The Lore of Sorcerer Ofaris of the Keep

Prologue

Ofaris looked at his hands, which pulsed warm with magical energy. He never failed to cast a single spell, and everyone around him knew it. When the blue glow around Ofaris finally subsided, there was a loud applause and cheers.

Lots of people gathered here in the swamps. Some didn't believe Ofaris could really do it, others just really wanted to see it again. There were only a few wizards in the country who mastered the spell of teleportation, but it was he who did it repeatedly and with always striking accuracy.

"Bravo, my friend!"

"Unbelievable!"

The cheers didn't stop around, and Ofaris enjoyed them properly. Today, he had his hair cut, his beard oiled, and his periwinkle coat cleaned. He wanted everyone to remember him as best they could, especially those who did not master the secrets of magic.

"If you'll excuse me." Ofaris bowed politely, gently hitting the ground with his Sun staff, and dozens of fluttering fireflies flew out of the glowing tip of the clear fire, illuminating the shadows of the swamps around him. "My colleague here is very grumpy when I keep him waiting too long. He literally adores swamps. ”

All eyes fell on the golden frog sitting beside Ofaris grunting, apparently unaware of the importance of the moment.

Ofaris smiled and set out across the soft ground to the core of the vast swamps, leaving all curious glances behind. He always said that he made trips to the swamps mostly for his Frog, and although that was partly true, he enjoyed this place unbelievably.

No one dared to follow him here. The moss-covered ground and mirror-calm levels of the lakes all around were too dangerous for ordinary mortals, but also for many wizards.

But not for Ofaris. He was one of the best.

He watched as his frog jumped from one pool to the other in front of him, always testing with his red mouth whether the water was good enough for the golden frog itself. It was a petty ritual, but Ofaris was glad his frog was aware of its rarity. Green, brown, yellow and even blue frogs were fairly common, but golden? There was perhaps only one of them, and it belonged to Ofaris.

Every good wizard had his animal and they played a very important role. In wisdom, almost no one could match wizards, so their life was quite lonely. They understood faster, learned better and knew more. For many ordinary people, they were eccentric beings with too much power, and therefore each had its own animal, which served as an anchor for their souls. This is the only way they could remember how beautiful and especially fragile life is.

And that's why Ofaris's heart almost stopped when he lost sight of his frog for a moment. She was gone, as if the earth had fallen on her.

Ofaris was about to use a revealing spell that would help him find the golden rascal, but in the end he decided it was an opportunity for him to explore the swamp a little more.

He walked among calm lakes with mist, stepped under an old willow tree, and crossed a fallen tree trunk when he finally saw his golden frog. The little devil was sitting quietly on a small mossy island, and Ofaris just had to smile at him. He was a gentleman, and he would never really get angry.

But what happened then almost took his breath away. Two golden frogs suddenly rested on the island. Ofaris rubbed his eyes, making sure his eyes didn't fool him. Really. Two golden frogs. Was it a spell?

"Is that yours?" a gentle female voice spoke.

Ofaris hesitated and watched the young woman in the blue suit approach him. Her hair was the color of fresh grass, a curved stick in her hand, a pair of antlers on her head, and a friendly smile on her face. But what struck Ofaris the most was the magical power he felt from this woman.

It was unbelievable.

"Yes." he stammered and straightened. "Nice to meet you, my name is Ofaris."

"Celeste." a young woman smiled at him.

"What are you doing so deep in the swamps, may I ask?"

Celeste laughed. "A lot of people don't come here, it's so quiet here."

"So we obviously have a similar goal." Ofaris said amicably. "I love this place too."

"But we have a problem, Ofaris." Celeste said amusedly, pointing to two golden frogs. “They are exactly the same! Maybe I'll pick the wrong one and take your home. ”

Ofaris couldn't help but smile. He knew very well which of the two frogs was his. He felt an unmistakable connection to the animal. But he was also smart and understood what Celeste wanted.

"In that case, I suggest not moving away from each other until we're really sure whose frog is whose."

Celeste nodded. "Reasonable."

"Indeed."

"But you know frogs, they're stubborn. But it can take hours.'' Celeste protested with a half smile.

"Maybe days and weeks." Ofaris added seriously.

Celeste smiled heavenly at him. "Looks like we have no choice."

Chapter I.

"Ofaris, how many years have we known each other?" Celeste asked him. "You never made a mistake."

She was right. He was perhaps the only wizard who had never failed a single spell. He had no gift which he was born with. He studied every spare moment and kept improving, while the other wizards had long since given up. He was a wizard with a warrior's heart, but now he felt so frightened.

"I'm not sure, Celeste." he countered, glancing at the pedestal with the spinning fire. "Using the Sacred Flame is extremely challenging."

"A lot of wizards have already used it!" Celeste said.

"But just look where it got them. My dear, I know you want to reach your full potential, but are you aware of the risks? ”

Celeste smiled at him, as she had for years, and he, like a well-behaved wizard, could not refuse. She was beautiful and most importantly she was extremely powerful.

"I certainly wouldn't make it on my own and I don't trust anyone else." she told him, lying down on the prepared wood bedding. "I think I'm a stronger witch than you are."

"So that's how it's going to be?" Ofaris folded his hands.

"You didn't let me finish." She smiled. "I'm stronger, but you're much smarter. Your technique of using magic is absolutely unique. Where I have the power, you catch up with me with your knowledge. And that is why you must use the Sacred Flame. Nobody else."

"Good." Ofaris said uncertainly and approached the glowing fire in front of him. "Are you ready?"

"I've always been.

Ofaris took a deep breath and held out his hands in front of him. He felt the heat of the Sacred Flame and was frightened. He felt the unbridled magical energy roar within him, and he hesitated for a moment. But then he looked at his wife, gritted his teeth, and took the flames in his hands.

A complete storm broke out inside as the Sacred Flame entered his body. He was shaking, he was hot, and in an instant he was freezing cold. It was as if every part of his body was charged with magical energy that refused to be bound.

Ofaris's knees broke, his ears were closed, and he felt indescribable pain all over his body.

"You can do it!" he suddenly heard his wife's familiar voice in the distance.

If not for her, then for whom else?

Ofaris gritted his teeth again, got to his feet, and accepted the pain. That was the only way to control it. For a moment, it was his, as if trying to use the Flame on himself. He felt the heat ripping his body and mind, and at the last moment he shifted all his strength into his palms and aimed them over Celeste's chest.

The earth shook. The wind blew and the flames rumbled from all directions. An indescribable force flowed through Ofaris, and for the first time in his life, he could not control the flowing magic. He tried his best, but it was pointless as if he was trying to stop the flowing river with his bare hands.

There was a shout.

"Celeste!" screamed Ofaris as he felt too much energy flowing from him. Celeste was strong, but this was too much for ten wizards. He tried to stop the immense power, but he fought in vain.

His wife's scream continued along with the crackling and roaring, and he trembled with exhaustion until he finally fell to his knees.

Suddenly everything stopped and he heard only his loud heartbeat. He looked at the smoldering body, which to his horror moved.

Celeste was burned. Instead of her lovely face, two bright eyes stared at Ofaris from the darkness.

"What am I?!" she suddenly screamed so loud that Ofaris had to cover his ears.

Celeste stared at her purple fingers, pieces of her skin shattering and flying around, only to reunite for a moment and split off elsewhere.

"What did you do to me ?!"

Ofaris stared at his wife with fear in his eyes.

She looked at him with sheer hatred.

And so Ofaris disappeared. He used the teleportation spell he knew so well, and a moment later he landed on the wooden floor of his house.

He knelt on the ground, crying and staring at his hands, which pulsed warm with magical energy. He had just failed to cast the only spell that really mattered.

Entered by: 0x077E…3711 and preserved on chain (see transaction)