Growing up the elders would always tell us stories about magic and amazing adventures. As kids we listened greedily, taking in every word we heard. But as we grew up a bit our minds turned to other things and we stopped listening. The stories stayed with us though, in our hearts and in the backs of our minds. That’s why when, shortly before my 21st birthday, when strange things started to happen around me I didn’t think too much about it. Ultimately, it took the death of my grandfather for me to realize what was happening right under my nose. Losing Grandfather Sam was a huge blow to my entire family, but at the time none of us truly understood what it would eventually mean for us. Now, I’m sure that this is rather difficult to understand as an outsider, so I shall take the next while and tell you my story. For without stories I do not believe that we will be able to find our way in life. It is stories that help us to understand who we are and what happens to us. So hear my story. Listen to it. In time you will forget the words, but the message will stick with you; lodged in the back of your mind, sitting in your heart, ready to come back to you when you need it once more.

My story begins three years ago, around my 21st birthday. In my village boys came of age at 21 so this was a very exciting, and confusing, time for me. I was the oldest child in my family and lived with my mother and two brothers. Timothy, Noah, and I worked hard to keep our house in order and to help our mother out as much as we could. Grandfather Sam, my fathers’ father, lived with us and had recently fallen ill. My father had died many years ago but my mother had told Grandfather that he could continue to live with us. My father and grandfather had never been close but it was customary in my village for families to live as one in the same home, and my father was not about to buck the trend. We lived in happy harmony for many years but then Father was taken from us suddenly. Mother never told us exactly what happened, she said that all we needed to know was that his time had come and that wad all we were ever told. Looking back now I feel that I should have questioned that a little more at the time and that I should have realized that I maybe did not belong to the tame and run of the mill family to which I thought I belonged. But as it was, I heeded my mothers’ words and went about my life. Until Grandfather fell ill. This was when things began to be odd again. Grandfather kept requesting to see me alone, and when I sat with him he would tell me the stories from my youth over again. My head was again filled with thoughts of magic and sorcerers, and in my dreams I imagined that I had powers myself and that I went on fantastic journeys throughout the entire world. It seemed a little strange to me that the last my grandfather wished to do before he too would die was to tell me stories, and stories that I had already heard years before. But I put it down to the fact that he was very ill and was maybe not fully in his right mind.
For three weeks before my birthday Grandfather told me stories, usually one or two a night, and on my birthday he gave me the strangest of gifts. He again called me alone into his room and though it was only mid afternoon it was already quite dark in his westerly facing room. He told me to close the door to his room once I had entered, which was odd in itself. Usually we left the door open to allow the most light into the room that was possible. Closing the door plunged the room into near full darkness.
“Gavin,” Grandfather said in a tone that caused me to shiver from head to toe. “Gavin, you turn twenty one this day. According to the customs of our village, you are now a man. You have already proven that you are willing to work hard, and thus I have no doubt that you will make great contributions to our fair village. But your path in life does not remain in this village for much longer. You might one day return here to live out the end of your days, but I fear that you will not be staying here for any length of time after this day. I do not mean to frighten or upset you, Gavin. I only mean to tell you what I know to be true.
“I have many things to tell you tonight, and but a few things to give you, so you’ll forgive me if this drags on. But it is of the utmost importance that you pay attention to everything I tell you tonight, for though you may not fully understand it now one day it may very well save your life.” At this Gavin gave a start and his mind started racing. Images formed and dissipated quickly within his mind, memories swelled in and out of recollection.
“Grandfather, I apologize for interrupting, but I’ve been noticing lately some things…not terribly out of the ordinary…but somewhat odd. I haven’t mentioned anything to anyone because there’s really nothing concrete to mention. But, is what you’re telling me somehow connected to this? I realize I’m probably not making any sense, nor have I mentioned anything real, but…I’m sorry…just go on. Maybe this will make sense in a minute.”
Grandfather Sam let out a wheezy laugh. “Gavin, you always were a sharp young man. What you’re talking about has everything to do with what I’m telling you. I will explain further of course, but for now I have more to say. I am going to tell you the history of our family Gavin. I have been retelling you the stories that we elders told you as a child these past weeks and I hope that you have listened. For those stories are not merely fiction my son, they are all true. There does exist in our world a great deal of magic. Some of it can be controlled as you have been told, and some of it is ambient and a part of everything around us. I’m sure that you have noticed recently that when you look at certain things that they have an aura about them, a glow, a shimmer of something slightly out of the ordinary.” At this Gavin perked up; that is exactly what he had been seeing for the past few weeks, “That, Gavin, is magic. Not your fairytale magic, but natural magic. It is beautiful and untamed, and one day you will learn how to coerce it to aid you in your magical dabblings. You cannot make natural magic do your bidding, but you can become so attuned to its ways that it will become a part of you. Your father and every other member of this family has this ability. We have a long and proud history as the protectors of this world and those who dwell in it.”
“My father?” Gavin asked.
Grandfather Sam became rather somber at this question. “Your father was an incredibly gifted and brave man and his death was a terrible loss for the entire family. He will come into our story and will play an important role, but for now I will say no more on that subject.”
Gavin was sitting on the edge of the chair he had pulled up to his Grandfathers bed, his mouth open slightly in anticipation for what might come next. What did come next, however, he was not expecting. His grandfather sat up in the bed, and pulling the covers from over him sprang nimbly to the ground. He moved with the spryness of a man much younger and much healthier than he. “Grandfather? How? You are ill, how can you be up and moving about so easily?” And then he saw it. A faint pink shimmer around his grandfathers entire body. He tried to focus on it, but it shifted out of his line of sight and hovered just within his peripheral. “Magic…” he breathed, half questioning, half expressing his disbelief and excitement.
“Gavin, many years I have dedicated my life to the study of magic and I have learned to be at one with the magical forces that permeate everything that surrounds us. I can summon immense strength when I need. I can hear the whispers of the wind, and I can see unimaginable distances across the seas and deserts. I can do more things than your young untrained mind could ever fathom right now.” He walked across the room to a dresser by the window. Opening the topmost drawer he withdrew a large package wrapped in parchment.
“As I have said Gavin, I have a few things to give to you tonight. They are not gifts so much as they are tools to aid you in your quest for knowledge and power. First I give you a book of maps. These are maps of our world. Obviously, they will ensure that you get to where you need to go unhindered. Second I give to you a pendant. This is no ordinary pendant Gavin. It is an old family heirloom engraved with the family crest. Inset in the crest is an opal, a stone of great magical power. You must wear this pendant from now on as it will provide you with both protection and power. There will be many times during your journey that you will be tested and questioned. This pendant should most times be enough to guarantee you safe passage wherever you go.” Saying this, Grandfather placed the pendant over Gavin’s head and laid it gently around his neck. At once Gavin felt a warm sensation spread from his sternum throughout his entire body. He knew that it was the feeling of his inner magic surfacing.