Chapter Thirty-Seven Happy Place
Gina was waiting at the edge of the field for the workers to return from a hard day’s work. As people pass her by, she sees him. He looks so young. He has his whole life in front of him. She steps in front of him.
“Hi” she says warmly.
“Hi” he replies, “I’ve never seen you around here.” His voice is warm and light and genuine.
“I just got here.” She answers, “I’ve been traveling.”
“Alone?” He inquires, “You must be very brave.”
“I can take care of myself.” She responds.
“I can see that.” He agrees, looking her over.
“You look happy.” Gina notes.
“I am. I have everything I want, friends, family, and an honest day’s work.” He answers, smiling.
“But there is one thing, isn’t there?” She asks.
“What do you mean?” He answers.
“There’s one thing that troubles you.” Gina clarifies.
“How would you know that?” He asks.
“I’m a seer.” Gina explains, “I can see into your soul.”
“Really?” the man asks intrigued, “and what is my trouble.”
“You have a terrible nightmare. You see the whole world consumed by war.” Gina answers, “and it frightens you. Your scared that your life will be ruined.”
“That’s right.” The man confirms. His face turns white.
“Would you like me to take the nightmares away?” Gina offers.
“You can do that?” He asks.
“I can.” Gina insists, “You will sleep peacefully from this night forward.”
“Will it hurt?” The man asks.
“You won’t feel a thing.” Gina promises, “I want to help you.” Before the young man answers, the great one approaches. He senses the spark in Gina. Gina senses the spark in him as well.
“Am I interrupting something?” The great one asks on approach.
“This beautiful woman says she can take away my nightmares.” The young man explains.
“Great One?” Gina asks confused.
“This is the great one.” The young man explains, “He is the greatest wizard in existence. His wisdom directs our kingdom. We are truly lucky to have someone like him to help us.”
“I am honored to meet you.” Gina says to the great one, “I am a great sorceress, this young man has been having nightmares and I have offered to take them away.”
“Great, you say?” The great one responds, “Where do you come from?”
“I come from a Kingdom far away.” Gina explains, “I have been traveling a long time.”
“This young man sees the future. He has the spark and it’s showing him things to come.” The great one explains, “I was just going to offer to train him.”
“What?” the young man asks, “Train me for what.”
“Train you in how to use magic.” The great one explains, “I need an apprentice. I’m not going to get here forever, and I want you to take my place when the time comes.”
“You must not train him.” Gina insists, “The spark, as you call it, will only bring him pain and sorrow. He must get rid of it.”
“I am offering him a chance at a better life.” The great one argues, “One where he will make a difference for everyone. He will be respected.”
“He’s happy now,” Gina counters, “The responsibility that comes with your offer is too much.”
“Don’t I get a say in this?” The young man interrupts. “What do you mean, a better life?”
“Not everyone can practice magic, only those who have the spark. You will come to live with me. I will train you to use magic. You will use for magic to benefit the kingdom, and everyone will respect you.” The great one explains.
“He’s not telling you everything,” Gina counters, “You will have to leave all the people that you care about behind. You will have to dedicate your life to opposing the nightmares you dream of every night. They won’t go away; they will get worse.”
“You don’t know that.” The great one pushes back, “He will see the vision more clearly and we can take action to stop this threat that he sees.”
“No, he needs to give up the ‘spark’ and be rid of his nightmares.” Gina insists.
“I’m right here” the young man interrupts again, “I can make up my own mind.”
“What the great one is saying about your nightmares is true. You are seeing the future, but what you are not seeing is how this threat starts.” Gina says.
“What does it matter how it starts, what matters is that the threat is dealt with.” The great one says.
“What if I were to tell you that he is the one who starts it.” Gina says to the great one,
“He is the one whose army spreads across the world.”
“How could you possibly know that I can’t even see it.” The great one says, “besides, I would never let it happen.”
“You have no choice.” Gina insists, “If you train him, he will take your place by force.”
“That’s crazy” the young man chimes in, “I would never do that.”
“Yes, you will.” Gina counters, “unless you let me take your ability to use magic away from you.”
“No one can take away another person’s spark. “The great one protests, “I can’t even do that.”
“He will be able to do it.” Gina says, “and no one will be able to stop him.”
“What you’re saying is that I’m the one who terrorizes the world.” The young man asks.
“Yes” Gina answers, “unless the spark is taken away from you, you will leave everything that you’ve known, and you will never be happy again, but I can fix that.”
“I don’t know, I trust the great one, what do you think?” the young man asks the great one.
“You can't trust a sorcerous, for all we know, she’s the one who unleashes this great army.” The great one answers.