Heritage

I like to thank you for taking the time to read my first writing attempt. I would like to thank Phoenixbreez for her editing skills. I would like to thank Mokkelke, Fatality, and lostchicken for reading the rough drafts and tell me when I screwed up. please vote and comment.

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"Good Morning class." Greagor said as he smiled "Today we will be discussing if magic exist."

The room erupted in laughter as one of his students raised his hand.

"Professor surely you are jesting there is no such thing as magic." Mordrick Syerd said after being acknowledged by the professor.

"There isn't?" Asked Greagor "then please explain how a few dollars' worth of common chemicals produce life?" He pointed to a carefully set up prop of basic chemicals used to form life, and continuing. "Who in here is a biology major?"

A girl sitting towards the back raised her hand smiling to herself. She loved this part of her father's class. Two others besides her also raised their hands. Her father called on her.

"Melinda you are not taking this class officially however would you mind confirming that these are the basic chemicals of life?" he asked her smiling.

Melinda got up and walked forward slowly examining the bottles of chemicals she herself had set up earlier. "Yes it would seem that you have all the chemicals needed here."

Greagor then pointed to another student named Mark Winston asking him to examine the chemicals also.

Mark walked forward looking at the chemicals and nodding his head to confirm that these were the chemicals needed.

Greagor then said, "Mr. Winston if i recall correctly, you are majoring in biochemistry?"

Mark confirmed that he was. A bad feeling overcame him as he realized he was being set up for something.

"Then could you be so kind as to mix those chemicals together and make me some life." Greagor said laughter in his eyes.

Mark looked shocked as he sputtered out. "Professor, as you know with current technology, that request is impossible!"

"But why? These are all the chemicals that you need for life and I have even provided an electrical source to jump-start the processes. What more do you need?" asked Greagor.

"Professor, I don't understand what you mean, there is no life there! That technology does not exist and really should not exist to create life. That should be left up to God!" Mark said rather perturbed.

Once the laughter had settled down Greagor asked the two to take their seats, continues. "Perhaps you are right but I ask how do, you think life comes about? We know and proven it is more than some chemicals and little electrical current. Mr. Winston says it is divine intervention. Would that not be magic at work?"

The class is silent as he finishes speaking, trying to process the information he has imparted. Greagor notices a hand slowly rising up.

"Yes Mr. Syerd, you have an observation?" Greagor asked lightly.

"Well it would seem to me that eventually technology will be able to make life. Life is just an electro-chemical reaction. Even though we cannot yet recreate life in a lab, we are close Sir." Mordrick says his voice turning slightly pleading. "Surely you can't believe that some super natural, mystical force exists? I would hope I am not wasting my time here. Please tell me that you are just trying making some kind of example here and really not trying to prove magic exist?"

Greagor laughed as drew a box on the black board, drawing a dot in the center of it. Walking around the class, he explained. "What I am trying to do; Is to get all of you to think of other possibilities, besides that what fits in that little box. Like the one, I drew on the board. "He pauses, and walks around towards Mr. Sverd and asks. " When you were, a small child and a magician pulled a quarter from your ear you thought it was magic now you think you know it is sleight of hand. I want you all to know there are things that do not fit in to the perfect little box. You need to be able to think outside of the box and consider things that are not provable by normal means.

"But sir!" Mordrick starts to argue

Greagor holds his hand up stopping him and said, "In life there are many explanations for the same thing I am not saying magic does exist but how do you explain life? Miracles such as the person who is in a coma for ten years and wakes up normal? How about emotions such as love? You cannot explain it, nor can I, maybe it is just chance or maybe the divine. Maybe, just maybe we do not yet understand some cosmic force out there. All I ask is think, about it open your mind to possibilities"

Walking back to the black board he said. "If you can learn to think in the abstract as well as in the real world, then you can use all of your resources to solve problems. In the process, come up with ideas that are more imaginative then someone who only lives inside the box. In this class, I want you to consider all possibilities until you can prove beyond any doubt that it is not possible. For our next class please familiarize yourself with the works of Socrates. I want to hold a discussion on possibilities that his views of the world as to their validity to the modern times.

As the class leaves, an attractive woman enters the room and hugs Greagor from behind. He turns around allowing her to crush body against his and kissing him, forcing her tongue into his mouth. After a few breath- taking moments, she ends the kiss backing away from him slightly.

Greagor is breathless as he says playfully." Professor Le' Gris please remember I am a married man who is totally infatuated with his wife!"

She smiles seductively replying in a husky voice, "then it is a good thing I am her." licking her lips seductively she then asks,"when is your next class my love?"

He replied "not until two why what is on your mind. Besides the obvious?"

"Food!" is her reply. "Real food I don't want that cafeteria stuff."

He laughs and saying in Fey. "Is that all you want my love?"

She replied to him in the same language. "Since our girl will be with us the rest will have to wait."

He offered her his arm heading out of the room towards the commons. Melinda wandered over to her mother kissing her on the cheek as she exclaimed. "Daddy did it again; he has the whole class wondering if he is insane" Laughing lightly she asked her father. "Who is that boy who argued with you? He seemed a little strange? Adding in Fey. "His aura does not look human!"

Swallowing hard Greagor and Elisia quicken their pace maneuvering their daughter between them. Elisia mentally summoned her companion Alor, a dire hawk to circle overhead keeping watch for anyone moving towards them. Alor begins to make wide circles overhead, watching for anything out of ordinary.

Greagor uses the time walking towards where the car's parked to silently he chanted protection spells around his daughter. Unlocking it he ushers his wife and daughter swiftly inside before he too gets in, starting it he backs out of the space and turns the vehicle homeward.

"Dammit how did I not sense him?" Greagor ask. Turning towards his daughter, he asks her "what did you see in his aura? Could you tell his race or just how powerful he is?"

"No father I could not sense his race I have never seen an aura like his. He is very powerful!" Melinda says "But I did not see anything overly evil about him. He is masking a lot of his power and his aura is strange like nothing I have ever seen."

Elisia tensed up as she said. "Whoever they are at our house waiting for us. Dammit! Weslin is with them! We need to run, he has spotted Alor!" Sending a mental command for Alor to get out of there, too late! Alor is enveloped in a black energy field, falling swiftly to the ground as Elisia screams crying out to her family that her companion is dead.

Greagor turns the car around flooring it trying to put as much distance between them and Weslin. He heads out of the town towards the national park hoping that a million plus acres will give them a chance to get off this plane of existence.

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Back at the university, Mordrick senses a shock wave from a dimensional tear and immediately dails his cell phone "Ferhew, I just sensed a dimensional teleport. I need you to get to Lord Greagor the Greys home immediately and protect her till I get there."

"Under stood Master, do I reveal myself to the lord? " Ferhew asked.

"No watch from a distance if they're not there or if you see no danger" said Mordrick. "Be careful my friend. If it is the citadel do not face them without me unless you have no other choice."

"Understood, I will be most careful I don't wish to be a martyr this day or any for that matter," Ferhew says laughing.

Ferhew grabs his bag with his sword and bow in it. Thinking to himself "I love these never fill bags." Tying the bag to his belt, he then puts on his amulet of protection running the few blocks to the lord's house. He stopped at the corner watching as the forces of the Citadel of the Dammed enter the house. He sees Weslin standing out front with Antonis. Weslin suddenly looks up projecting a black ball of energy from his right hand, striking a dire hawk in midflight, killing it instantly. Ferhew knows it is not a native species to this realm knowing instantly it must be the lady's companion from the home world. He grabs his cell with drawing out of sight and dials Mordrick's cell.

"Master, Weslin, and his head dog are here. He just killed the ladies companion, so she knows that they are here," he says.

"Did they spot you? " Ask Mordrick.

"I don't think so. I stayed far enough away as not to alert them. What are your orders, Master?" asked Ferhew while removing his sword from the bag just in case.

Mordrick is silent for a couple seconds then informs Ferhew to wait for him. Ferhew takes cover in a place suitable to watch the people from the citadel. He figured he could gather intelligence on them while waiting for Mordrick.

Ferhew watches as Weslin casts an illusion spell over a few of his men to hide them where they can watch the street for anyone who approaches. Setting up an ambush incase Greagor and his prize comes home.

Ferhew then over hears Weslin talking to Antonis on the front porch. "Make sure that everyone knows not to harm Melinda. I need her alive to be able to complete the ritual." he orders. Then continues thoughtfully "The druid is of no consequence but if possible take Greagor alive it will make controlling Melinda easier. He then smiles a bone chilling evil smile and said, "I wonder how Lord Grey would feel, if I turned his lovely druid bitch into one of my undead pets and had her guard him?"

Antonis went to relay the orders while Weslin went into the house. Antonis joined Weslin on the back porch to await Greagor's return. He did find Weslin idea about the druid amusing. In addition, hoped once he was done with her Weslin would let him have her as a personal pet.

Ferhew cautiously moves back to the side of the house he has been hiding next to as he senses Mordrick arrive. He fills him in on what he has seen then patiently awaits orders. Mordrick has an evil smile on his face. One that Ferhew has seen before it does not bode well for the people in the house opposite. Mordrick orders Ferhew to get the car ready .To call Arteria and inform her they were picking her up in twenty minutes. Mordrick then stepped around the corner in full view of the house and chanting a quick spell as he moved.

The air above the house ignites in a ring of solid flames. For an instant, it seems to hang there and then drops, in what seems like slow motion enveloping the house and the land around it in a white-hot burning mass of destruction. The house explodes and the four men on the outside of the house get about a half of a scream out before they succumb to their fate. From the back porch two figures go flying through the air screaming as the fire engulfs them before they disappear in a blinding flash.

Mordrick curses to himself. "Damn automatic recall spells! " Then snickers "bet that was smarts though"

Looking over the damage he thinks to himself "I may of just over did that tiny bit" Lord Greagor's house, two on either side are destroyed. Even the ones next to those houses plus the one that is directly across from Greagor's former home is on fire. Shrugging his shoulder, he stifles a giggle shaking his head as he walks over to the car and gets in.

"Think you could have been a little less subtle with your spell, Master?" Ask Ferhew.

Mordrick just laughs and shakes his head asking. "To flashy you think?"

"Possible, it is possible that it may have been little over the top, Master." Ferhew says as he laughs, he starts the car heading over to pick up Arteria.

Greagor keeps driving until he gets close to the park, finding a place to dump the car. His concern for his wife at the loss of her companion showed clearly on his face. He knew Alor was bound to Elisia through a mystical link and when the link was broken, through the death of either companion the side effects would be difficult to deal with. However, the ones Elisia was experiencing were extreme. She was physically ill and mentally fatigued. She could hardly keep her eyes open and even in her sleep, she sobbed. He knew they been connected with each other for centuries even longer then the two of them had been together. Having that kind of magical bond severed always caused the surviving partner distress. The longer their bond the worse the side effects were when it was severed. He was not only worried for her health and sanity right now but also because he needed her skills as a druid to help keep them all alive.

Greagor shut off the car and gets out going to the trunk he grabbed out the bag they kept in the car for just such an emergency. The bag contained a couple of filled water skins, enough dried food for a few weeks, rope, blankets ,2 bows and 2 scores of arrows, dagger, a couple of swords, pots ,few dishes, and a healer bag. Greagor handed the bag to his daughter, picked up his wife, and headed in to the forest hoping to find a suitable location to set up a temporary camp to try to treat his wife.

After four or five hours of walking, they found a small clearing that would do for a few nights. Melinda searched and gathered boughs for her mother to lie on. Once they get Elisia as comfortable as possible, they gathered firewood and prepared food to eat. Greagor makes up a broth for Elisia to drink and gently waking her "My dearests please drink this you need to keep your strength up" he pleaded. "I know how much it hurts to lose Alor. Melinda and I are here for you my love."

Elisia sobbed, "She did not deserve to die like that. I should have protected her better." tears streaked down her face.

"My love there was no way to know, Weslin would attack her," Greagor told her softly. "Now please drink this. We both know that the effects will wear off in a couple days then you will have to come to terms with the grief."

As Elisia slowly drank the broth, Melinda took over watching her mother. Greagor moved around drawing wards on various trees and rocks around their camp. Once he if done drawing the wards he moved to the center of the area. Greagor then chanted the spell that empowered the wards. He excluded himself and his family from the effects of the ward. Then he moved back towards his family.

"The area is warded. We should know if anyone who comes within a quarter of a mile of us." He said to his daughter. "I have excluded us from triggering the wards and I also set up protections against scrying. How is she?"

"Mother drank about half of the broth you gave her, before she fell back to sleep. " Melinda said

"Good Let her sleep it will help her body to adjust to the loss of her life force" Greagor explained "She has been through it before unfortunately; it may help with the readjustment process. You should also rest now yourself my girl."

"Okay daddy. Will you be alright?" she said as she kissed his cheek. She grabbed a blanket and laid down with her mother.