[b]Chapter 2: The journey begins[/b]

The Rose Path village was really pretty at this time of the year. As the name stated, on these days the trail that slithered through the village had blossoming rose bushes on the sides: red and white flowers were everywhere. The most beautiful flowers could be found from the root of a statue that had been erected to the center of Rose Path. This work of art portrayed a heroine named Maarika, who had achieved downright a status of a saint in this little village. Rose was her symbol: she wore on her head a crown made of roses. Generations ago Maarika had saved the village from the claws of a certain monster. The beast was venomous and contaminated village's drinking water, killing those wretches who made the mistake to drink the water. Maarika slayed that vile creature and so she became the patron saint of Rose Path. People planted roses next to their houses in her honor.

Kevin and Jasper strided through the village with a quick pace, Nicolas following from behind. They were headed to Raymond's tavern: White Falcon. Even though Kevin was in a bad mood, he still allowed Nicolas to accompany him.

As they stepped inside the tavern, they were welcomed by the smell of beer, warm food and cigars as well as noisy talk of drunken men. Many of the visitors turned to look at the comers, mostly just residents of the village who had arrived to the White Falcon to spend a moment of break from their everyday chores. Few of the groups that were travelling through the village weren't interested in the coming of youngsters, but they didn't know them. Instead, Rose Path residents followed with interest the travel of Kevin and Nicolas to a certain corner table in that dim building. Kevin was too cranky to care, but Nicolas felt a little bit embarrassed under all those stares. Jasper settled down loyally to lie on his master's feet.

Raymond, short and bald middle-aged man walked through the hall to them. “Well, well, Nicolas and Kevin. What would you like?”

Kevin slammed his fist into the table and blurted out: “A tankard of beer and right now!” This made the situation seem a bit comical. But Kevin was a person who didn't hide his feelings or apologized for his possibly rude behavior.

“A tankard for me too”, Nicolas requested. Raymond nodded and walked through the hall to get them drinks.

He came back soon to young men and struck the tankards into the table saying: “There you go. The house offers.”

That was guessable. Nicolas would get all the beverages in the tavern if he wanted to. Kevin drank his tankard voraciously in one draught, but Nicolas drank more moderately. His friend ordered another beer.

And another one.

And another.

When the day turned to dusk, Kevin was in quite intoxicated state already, his mood clearly raised thanks to the alcohol. Nicolas had thought that this would happen, and hadn't got drunk, so he would be able to help his friend home. As they left from the White Falcon, Kevin almost couldn't stand. Nicolas had to lead him. At the same time Kevin was singing loudly and cheerfully, but falsely. Then he proceeded to repeat how good friend Nicolas was, saying it again at least twelve times. Frankly speaking, Kevin was obnoxious in his drunken state, but Nicolas tried to not to care about it too much. He thought that Jasper was lucky as it couldn't understand its master's exceptional condition.

Kevin lived with his father in the outskirts of the village. They both were hunters. As the youngsters and Jasper were getting closer to Kevin's home, Nicolas noticed that Kevin's father, Ronald, that bearded and dark-haired man like Kevin, was standing on the door facing them with his arms crossed. He observed the clumsy going of Nicolas and Kevin and shook his head saying nothing. Then he moved to help getting his loudly singing son inside the house. Ronald muttered something like thanks before he slipped inside leading his son, Jasper following behind.

“You're welcome.” Nicolas managed to answer just before the door was shut. He shrugged and set off to march towards his home.

Nicolas' family lived closer to the village's center. There were roses planted next to their house, too, both red and white. Nicolas liked these flowers – had always liked. He examined the plants for a little while before finally walking inside his home.

It was dim inside because of the dusk. Nicolas detected, that his mother Tamsin, whose blond hair he had inherited, was working with something at the table in a candle's light. He walked to his mother and greeted: “Hey, mom.”

“You came just in time.” Tamsin spread the fabrics she had been handling on the table; they were new pants, tunic and cloak. “These are for you.”

“For me?” Nicolas asked in surprise and looked at the new clothes in confusion. He hadn't gotten new clothes in ages despite of his both parents being tailors. They had rather mended old clothes than make new ones.

“Of course”, Tamsin answered. She stretched her stiffen limbs. “You have to look presentable when you go to Violet Hillock.”

“To Violet Hillock? Why?” Nicolas asked, even though he already knew the answer. Violet Hillock was the village of mages. They if someone could help Nicolas to learn more about his powers. But was it necessary right now? When looking at his mother's tired face Nicolas did guess the answer: yes. Yes it was.

“It's better for you to go to talk the elders of Violet Hillock. They will teach you how to not to be a little destroyer.”

“But I have not – “

“Nicolas.” Tamsin sighed. Nicolas fell silent. He noticed how dark it was under her eyes. How exhausted she was. Tamsin had really worked hard for making the new clothes; alongside with the preparations of Nicolas' sister Evelyn's wedding.

“What about Evelyn's wedding?” Nicolas asked. “I want to attend it.”

Tamsin scratched her head. “No way, Nicolas. We don't want you to accidentally set something on fire or destroy anything during the wedding.”

“But I haven't done anything… anything destructive other than that small fireball.”

Tamsin sighed again. “Listen… I spoke with Oliver earlier today. You are going to depart to the Village of Hundred Passages at tomorrow morning with him.”

“What? At tomorrow already?” Nicolas asked.

“Exactly.”

“But doesn't this come… come a little too early?”

“Nicolas, my darling. I and your father are genuinely proud of you. And that's why you have to go to Violet Hillock; so that you would become a true wizard. Do it for us, alright?”

“Does dad agree? Where is he now?”

“He's finishing Evelyn's wedding dress. It's better that you don't disturb him. And yes, he does agree with me.”

Nicolas didn't know what to say. He didn't like at all what direction things had turned; it was like a jump into the unknown. But did he have a choice? His parents had already arranged everything. He couldn't do anything but consent. And who knows; maybe there existed a slight chance that there was no room for him in Violet Hillock and he would get back home right away.

“Very well”, Nicolas said. “I'll leave at the morning.”

His mother smiled wider than ever before. “You are a good son, Nicolas.”

Nicolas didn't answer anything anymore. He just walked away and headed to the stairs towards his room.

He shared his room with two of his brothers; the other was big brother Darren, and the other one was little brother Theodore. The room, however, would maybe soon become Theodore's own, for Evelyn, who had her own room, would move out soon and Darren would get his sister's room. And because Nicolas himself was going away too, Theodore would be left alone. Or who knows, maybe the youngest brother of all, Lucas, who had so far slept in their parents' room, would move together in the same room with Theodore. Or perhaps the twins Orson and Olivia would go from their room to accompany Theodore? Regardless, changes were about to happen.

When Nicolas arrived to the room, Darren was currently reading a fairy tale for Theodore. Darren had always liked reading and learning, unlike Nicolas, who had rather wandered outside in the forest.

The brothers turned to take a look at the comer. Like Nicolas, Darren too had inherited Tamsin's blond hair, where Theodore had a little darker hair like their father, Alan.

“Hey Nicolas”, Darren uttered. “You were said to departure to Violet Hillock at the morning, right?”

“Apparently”, Nicolas blurted. He took off his boots and tunic and lied down to his bed.

“That's pretty good thing”, Darren said. “They probably teach you to not set things on fire.”

“Why everyone now assumes that I'm going to destroy stuff”, Nicolas complained. “I haven't broken anything so far.”

Although Darren had a good reason to think like that. It was exactly his face which Nicolas had almost burned with his small fireball.

Darren just shrugged and was about to continue reading, but Theodore suddenly spoke: “Nico, Nico! Can I become a wizard too?”

“Maybe. Who knows”, Nicolas answered smiling. Theodore just giggled cutely. Then Darren continued reading; his story told about fairies that lived deep in the forest. Little by little his fable caused both Theodore and Nicolas to fall in a deep sleep.

When the morning dawned Tamsin came to shook Nicolas awake.

“Here are your new clothes”, she said. “Get dressed soon, Oliver waits outside already.”

Sleepy Nicolas yawned first and then stretched. He would have wanted to so badly stay in bed sleeping, but his mother rushed him to get up. Nicolas changed new clothes on: they felt good on him. Then he started to walk to downstairs after his mother.

“Nicolas, take this”, Tamsin said and gave Nicolas a pouch. “There are our savings. Hopefully it's enough for your travel.”

“But I can't take this”, Nicolas protested. He didn't want to deprive his parents' money.

“Yes you'll take”, his mother demanded. Tamsin stared at him so sharply that he had to accept. You could not say no to that expression. Nicolas tied the pouch to his belt. Then they both walked out of the door, Nicolas still taking a look behind – he said farewell to his home with his gaze.

The morning was misty and cool. Nicolas shivered a little because of the cold. Oliver, slim man with a goatee, was waiting with his carriage pulled by a horse in front of the house of Nicolas' family. Also his father Alan was waiting outside. Alan scrabbled his dark hair looking pensive, yet didn't say anything. But when he noticed that his son had come outside, he stepped to him, closed him to a hug and said: “Good luck, son.”

“Thanks, dad”, Nicolas answered and detached himself from his squeeze. Then he hugged his mother too.

“Take care of yourself”, Tamsin said and freed his son from her squish. Nicolas nodded, though appearing a little bit insecure. He wasn't sure if he could do this journey, but maybe he had to.

Nicolas climbed to Oliver's carriage and waved a goodbye to his parents.

Then Oliver encouraged his horse to start going and they set off to travel towards the Village of Hundred Passages.