Read Nature Mage for Free Online

possible. We need to take you to people who can train you in it, as soon as you are better.”
    “You mean I have to leave Aemon’s Reach?” Gaspi asked, cottoning on straight away to the implications of what Jonn was saying.
    “We don’t seem to have a choice, Gasp,” Jonn answered gently, his voice overflowing with sympathy. “This….gift of yours will grow out of control without proper training, and you can only get that in Helioport.”
    Gaspi was silent for a few minutes. He stared at the ceiling, his brow furrowed, and Jonn could sense him grappling with the idea of the immense change that was thrust upon him. Jonn sat silently, not interrupting Gaspi, giving him time to work through his thoughts.
    Finally, Gaspi looked at him again, his eyes showing he already knew the answer to his question. “What about Emmy? Taurnil? I’m going to have to say goodbye, aren’t I?”
    Jonn sighed deeply. He looked steadily into Gaspi’s eyes. “I’ll be with you, Gaspi. You’ll never have to say goodbye to me.”
    Gaspi sighed in return, and sagged back against the pillow. “When do we leave?”
    Jonn hugged him then, speaking to him as he held him closely. “You’re such a brave lad, Gaspi. I’m proud of you.” Pulling back from him, he placed his big hands on Gaspi’s shoulders. “I’ve never been to Helioport, but when I was younger I travelled with your father. We went to some big towns, even a city, and they can be great fun. And this gift of yours: Hahldorn says it’s rare, so maybe it’s really important that you develop it. Maybe you can help people, do great things.”
    Gaspi tried to smile to show appreciation for the effort Jonn was making to cheer him up, but all that Gaspi could feel was sadness at having to leave his friends behind. Jonn seemed to understand how deeply that would cut him. “Rest now, Gaspi,” he said gently. “I’ll make you some food when you wake up.” Once Gaspi had closed his eyes, Jonn lay down on his own bed, and fell asleep too.
     
    Later that day they were both up and sitting at the small table in the kitchen, eating fried strips of boar and venison, when Hahldorn knocked on the door. Pulling up a third chair he joined them at the table, and allowed Jonn to pour him a cup of water.
    “How are you feeling, Gaspi?” he asked.
    “Okay, I guess,” Gaspi answered, unwilling to divulge his unexplored feelings about the previous night’s events, or on the colossal change his life was about to undergo.
    “Feeling weak?” Hahldorn asked.
    “Yeah, just coming into the kitchen was tiring,” Gaspi answered.
    “You’ll need to rest a couple of days, but you’ll be fine after that,” Hahldorn said. The Healer seemed to be rallying himself for something.
    “Listen, Gaspi,” he said seriously, “I don’t know how much Jonn has said to you and there’s no easy way to say this but what happened last night is going to change things forever for you. There’s no going back. What emerged in you was magic - and more to the point - nature magic. It is a powerful and rare gift, and very dangerous without training. You are going to have to study with the magicians in Helioport, and you are going to have to go soon, or your power will grow out of hand and something bad could happen.”
    “Like last night?” Gaspi said quietly.
    “Yes, like last night,” Hahldorn responded. “The villagers don’t really know what happened. Brock and Jakko don’t know what happened either but I do, boy, and when that power erupted in you, I felt it. It was like nothing I’ve ever sensed, like a caged lion fighting to escape.” Hahldorn’s eyes widened as he spoke. “I’m not saying this to frighten you. Any magic can be a great power for good, but without training you are a danger to everyone around you.”
    Gaspi brooded silently, not responding to Hahldorn’s comments.
    “There’s one more thing you need to know,” Hahldorn continued, looking at both Gaspi and Jonn. “You