A Wizard Is Born

by silverdragon6

Caspian sighed and looked out the window. Being Half-Price Day, the rush had come, just as he knew it would. "I'm getting too old for this," he said. Letting out another deep sigh, the blue Wocky looked around his shop's back room. Faded draperies hung over the walls and an old chest stood next to his bed. Suddenly, a shout came from the front.

"Hey! I would LIKE some service here!"

Sighing again, he got up and plastered on his best fake smile before going through the strings of beads that separated the back room from the front. "Yes? How may I help you?"

"How much for the air spell?"

"32 NPs, it's Half-Price Day."

"Hah! You must make a fortune sellin' stuff that expensive! I demand 20!"

Caspian was irritable and exhausted, and certainly in no mood to haggle. But he kept his cool. "Sir, I must kindly ask you to leave if you are going to have that kind of attitude in my shop."

With that, he cast a spell that sent the customer flying out the door.

"Um… Excuse me, sir."

Caspian was surprised to hear the low and wispy voice. Slowly, he looked down to find a starred Kau clutching a Water Faerie like her life depended on it.

"Yes, how may I help you?"

"H-How much is this W-water Faerie?"

"48 NPs."

The Kau's face dropped. "Oh-Oh no. I only have 30 NPs. And after all the trouble I went through to get this faerie before anyone else." She looked like she was about to break into tears.

Caspian was touched by the Kau's skinny body and her dry, sore throat-like voice. She must've come from a poor family who couldn't afford the ones in the marketplace. Should Balthazar know he were giving away his precious faeries, he would never do business with him again. But Caspian had a strange feeling about this Kau.

"Come, come into the back room, you look tired and hungry." He led the Kau into his back room and got her a bowl of porridge.

"I-I'm sorry, sir, but I have no money to give you for this meal."

"It's on me, and so is the faerie. Pray tell, where do you come from? Where's your owner?"

The little Kau looked at her bowl of porridge and stirred it with her spoon. "My-My name is Kauvara. But my owner calls me Star-girl. She-she's a great owner, she tries to do the best for me, but we just don't have much NPs. And-and she's confined to bed. With leukemia." The Kau looked as if she would burst into tears at any moment. "She-she's not going to make it and she knows it, but she still tries for me to have a good life until the very end. But I don't know what I'll do after she-she goes." A tear trickled down Kauvara's nose.

Caspian could sense something about this girl, though. "Kauvara, tell me, how did you get the faerie before anyone else?"

"I-I don't really know. I just felt a feeling. Like-like a call, or something."

Caspian inwardly smiled. If the girl could hear the call of faeries, then she definitely had magic blood. Every day after that, Kauvara would come to the magic shop and Caspian would give her something to eat. Every day he liked the girl more, and every day he was sure the girl was destined to learn to use magic. They quickly became good friends. But one day, after Caspian was cleaning the shop, Kauvara flew through the door. She then burst into tears.

"Kauvara! Star-girl, what's wrong?"

"She's gone. She's gone. My owner."

"Oh…I'm sorry."

"And-and they're here. They're after me!"

"Who? Who's after you?"

"Them!"

Caspian turned toward the door. Just as he was about to look outside, a couple of Skeiths wearing blue uniforms marched in.

"Hand over that child, Caspian. Now that her owner's gone, he's rightful property of the pound!"

Caspian stood in front of Kauvara. He wasn't afraid of the Skeiths at all. After all, he was one of the greatest wizards in Neopia.

"Leave the child be. She's staying with me from now on. Now leave my store. Out, ruffians!"

"But-"

"I said OUT!"

He fired a strong spell at them, making the Skeiths turn on their heels and run away like whimpering puppies with their tails between their legs.

"M-Mr. Caspian, do you really mean it?"

"Yes, I have to talk to you."

They went to the back room again and Caspian gave Kauvara a plate of warm cookies.

"Star-girl, listen to me. I've been listening to your stories over the past few days and all I can say is this: you're destined to become a magician. I am getting too old to run this shop. I want you to work as my apprentice so that when you grow up you may take over."

"But-but I don't know a thing about magic."

"That's no problem. I'll teach you. And girl, you'll have one of the greatest teachers in all of Neopia! So will you do it?"

"Yes! Yes, I'll try. And I promise to take good care of the shop!"

And the rest is history.

The End