Raiyku, a young student of magic at the university of
Meridell, was pouring over the massive book of history that he was supposed
to have finished reading by the next day. The small pirate Aisha was completely
enthralled by the mystical battles that had taken place in his own home of Meridell
and never got tired of learning about them. Stretching, he removed the blue
wizard's hat that was dotted with small twinkling stars from his head. Raiyku
didn't wear the typical pirate Aisha garb, rather, he wore a long blue robe
covered in the same stars that patterned his tall hat which identified him as
a student of magic.
The University of Meridell was a very small private
training school for the very few Neopets who possessed magical energy. At the
university they were taught how to control their powers and use it to protect
the kingdom of Meridell. They served as advisors and magic knights of sorts
to the nobles of Meridell and the king himself at times. Raiyku had been abandoned
at a young age at the pound and when Dr. Death had discovered the presence of
magic in Raiyku he had quickly sent him to be taught at the university before
he got adopted into an abusive home.
Stealing a quick glance at the large wooden clock
that sat in the middle of the study hall Raiyku's eyes widened slightly in surprise.
He had been reading for over three hours. With a quiet yawn Raiyku gathered
up his books in his paws and slid out of the stone chair he had been sitting
in all evening. Other students shot looks of contempt in his direction as he
silently sauntered by them. All of them were jealous.
Raiyku wasn't your average magic student. In
fact, it was rumoured that his powers rivaled even the kingdom Magician Xoineon.
This is why the weary old Lenny magician had taken him in as an apprentice.
She wanted to teach him to command his magic early on so he didn't let it take
control of him later on. This was the root of Raiyku's peer's jealously. They
just couldn't understand how such an expressionless seemingly talentless Neopet
could be such a good magician. The only part of the young Aisha that revealed
what he was feeling were his eyes. That was another attribute that separated
him from other Aisha's, his eyes were opened. Icy pools of green ice full of
depth and emotion, but nobody seemed to notice. It was as if they didn't even
think he was alive.
Sighing, Raiyku gently set his reading materials
on the study hall supervisor's desk. She was a shimmering silver Zafara and
at the moment she was reading a book of her own. She removed her glasses and
gave the Aisha a downward glance.
"Finished with that Raiyku?" she asked before
taking all of the books into a pile and placing them behind her desk. Raiyku
answered with a quick nod.
"Did you find all the information you needed?"
Again, Raiyku replied with just a nod. Exasperated the Zafara just shook her
head and muttered to herself "Such a quiet little guy..."
Ignoring her remark Raiyku left the study hall,
his cloak making light swishing sounds beneath him as he made his way down the
corridor and to his dorm room. The walls were all made of stone and portraits
of Meridell's past heroes hung along the hallway. On most occasions Raiyku would
stop to admire each hero playing the part he or she played in history, but tonight
was different he had to get to bed as soon as possible because tomorrow the
kingdom's magician, the one he apprenticed to, had a vigorous day of training
planned for him.
With an exhausted sigh the young Aisha pushed
the door to his dorm open and shut it closed behind him. Shrugging off his cloak
he collapsed onto his bed and fell asleep.
***
The next day after getting ready and eating breakfast by himself in the main
hall Raiyku found himself waiting for Master Xoineon in her office. He sat silently,
waiting for her, expecting her to drill him on the history of magic or to have
him use a few simple spells when she finally arrived. The few times Xoineon
had told him that there would be "vigorous" training it had turned out to be
simple, but Raiyku was always prepared for the worst.
"Are you prepared young apprentice?" The magician
Lenny appeared in a flurry of feathers right on top of her desk. Leaning down
she looked Raiyku right in the eye.
"Yes M'lady" in a polite soft voice dipping his
head in a bow. His gray ear stalks bounced slightly as he looked back up to
meet her gaze.
"You know that the kingdom is preparing for war,
Do you not?" The brash Lenny asked quickly stepping off her desk and taking
a seat in her chair. She gave him a bit of a piercing glance. Raiyku was not
phased. He would have only nodded in response if protocol didn't require him
to address her as "M'lady"
"Yes, M'lady," he replied calmly his emerald
eyes flickering slightly as one of his earstalks twitched with curiosity. He
wanted to know what she was getting at.
"It's much more imminent then we expected," his
instructor told him plainly searching him for any sign of a reaction. "To win
this war we need magic. Your peers are not ready to go into battle lad, you
are. Simple as that." She crossed her wings and quietly awaited a response.
"I see..." Raiyku spoke hesitantly. "What exactly
are you asking of me?" he formed his words together carefully as he mulled this
over in his mind.
"You're going to be commanding the magic division
of the army when the war begins," Xoineon replied pertly.
"I'm sorry, but I can not do that," Raiyku told
his teacher, looking down at the floor. His eyes betrayed his frantic feelings
about the situation, but he did his best otherwise to hide all emotion.
"What... are... you... talking... about?!" she
the Lenny demanded slamming her balled up wing onto her desk furiously. "That
is what you've been trained to do, is fight!" This was the last thing Xoineon
had expected form the Aisha! Refusing to fight for his kingdom...and they needed
him.
"You're mistaken m'lady. I trained to control
my powers, not to use them for destruction. I will not fight," said Raiyku
in a quiet but firm voice.
"You know what this means, don't you Raiyku?"
Xoineon told Raiyku in an equally quiet voice, she had to accept that they would
have to do without the young Neopet and his powers. "You are going to have to
be exiled from Meridell if you refuse to serve the King."
"Yes m'lady. " Raiyku stood up and bowed. "I'll
go pack my things."
"Yes, You go do that... goodbye Raiyku." Sighing
heavily the usually unshaken Lenny shook her head. She would have to find another
way to strengthen their magic forces for the upcoming war. She was in shock,
she had just lost the best student she had ever had.
The End
***
Exiled... for refusing to fight. I stumbled upon my young magician Aisha
when I was brand new to Neopia. I was exploring when I found him dragging all
of his belongings out of Meridell. He told me this story. Ever since he told
me about it I have condoned pacifism and I'm supporting my little Aisha with
his boycott against the Meridell war. Raiyku still studies magic under my patient
teachings, but he's focused on healing instead of hurting. I hope you all enjoyed
his story, please feel free to Neomail me with any comments. | 
