Hundreds of years ago, the world of Neopia was quite
different from today. It was the days of NeoQuest, and there were Neopets, Faeries
and all of that sort. But no Tyrannia, no Meridell, none of the distinguishing
features that makes Neopia so fun and unique.
Inside one of the tallest towers of Neopia City
sat a Lupe. He waited in the stone hallway outside a door. He couldn't just
sit though, he was so anxious and so excited he kept pacing the hallway.
Tadayo was his name. He waited outside the chamber
of Boraxis the Healer. Today was the day he began his position as the wizard's
apprentice. Anticipation surged through the starry Lupe's body. He had a smoky
grey cloak tied around his neck. His hood was up and the rest of the cloak was
draped over his body.
Suddenly, a voice sounded from inside the room.
"You may enter."
Tadayo was in such a nervous state, he ran into
the room, tripped on his own cloak and fell onto a table. He put his paws out
to break is fall but he ended up pushing the table straight out away from him,
knocking a number of beakers and vials onto the ground. Tadayo hit the ground
and covered his eyes and the glass shattered all over the ground.
Boraxis walked over to where Tadayo lay on the
ground. A solemn look stared Tadayo in the eye.
This is it, he thought. I've been in here for
five seconds and already Boraxis is going to kick me out.
Suddenly, the JubJub's countenance changed and
the grim look was replaced by a small smile. "We certainly aren't very graceful,are
we?" inquired the wizard. Suddenly, Boraxis whipped out a white wand. He held
it with his foot, and pointed it at the bottles on the ground. With a small
flick, the bottles and their contents were reassembling and returning magically
onto the table. "Are you injured, Lupe?"
Tadayo got to his feet and massaged his maw.
"Er... yeah," Tadayo mumbled. Boraxis walked up to the Lupe and examined his
jaw.
"I am famed for my healing spell, Lupe. I am
the only wizard in Neopia who knows how to perform a healing spell. Travellers
come from far and wide for me to heal them. I think I know when someone is injured."
Tadayo nodded apologetically. A smirk broke out on the JubJub's face. "You are
a novice, do not feel embarrassed. With my help you can be the greatest sorcerer
in the land. Maybe when you're experienced enough I'll teach you my healing
spell and how to perform it." Boraxis placed his wand aside the Tadayo's jaw.
"Abracadabra, alakazam, make this Lupe healthy, just as I am!"
Suddenly, the pain in Tadayo's maw suddenly was
swept away. It felt as if it had never been there. Tadayo rubbed his maw with
a look of astonishment on his face. "Wow, it's all healed! That spell didn't
look too difficult."
A quiet laugh emanated from Boraxis' mouth. "Really?
There is more to an spell than simply the incantation Lupe. You will soon learn
that," Boraxis replied mysteriously. The Jubjub picked a smoky grey wand to
match Tadayo's cloak up off the shelf. He handed it to Tadayo. Boraxis whispered
something and suddenly a jolt of electricity emanated from the tip of the JubJub's
wand. "OK, I have injured myself. Using the spell I used on you, heal me."
Tadayo stood there holding his grey wand. He
blinked a couple of times and shook his head as if waking himself up. The starry
Lupe cleared his throat. "Uh... abracadabra, alakazam, make Boraxis healthy,
just as I am!" Tadayo exclaimed. He pointed the wand at Boraxis. Nothing happened.
"See, it takes quite a bit of concentration and
the right state of mind to perform that spell. Now, tell me why you want to
be a wizard, Lupe... er... Tadayo, correct?" questioned Boraxis.
"ER yeah, I'm Tadayo." Tadayo scratched his beige
chin. "Um... I think being a wizard would be really cool. You know, being able
to do all this stuff. I could even help people, and go an like quests and stuff
for the King maybe!"
Boraxis gave a satisfied nod. "Yes, your father
told me how much you wanted to be a wizard. As you probably know, your father
and I were great friends. Ages ago, he did a favour for me that I had never
repaid. When he told me about you and your love for magic, I decided to take
you on as my apprentice. Now, enough chatting, we really need to begin! I'll
start by teaching you some basic elemental spells. To cast a--"
"Elewhowhat spells?" interrupted Tadayo.
"Come now child, you must know the elements!
Fire, light, water, earth, air and darkness! just like the six types of elemental
Faeries. This spell will help you use the elements to your advantage and have
them under your power. Like I told you, saying a few words won't cast a spell.
You have to concentrate. Envision what you want your spell to do. For instance,
an Earth spell could do something like make a few grains of sand pour from your
wand or start an earthquake. Since those spells are very advanced, I think you
should start with a basic Fire spell. Now, envision this boot lighting on fire,"
Boraxis explained as he picked up and old boot and placed it on the table in
front of him. "Remember to say the word 'Fire' clearly and loudly."
Tadayo nodded. He closed his eyes and envisioned
the boot engulfed in flames. "FIRE!" he yelled. He paused for something to happen.
Nothing did.
"Nice try. This time, try to envision the boot
on fire more clearly. And be patient, being a grand sorcerer doesn't occur over
night," Boraxis said when he noticed the frustrated look on Tadayo's face.
OK, Tadayo thought to himself. I can
do this. He closed his eyes harder this time. He tried to make the picture
in his mind of the boot more clearly. He imagined a jet of flames firing from
his wand and hitting the boot. The boot lit on fire, hot flames burning the
leather. "FIRE!" Tadayo yelled this time, only louder. Suddenly, a sharp paint
could be felt in his paw. With a yelp, the Lupe dropped the wand when he realized
he had lit his paw on fire!
"Abracadabra, alacazam, make Tadayo healthy,
just as I am!" the JubJub snapped. He pointed his wand right at Tadayo.
Suddenly, the flames vanished and so did the
pain. Tadayo examined his healed paw. It wasn't even singed!
A smirk was revealed on Boraxis' face. "Remember,
the handle of the wand is the wider part and the narrow part is the end. Don't
forget that, unless you want your paw to fall victim to all of your spells,"
Boraxis said with a laugh. "Now, don't be discouraged young one. Pick that wand
up and try again."
Tadayo nodded; a look of determination on his
face which helped him remain confident. The starry Lupe picked up his wand again.
He shut his eyes and blocked out all the sounds around him. As clearly as possible,
the boot sat in front of him in his mind. He imagined the jet of scarlet flames
shooting from the tip of his wand. The flames hit the old leather boot, igniting
it instantly. A perfect spell. Now, if only his magic were as good as his imagination.
"FIRE!" Tadayo bellowed. He didn't notice the boot light on fire perfectly.
Not knowing his success, he continued the barrage of spells. "FIRE! FIRE! FIRE!
FIRE! FIRE!" Tadayo waved his wand wildly around him. Jets of flame emanated
from the wand, igniting the chamber in a matter of seconds.
"STOP!" Boraxis yelled. Tadayo opened his eyes
to see what he had done. "GET OUT! GET OUT!" Tadayo followed his master's orders
and sprang out of the chamber to the sounds of Boraxis yelling 'WATER! WATER!
AIR! AIR'.
"I think he's managing on his own!" Tadayo murmured
as he ran across the hallway, down the stairs and out on the castle. He came
out into the bright courtyard. Despite the problem with the fire, Tadayo felt
very smug. "I think that went well." He ran across the courtyard to tell his
friends about his new life as the wizard's apprentice.
The End
Author's Note: Tadayo the Lupe is a purely fictional character. However,
Boraxis the Healer is a real JubJub from the popular game NeoQuest. If you liked
this story, you'll be pleased to know I plan to write many more stories about
Tadayo and his adventures. If you didn't like this story, Neomail me and tell
me why. Feedback is encouraged!
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