, who else would take over your father's forge? He's been training you on that since you could walk, and do you think he has enough time to start all over with a new apprentice? Of course not.â€
“But mom-â€
“Don't 'but' me! You have too many responsibilities here!†She said, eyes shining brightly. Jacob didn't know what to say, and was saved form the dilemma as his father walked into the room, and wrapped his arms around his wife.
“Sweetheart-â€
“You too!†She said, pushing her husband away as she resumed her frantic cooking.
“Of course, dear.†Jacob heard his father say easily. Both of them had learned long ago to avoid provoking her when she got like this. It still amused Jacob that his father, who was such a slave driver at the forge, turned into such a genial man outside of it. He always wondered if he was always like that, or if years of marriage had made him that way. The two of them sat back quietly for a moment as Jacob's mother bustled in the kitchen. Once he was sure that she was well involved with her work, Jacob's father gestured towards his son.
“Take a walk with me son.†he said, easily rising from the table in the wake of his wife's work. Jacob quickly followed his father out. The sun had already set, and the sky was quickly fading to darkness. The two men walked a short distance to the fence, and relaxed, looking over the darkening landscape.
“You know your mother is only concerned about you. She's always expected you would be around helping me with the forge, and she's not ready to have you leave the nest.â€
“I know, and to be honest, I'm not sure if I'm ready for this either.†Jacob replied
“This is the sort of thing no one can be ready for. There are some who dream their entire lives of joining the Shepherds and never get the chance. It's entirely in the hands of fate.â€
“I just wonder, should I go with the Shepherd now, or wait until next year?†Jacob said, looking out at the mountain range surrounding the village. The storm had lightened, but the snow continued to fall.
“Will there be a next year? You can always leave the Shepherds, should you find the magic is not to your liking, but if you stay here for a year, what if the magic should leave you? The rest of your life, you'll wonder about what could have been, what you could have accomplished.â€
“But what about Ingrid?â€
“Ingrid is a young girl, just as you are a young man.†his father told him with a grin, “There is plenty of time for the two of you to grow closer in the future. If she should find another while you're away, who is to say you won't do the same?â€
“Dad!â€
“She cares for you, so I doubt that would happen.†Jacob grimaced at his father's teasing, “I know that losing her seems like the end of the world, but there is so much more out there to see. I don't want you to live with might have beens.â€
“Still...â€
“You can always come back. A good number of Shepherds do. It's not a lifelong commitment unless you want it to be.â€
“I know.â€
“The real question you need to ask yourself is if you'll regret not going.â€
Jacob closed his eyes in thought at his father's words. He still wasn't sure how he felt about the whole thing, but talking with his father, as always, helped bring some form of clarity to him. Even if he was still unsure, he felt calmer, more ready to deal with the decision.
“Dear! Get back in here! Dinner's ready, and I won't have it get cold because of you!†Both men winced as the voice of Jacob's mother rang out into the night.
“Coming sweetheart!†Jacob's father replied, before sharing a grin with his son, “Besides, there's plenty of time before you end up like me.â€
Laughing, the two men returned to the house.
Dinner proceeded sedately. While his mother remained agitated, both Jacob and his father managed to calm her somewhat, enough that the meal progressed without incident. The first and only meal of the day concluded, they quickly cleaned up the table, his parents retiring to their room, while Jacob left the house again, hoping the cold air of winter would clear his head and help him make a decision. It didn't.
The next day, Jacob woke with the rising sun, and immediately gathered his clothes. The few hours awake yesterday had made his mother's opinions abundantly clear, and he didn't need to hear them again today. Instead, he left the house, taking a brisk pace down to the village.
As he wandered through the frozen paths between homes, he saw the other who had been chosen. Some of them were chattering excitedly with their friends, relishing the anticipation of learning to wield magic. Others were far more subdued, much like himself. While he couldn't be sure, some of them were missing entirely, perhaps locking themselves away until the Shepherd left.
“There you are.†Jacob jerked in surprise, before turning around to face Ingrid.
“Don't scare me like that!†he said, earning a light giggle from her.
“So, are you leaving?†Ingrid asked, nervously playing with her hair.
Jacob sighed, beginning to walk again.“I'm not sure if I am yet, to be honest.â€
Ingrid matched his pace, “Why not?â€
“There's a lot for me to think about. Leaving my father alone with the forge, leaving behind everyone I've ever known...â€
“Us?†She asked, locking her piercing blue eyes with his.
“...Yes.†Jacob replied, averting his eyes from her probing gaze.
Ingrid sighed, “Those are all important things to think about, but you're forgetting the most important one.â€
“And what is that?â€
“What do you want to do? Isn't it obvious?â€
Jacob chuckled, “I suppose it is...â€
“So, Jacob, do you want to be a Shepherd?†she asked him. Jacob remained silent, lost in thought at her direct question. Ingrid stood there for a moment, waiting for a reply, but when she saw that none was forthcoming, she walked off, leaving him to discover the answer for himself.
As night fell, Jacob continued to wander. The snow that had been falling for the last few days had lifted, and the stars could be seen faintly through the clearly skies. While by no means bright, it was enough to see by, and Jacob continued to walk, the movement helping his thoughts. He soon found himself far beyond the outskirts of the village, making his way into the mountain paths. The difficulty of the obstacles didn't deter him, he simply needed to keep moving, and wouldn't let something so simple stop him. He continued on, despite the darkness, wandering aimlessly through the paths as if they held the answer he was looking for.
As he walked, the world seemed to fade. Familiarity with the paths allowed them to fade from his consciousness, leaving him alone with his thoughts. What did he truly want? What was the path he should choose? Abruptly, he stopped, and noticed he had reached the peak. While certainly far from the tallest mountain in the range, barely a hundred feet above the village itself, it did have a spectacular view, at least, during the day. Jacob sat down, suddenly feeling the ache in his legs. He didn't have anywhere else he could run to or hide. It was time to make a decision.
Did he want to stay here, take over his father's forge, and live his life in the village? It was what he always assumed his life would be, and it still had its appeals. He would be a respected member of the community, perhaps even becoming the Elder in time. He would get married, to Ingrid if he was lucky, or perhaps a girl from one of the other towns, have children a live his life. While no means exciting, it was what he had always expected, and to choose to leave it behind... he didn't know if he could do that.
Did he want to leave everything behind? Abandon the life he had lived for something different? The skills he had developed as a blacksmith would likely be useless to the Shepherds. His strength from working the forge would be useless for working magic. Casting aside everything in his life for the unknown, could he really do that? Even as the fear of losing everything filled him, a small part of him whispered, think of what you could learn, what you could accomplish. You could be so much more than what you are, if only you take the chance.
Jacob stared at the blackened landscape before him, watching the faint details emerge as the last trances of the storm were blown away by the wind, revealing the glimmering stars above. Even with the dim lighting, he could pick out each and every aspect of what he saw, their locations engraved in his very soul from years of living here.
He didn't know how long he sat there staring into the void, but as he looked into the ever deepening darkness, the path he was meant to take slowly became clear to him. In the darkness, where nothing existed but him, the truth he would grasp became blindingly obvious.
Jacob carefully picked his way down the mountain, back to the village. With instinct born of years of walking the same path, he made his way back to his home. When he finally arrived, it was likely past midnight, though he had never studied the stars enough to be sure. Jacob crept into his home, careful to avoid making any sound, lest he wake his mother. He quietly made his way into his room, put everything away in their proper place, and climbed into bed.
The day dawned, the third since the festival of Lights. Jacob rose with the sun, the long night of wrestling with his choices finally over. He had expected to feel some vestiges of nervousness, but that was all in the past now. He felt... strangely at peace. Again, he walked towards the village, though without the strained energy of yesterday. The stress of indecision was gone, replaced with resolve.
“So, have you made a decision?†the Shepherd asked. The other chosen looked at him, though a good number of them were absent, either to frightened to show, or had already given their answer, and returned home.
“I have.†Jacob replied, his voice steady.
“Are you ready?â€
“I'm ready.†Jacob said, and grinned.