#enster

They continued to eat silently for some time. Then, Enster took a bite off a slice of bread that was prepared at the center of the table, and while putting it down again, he said:

“Do you know the tragic tale of Finmac Kuul?”

Eos looked up. He tried to remember if he had heard that name before, but he couldn’t come up with anything.

“No, Sir, I don’t think I do,” he responded.

“It’s an Inlia legend,” said Enster. “Finmac Kuul was the son of Enoc Rogeikan, who is said to have invented Inlia magic.”

“Yes of course, but―” Eos interrupted, confused, “Isn’t Enoc Rogeikan just a myth?”

“Hmm… It’s not clear,” answered Enster. He picked up a small potato with his fork and looked at it.

“Rogeikan was a wizard from the mainland that had come to Inlia along with the other settlers, looking for a way to take a new start. Like everybody, he noticed that his old techniques of spellcraft didn’t work on Inlia, and he spent his whole life studying the unknown magic system of the continent. He and his small son moved to a settlement that would later become the city of Ajetzperdjo, and there he set up a laboratory to study the Inlia magic.

However, at that time he had to fear harsh punishment from his fellow settlers, because many believed that there simply was no magic on Inlia, and that he should invest his time into building the new settlement, just like everyone else. So he built his laboratory in a cave within the mountain, where it would be hidden from prying eyes. The legend says that during the summer, he would spend every night in this secret hideout, studying magic while he pretended to be home, asleep. That is why the famed cave is now known as the Midsummer Night’s Chamber. On the ground of its main hall, the very first spell circle of history is said to be still there, carved into the dirt.

Indeed, it took him many years to unveil the secrets of magic, but in the end he discovered everything ― No spell, no technique, and no mystery was left untouched by his study. He mastered all there was to master, and many think that even in our time there has not been a wizard as powerful and wise as Rogeikan was. He truly became the first, and best, master of magic on this continent.

And all the while, his son, Finmac Kuul, was growing to become a brave and righteous man that loved his father with all his heart. Of course, during all these years, he was suspicious of what his father was doing in the woods every night, but not once did he follow him to find out. It was because Rogeikan had forbidden him to leave the house during the night and search for what his father was doing, and as a loyal son, Finmac never questioned it.

But Rogeikan grew old, and although he had mastered every spell there was, he was terrified that someone could learn of his hidden secrets. Even as an old man, he still hiked to the mountain every summer’s night to prepare defenses within his cave ― Nobody should be able to enter it alive. He created seven antechambers, each holding a harsh test to anybody that wished to visit the cave, and as his final and most dreadful defense, he set up a trap in the last room: The first person to enter without his permission would be cast into enchanted bounds, and transformed into a mindless beast to serve as the guardian for the very cave they had tried to enter. All these defenses and tricks were so vile that only Rogeikan himself could pass them unharmed, and he was pleased beyond measure whenever he saw that somebody had attempted to enter his cave during the day, but one of his spells had dealt them a deadly end.

Still, during all this time, Rogeikan would return every morning, and his son knew not what had kept him busy during the night. Until, one day, Rogeikan didn’t return.

Being old, he had died within the Midsummer Night’s Chamber, and his son, who knew not what to do, decided after three days to search for him. He found the cavern, and, being strong and brave, he bested all the trials, not knowing that his very father had set them up ― All, except the last one.”

Eos looked up from his plate. He had been listening intently to Enster’s story, and now that his teacher had fallen silent, he suddenly remembered where he had heard the name Finmac before: It was part of an Entdellic saying ― used to describe one that did a terrible deed to help another, without him or the other having planned it, or wanted it to happen.

“He became his father’s guardian ― As indeed had been his wish: To serve faithfully the man that had brought him to live. The father too did gain his loyal knight, as he had foreseen. But who it would be, he had not thought about.”

Enster took a long gulp from his glass, and poured new liquid into it afterwards.