The Otak of the earthsea by Maho

Chapter one Emerald eyes

It is dark. It is raining. The thunder was lightening. The sky was dark gray. A huge forest is in silence. The animals and the beasts are all at their nests. All of sudden, a big leaf of a tree moved and there is a little beast, smaller than a cat, looked up the sky. It has a broad face with dark brown hair. His bright dark eyes blinked. He jumped off from the tree, and began to run. Then, there was a wolf, glaring at the tiny beast, coming after him. The little beast run and run, to get away from the vicious beast. Their chase continued and the wolf jumped over his target. Both of them stopped. The wolf growled and his target shrank back. When the wolf almost made his move, he noticed that the eyes of the little beast began to shine. It was a color of emerald. A clap of thunder broke above them. Then, the rain stopped. There were no sounds. The little beast blinked with his dark eyes. The wolf was nowhere to be seen. He climbed up to the top of the tree, and sat on a thick branch. The clouds faded away and there was a full moon. The little beast looked up at the huge moon for a long time. A color of emerald shone in the bottom of his dark eyes. He sat there for a while and went down from the tree. He looked around the quiet forest. Rabbits appeared from behind the tree. They saw him and paused by fear, but the little brown beast didn’t show any interests in them. He looked at the dark forest by his pure dark eyes. He began to run, and disappeared into the darkness.

Chapter two Threads

There is an isolated island of Roke. It is a small island with beautiful plants and trees. People had peaceful lives. There were ordinary people, such as fishermen, bakeries at potters who are all hard workers. However, from the view of a huge tall building with big chimney on the hill, it was obvious that it is not only an ordinary island. The building is a Warder of the school on Roke. It is a school for wizards. People often see and hear things such as dark clouds, thunders and rainbow within the school property, imagining pictures of future well known wizards. People had respects and also fear towards sorcerers. Therefore, no one had tried to get close to it.

A fisherman who was putting his fishes on the display saw a boat that is coming close to the port. There was a young boy with dark hair and dark eyes on it. From the moment he saw the boy, he knew that, the boy is not an ordinary creature at all. The boy landed on the port and looked around. Eventually, he noticed the huge building with chimney on. “That’s where you are heading, young boy”. The boy turned around and stared at him. “How do you know that, Sir?” The fisherman answered without stopping his hands. “I just know it. Just keep going until you see the huge entrance to the forest. Then you’ll know which direction you have to take” The boy answered politely. “Thank you, sir”. When the fisherman stopped his hands and turn back, he couldn’t even see the back of the young boy.

There were tow more eyes, who witnessed the arrival of the young sorcerer. From the long way from the port, on the top of the hill, there was one small creature, who survived the attack of the wolf on the night before. He has a sleek dark brown hair with big long ears and fluffy tail. The tiny beast is called Otak. They are extremely rare creatures, which live only in small area of the South, Wathrot. In despite of their prettiness, they are known to be savage. The Otak followed movements of the young boy. Although it was impossible to catch a glimpse of someone from such great distance, Otak stared at the young wizard. Then again, there were small, mysterious emerald shines in deep inside of his eyes. He kept observing the wizard for a while, and then the shine in his eyes disappeared. He began to run down the hill.
Chapter Three Closer to the other

The day turned into the night. The town was dark and quite. The school of wizards is looking down the dark town. The tiny beast, Otak jumped out from nowhere, and sat in front of the huge wood door. The door swung open and there was a extremely tall old guy with white hair and white beard. He looked at the Otak. Although he was quite surprised by this unexpected tiny guest, he laughed. ‘’Well well, hello Otak! This is an entrance for the school for wizards and I am a doorkeeper. Enter if you can’’. The Otak looked back at him with its dark eyes. As the doorkeeper keeps his eyes on Otak, he noticed bright emerald shines in eyes of the little beast. The doorkeeper smiled softly at the Otak. ‘’Now, you can come in, can’t you?’’ The Otak quietly entered into the school property. He looked up at the doorkeeper with his dark eyes as to say ‘’Thank you’’. The doorkeeper grinned at him. ‘’Once you enter, it’s up to you where to go.’’ He raised his hand to indicate an alley. The Otak began to walk towards the school building. The doorkeeper looked at the tiny back of the little beast and whispered to himself. ‘’I’ve seen bunch of Otaks before, but that one…his power…’’. Then he closed the huge wood door. 924 words

Chapter four United souls

The Otak went on and on the endless corridors. He saw few wizards chatting with each other, reading sorcery book and sometimes, sleeping quietly on their beds. All of sudden, he stopped. There was one room with the door closed at the corner of the dark corridor. The Otak stared at the door with his dark eyes. He couldn’t hear any sounds from the room. He pushed open the heavy door with his tiny foot and entered. It was a small room with a one bed, a one desk and a one book shelf. They all looked quite old for the small beast. He smelled the furniture and jumped up on the bed. There was a black cloak. As he smelled it, his eyes turned into an emerald color once again. He stared at it for a little while and jumped up by the window. The soft moon light shone down on the tiny beast. He looked at the moon that has wane a little. He curled up and put his small head on his thick fluffy tale. He closed his eyes and fell asleep.



He woke up by the sound of the door opened. He opened his eyes and his eyes turned to an emerald color. Now, there is a one young boy in the room. It seemed like he didn’t see the Otak. He sat down on the bed and signed. “I wonder what it would be..” The Otak stared at the young boy. He has dark hair and dark eyes. The exact the same boy that the little Otak saw from the hill. The boy lied down on the bed and stared at the ceiling. Then, he looked at the window and jumped out from the bed. The little beast knew that the boy saw him. The young wizard stared back at him with confused expression on his face. “What are you? A rat?” The Otak stood up and stared back at the boy. They stared at each other for long and the boy spoke. “I think I know you. Aren’t you…Otak?” Otak jumped down on the bed from where he was curling up. He took few steps to get closer to the boy. He looked at the boy with his dark eyes. The boy quietly put his hand and stroked the tiny beast. “Although I’ve heard that you are quite vicious thing, you are….quiet and gentle.” He sat down next to the Otak. “My name is Ged. But I call myself Sparrow Hawk to the others. Do you want to come with me?” He put his arm at the little beast. The Otak quietly climbed up at the shoulder of the boy. His eyes turned into an emerald color for few seconds. Ged laughed. “You are so light! I don’t know where you come from, but now I know it would not to be a big problem for me to carry you. Now, I have to give you a name. People say giving names are very essential for living creatures. You know that? It gives you an identity. Now, I shall give you a name….Roke! Hoe does it sound?” The Otak nestled against Ged as if to say that he likes his name. Ged smiled at Roke. “Well, seems like you quite like it”



Chapter five Sharing the secret

It seemed like more time they spend together, more they get close to each other. Although, Ged used to worry that his little beast might not come back to him when he jumped off from his shoulder to chase insects or rats, he now knows that Roke always comes back to jump up on his shoulder. He fed his little pet leftover from his meal, but it seems like Roke can provide foods by himself. It has also become their habit that, while Ged practices his sorcery, the little beast quietly sits on the huge rock and watches over his owner becoming more powerful.

There was a bright sun burning down on the cold land of Roke. Ged was struggling to shift one rock from one place to another. He tried and tried. When he saw the rock sitting in the same place, he sighed and sat down on the ground. Otak looked at him. “I can’t do it. It’s too hard. I’m tired”. Ged weakly smiled at him and lie down. Roke stared at the young sorcerer and jumped off from the rock. He sniffed the other rock, which Ged tried to shift one place to another. Ged closed his eyes to rest, then he woke up by the feeling of sorcery. Someone has used it. He woke up and saw the rock, which was moved about 10m away from where it was placed. Ged froze by surprise. “What had happened…?” He walked to the rock and grabbed it. His dark eyes stared at it then moved to his little pet. Roke was curled up on the ground and stared back at him. “No way…You didn’t just…” Ged put the rock next to the little head of Roke. “What had happened, Roke? Who moved the rock?” Roke kept staring back at him with its huge dark eyes. “Have you lost your mind, Sparrow Hawk? Talking to a beast?” Both Ged and Roke rose their heads. There was a other young wizard, Vetch grinning at them. He was a tall young man with dark blue eyes. He is one of these guys who can do things better than the others without trying hard at all. So many wizards of the school hated his guts including Ged. Ged glared at Vetch. “What are you taking about, Vetch?” Vetch laughed quietly. “Like you didn’t hear me, Spparow Hawk. Weren’t you just talking to your rat?” Ged answered. “He is not a rat. He is an Otak. Knowing you, I expected better than that, Vetch”. Vetch grinned at Roke. “My deepest apology, Otak”. Otak himself seemed like he didn’t care what this man says. “Anyway, keep going, Sparrow Hawk. I shall not interrupt you”. Then the rock that was in Ged’s hand shifted its place on the ground. Vetch laughed and left. “He is so irritating, Roke” Ged signed and sat next to his little pet. “It doesn’t make sense….” Then he stood up and picked Roke up from the ground. “Let’s try again”. He put the rock on the ground once again and picked Roke up. He uttered the spell and the rock shifted its place. Young sorcerer looked at the rock and his eyes shifted back to the little beast. “You helped me this time, haven’t you, Roke? You used sorcery. Show me what you can. Show your Master your strength” He put Roke on the ground. “Show it to me, Roke”. Roke curled up on the ground, but he was still looking at Ged. Ged smiled at him. “Show it to me. You know I shall not tell anyone about this. Your secret is safe with me”. Roke quietly stood up and as Ged watches him, his huge dark eyes turned into emerald color. Then the rock moved to a shoulder of Ged. Ged laughed and grabbed rock and Roke. “What a surprise!! My Roke! I shall not to tell anyone. You can trust me on this!” Then he put his hand in front of the tiny beast. “It’s our promise”. Roke looked at Ged’s hand and put his tiny foot on his. Ged smiled at him. “We shall not break this promise until our lives end”.

Chapter six Dark clouds

There was a beautiful full moon on the dark sky. After practicing few more sorceries, Ged and his little beast came back to his room. It was chilly and they shivered. Ged took off his clove and went into the bed. Roke jumped up on the window side. Ged smiled at his pet. “Come on. It’s quite shivering tonight. Why don’t you come in?” The little beast quietly jumped up on the bed from where he was sitting and curled up besides the young wizard. “It was such long day, wasn’t it? I’m so exhausted…” Ged closed his eyes. “Rest well, Roke”. When Roke noticed that his master completely fell asleep, he quietly went down from the bed. He opened the door by his tiny foot and went out to the darkness.

Roke went on and on the corridor. Although it wad dark and quiet, he could hear voices of other young sorcerers just like Ged. All of sudden, he recognized some voice and hid behind the huge vase that was placed in the corner. “Have you seen Sparrow Hawk with his pet?” One voice said. “I have. He’s got an Otak. Wonder where he’s found that thing from”. Roke moved his tiny head and saw Vetch, standing about 5m away from him, talking to his friend. Roke wrinkled his nose, as if to say that he thinks Vetch is an annoying young man. Vetch continued. “That Sparrow Hawk. He is a cheeky one. Thinks he’s got such a power”. He laughed. “When he can’t even shift one thing to the other place”. Vetch and his friends began to walk away to the school yard. Roke
Shifted his head and wrinkled his nose once again.

He kept walking. He climbed up the stairs, turned many corners then now, he was looking up the door. “Who is it?” A voice of old man echoed. Roke didn’t utter any sounds and kept sitting in front of the door. The door swung open. “Well, you again! The unexpected guest!”. The doorkeeper, who let the Roke into the school of wizards smiled down at him. Even though he sounded surprised, the little beast noticed that the old doorkeeper actually wasn’t surprised at all. The old man put his hand to Roke and he climbed up on his shoulder. The doorkeeper closed the door. There were so many books in the dusty room. There were wooden chair and a desk just like Ged’s room. The old man stood besides the window. “I’ve seen you and your young master have hanging out together a lot lately. Am I right?” Roke moved his head slightly as if to say yes. The doorkeeper grinned. “Friends are always good things, aren’t they? Even they walk different paths or different species.” The tiny beast and the old man both looked at the moon. “You have to be careful with your master, little thing.” Roke looked at the old guy. He wasn’t smiling now. “Make sure his ego won’t grow up more than that. You know what I mean. Egoism always attracts evil side of any kinds of creatures”. Roke blinked his dark huge eyes. The old guy kept looking at the moon. “Just be careful”.









Chapter seven Visible clouds

Training of Ged continued endlessly. Roke could see how his young master’s ability is improving and how he’s getting confidence in himself. Ged shows new sorcery that he learnt in his lesson while Roke was hunting a rat. “Do you see that, Roke? A professor told me he can’t believe a young man like me can even handle this sorcery! He thinks I’m one of the kind! Ged smiled excitedly at his tiny pet. Roke shoke his little fluffy tail as if to say that he is impressed. “I’m getting stronger, you see? I can feel it!” Then the light blasted from his wand and it struck a huge rock. Roke jumped up on Ged’s shoulder. Ged laughed out loud. “See that? I have to train more, Roke. I want to be stronger….more than I can imagine…”. Ged said it quietly. “It would feel so good”. His smile shone at the dark eyes of Roke.



The school hall was crowded with young sorcerers. Some were enjoying their meals, some were busy by talking to others and some were leaning on the wall to read spell books. Ged was sitting at the corner with his tiny beast and eating his dinner. Roke has noticed that his young master prefers to keep himself alone from the others. Ged looked around the hall and spotted Vetch, sitting on the table and laughing with his friends. Ged flown. Roke also noticed Vetch and looked at Ged as if to say don’t mind him. Ged stroked Roke’s fur. “I can’t stand that guy, you know. Always so arrogant. Thinks he is the best of everything”. “Hey, Sparrow Hawk!” Ged turned back and saw Vetch looking at him. “How’s your meal? Leave some for your rat!” His friends all laughed and Ged grabbed his wand. “It’s time for him to know…” Then, Roke snatched his wand by his mouth. Ged looked at him with surprise. “Roke! It’s time for him to be punished! He’s always been so annoying! Such hostility!” He tried to get back his wand, but Roke shook his tiny head. Ged stared at the dark eyes of his beast. Roke stared back at him without any hesitation. Ged signed. “All right. All right. Not today”. Roke put the wand on the table and sat besides it. Then Ged heard the voice of Vetch. “OH!!!” Everybody in the hall turned back. Vetch was soaking wet with muddy water all over him. “What on earth..!?” Ged looked at Roke. Roke stared back at him again with his dark eyes, but this time, Ged saw a remain of emerald shine deep inside of his eyes, fading away. Ged giggled. “That’s my boy”.


Chapter eight The challenge

It seems like anger and hatred towards Vetch was growing stronger and stronger within Ged. He kept making fun of Ged everytime he has a chance. Ged bitterly looked at the back of his enemy. “What an annoying guy”. His tiny pet came out of the hood of his master’s cloak. He sat on the shoulder of Ged and looked into his eyes by his dark eyes as if to say “Do not let him bother you”. Ged stroked the tiny head of Roke. “I think the right time has came, Roke. I’ve been training harder than anyone. I think I’ve reached to his level. I have a special talent. That’s everyone keeps telling me”. Roke signed quietly.

One afternoon, Ged was sitting on the rock with Roke, reading a spell book. Roke hadn’t seen his master while he was taking classes. Ged never knew where his small beast goes on his own. Once, he tried to chase, but he disappeared somehow as if to say “I need my own time”.

Ged looked up the sky which is getting darker. “Tomorrow, we’ll have the full moon.” Ged said it to himself. “The full moon…”. Roke looked up at him to see what he meant, but Ged smiled down at him. “I think I know how to challenge him”.

The student hall was crowded by many young sorcerers. Ged came into the hall and looked around. There he is. He spotted Vetch, sitting on the table and talking to his friends. Propably talking about himself. “So typical”. Ged whispered bitterly to himself. While Ged tried to find a seat for himself, Vetch quickly spotted him, as if he is always looking for him. “Sparrow Hawk!” Ged turned his head reluctantly. “What do you want, Vetch?”. Ged stopped to pretend to be nice to Vetch long time ago, but he didn’t seem like he cared. That annoyed Ged even more. “I just saw your rat chasing something today. Did you get what he got for you? A rat food?”. His friends all laughed. Ged felt huge anger within him. Roke is his only friend and a family who he knew for all his life. He’s always been beside me during the lonely time when all students talking about going home on holiday to see their families while Ged stayed at the school, because he has no family. He hasn’t even felt lonely lately, because of the nice company that Roke gives him. Ged gripped his hand very tight. He won’t let this guy insult his friend anymore. He has had enough. “Go to hell, Vetch. However, before you do so, I’ll challenge you”. Vetch grinned. “You challenge me? What do you mean by that?”. “Tomorrow night, come out to the middle garden when the moon comes out”. As saying so, Ged looked into eyes of Vetch straight without blinking. Vetch looked back at him. Few seconds later, Vetch stood up from the table. “All right, Sparrow Hawk. I shall take your challenge. What do you wish to challenge me for?”. Ged looked back at him by his dark eyes. “I will tell you tomorrow. Prepare yourself”. “What will happen when I’ll win? Or when you’ll win?”. Vetch grinned as if to enjoy what they’re talking about. “If you’ll win, you’ll keep your rights to insult me anytime you want. If I’ll win, you’ll respect me and my friend”. Ged stroked Roke’s fur. “Well, he deserved more respect than you do, anyway”. Vetch glared at him for few seconds and grinned again. “All right, Sparrow Hawk. Tomorrow”. Ged nodded. “Tomorrow”.


Chapter nine Friends

When the sun began to rise, the little beast came out of the bed and sat on the window side. It was cold and he shivered. He looked at the sky which was getting brighter every second. The sunshine shone down on the young sorcerer’s face. Roke turned his tiny head and looked at his master, Ged. He was sleeping so well. Although he was acting like a grown up man, it is clear that he is still a young boy who has so much to learn. Roke stared at him. What he had inside of his eyes were worried. Roke remembered what had happened last night. How Ged challenged Vetch and how he accepted his master’s reckless challenge. Although Ged was very talented, Roke wasn’t sure whether he is ready to compete with Vetch who has much more experience and skills or not. The sun rose even higher.


The day went slow for both Ged and Roke. It was pretty clear that Ged is not able to focus on his lessons. He blew up the huge rock with fire when he was supposed to life it up by the wand. He almost burnt a library while self study class. Roke signed. Hopeless. Ged also signed and stroked his little beast. “I don’t think it’s a good idea to take lessons today:” Roke put his tail on his shoulder as if to say “I agree”.

Ged signed heavily and sat down on the ground. He put his food on his spell book and Roke jumped down from his shoulder and lay down on the ground. It was their traditional style of lunch. Ged quickly finished his meal and lay down next to Roke. They both looked at the blue sky. They stayed like that for a while without saying or making any sounds. Then Ged opened his mouth. “I still wonder how you got into my room that night. The night we first met”. Roke looked at Ged with his huge dark eyes. Ged continued. “But I’m so glad that you came along, Roke”. He stroked his pet softly. “I know people say that you are a beast. I mean, you are, but…I only see you as my friend. Now I can’t think of spending days without you”. Ged smiled quietly. “I still remember the day that I was feeling so lonely. I don’t know my father, my mother….if I have a brother or a sister…nothing. I was just…living without life, without love, but my soul needed someone”. Ged smiled at his little beast. “Now, I don’t feel that way anymore. It’s been fun being with you. You are truly a good friend. I thank you for being so, Roke”. It looked like Roke was glad about what Ged told him. He could just tell. “Even I’ll lose tonight; I still respect you as my friend, Roke. Even that Vetch never would do so, I still would. You know that.” Ged looked into Roke’s dark eyes. Roke looked back at him. Ged smiled quietly again and looked at the sky.

Chapter ten The thunder

The day turned into the night. It was chilly and the beautiful moon came out of the dark clouds. Ged was sitting on the rock with Roke inside of his hood. Roke could see that Ged was nervous, but his arrogance as a young boy was supporting him enough to make him stay here. The little beast shivered with nervousness. Then he heard the sounds of footsteps.

“Good evening, Sparrow Hawk”. Vetch smiled at him. There were his friends around him. Ged stood up. “I thought you would come alone, Vetch or were you afraid to do so?” Vetch grinned at his friends. “I thought it’d be a good entertainment for them. You know how our lessons are…Tasteless, I’d say?” Ged glared at him. “I do not care who you’ve brought with. You are here, anyway”. “Did you think that I wasn’t coming Sparrow Hawk?” “Yes”. Vetch glared at him for few seconds and smiled again. This is what Ged disliked about him. Always pretend to be calm and superior. They stared at each other’s eyes for few seconds and Vetch opened his mouth. “So, Sparrow Hawk. How do you wish to challenge me? I rather finish it quick”. Ged, still glaring at Vetch said quietly. “I challenge you by a summoning charm”. Vetch raised his eyebrows. “A summoning charm? You say, Sparrow Hawk?”. “Yes. Have you heard of a witch called, Steph who died about 3000years ago?” A smile disappeared from Vetch’s face. “A witch Steph? The one who cursed everyone in the castle and killed herself? The cursed one? The damed one?” Ged stared back at him. “Yes, Vetch. The damned one”. “Are you mad?” One of his friend opened his mouth. “To summon such a thing? You know what’ll happen when you summon the damned one? Especially this mad witch! You can’t handle it, neither can Vetch. No one in our age can handle that! She is too dangerous and died too long ago!” Vetch looked at his friend and turned his head to Ged again. “Sparrow Hawk. I’m terribly sorry to say this, but I don’t think you can handle it. He is right. I might be able to handle it though, since I’m quite good at a summoning charm, but you are lack of experience. It’s quite reckless to challenge me and to yourself like this”. Ged stubbornly keep glaring at Vetch. “I will handle it, Vetch. I will handle it”. It looked like Vetch was hesitating, but he said it. “All right, Sparrow Hawk. I would do whatever you wish me to do. We’ll go on with a summoning charm. So shall we both summon her?”


“Yes, that’s right, Vetch. We’ll both summon her here, and do you remember what you’ll give me and my friend when I’ll win?” Vetch nodded gaily. “Yes, Sparrow Hawk. I’ll respect you and your rat”. Ged gripped his hand tight. This will end soon. All these disrespectful behavior. “After you, Sparrow Hawk.” Vetch said it and sat on the rock besides him. “You go ahead. I’ll watch how well you’ll do”. Ged nodded. “Fine, Vetch”. Ged called Roke quietly. The little beast came out from the hood and sat on Ged’s palm. He was looking at his master as if to say “Are you sure you want to do this?” Ged smiled softly at his pet. “Do not worry, Roke. I’ll do good. I have to do this as a man and as your friend. Watch me”. Ged put Roke onto the rock and stroked his fur. “Do not worry”. Then he turned back at Vetch. “All right. I’ll begin”. Vetch nodded. “Go ahead, Sparrow Hawk”.


Ged took his wand out and focused. He could do this. He could summon the witch and show Vetch how powerful he is. Things he read from the spell book came up in his mind. “It is very dangerous to summon very old creatures, especially damned ones. The spell should be treated carefully and the user must have at least 60 years of experience to handle it”. He hasn’t really tried to summon old creatures before, but he knew that his incredible talent and power would help him. He knew Vetch would not be able to do it. It was clear. However, he also knew that Vetch thinks “There is no way that Sparrow Hawk can handle it”. That is why he took the challenge from the first place. Ged looked at Vetch and whispered. “Now I’ll prove you that I’m better than you”. Then he looked at Roke again and smiled at the little beast who looked very worried. He held out his wand and begun to utter the spell. The quiet night began to turn into something different. The clouds got darker and the moon hid between them. Vetch and his friends lost their smile. Something was definitely happening. As Ged continued, it began raining. It was a cold, heavy rain. I am doing it right. Ged told himself. Then there was a sound of the thunder. Vetch and his friends looked at each other. It seemed like the storm is coming, which is a sign of a summoning charm. The sound of the thunder became louder and louder. Ged finished uttering the spell. He held out his wand even higher. “Show yourself!!!!” There was a strong wind attacking them as if to try blowing all of them. “Sparrow Hawk!! Stop it!!” A friend of Vetch shouted at Ged. “We can see that you can do it so stop!! It’s too dangerous!”. Ged ignored him. “Show yourself!!!” Everyone was soaking wet and they all looked terrified except for Roke. Ged looke at his little friend and saw a emerald light in his eyes. “No, Roke! Do not stop me! I am doing this for our dignity! You can not stop me!” Roke looked back at his young master. Ged smiled at him. “It is ok, Roke! I can do it! Just watch me!”. The emerald light disappeared from Roke’s eyes. Ged held out his wand again. “Show yourself!!”

Then everyone saw what seemed like a nightmare. There was a witch with black dirty cloak, white hair floating on the sky. Her skin was rotten and her hollowed eyes stared at them. They couldn’t move. They all shivered and stared back at her. The thunder got even louder. Vetch shouted. “Sparrow Hawk! It’s enough! Finish your spell! It’s too dangerous!” Ged stared back at the damned witch. It seemed like he could not hear them, but stares at the witch. “Sparrow Hawk! Can you hear me!?” Everyone shouted at him, but it was clear that he could not hear them. “He is damned!” A friend of Vetch said. “He is not with us anymore!”. Roke looked at his master, but he didn’t look back at him. “Sparrow Hawk!” Vetch and his friends kept shouting at him. Ged wasn’t lookin at anything anymore. His eyes were as hollowed as the witch. Then there was a loud thunder. Everyone covered their ears. They were no longer able to even hear themselves. The thunder struck the ground.



Chapter eleven Sacrifice

When they opened their eyes, the clouds were gone and the moonlight was shining down on them. No one said anything. A friend of Vetch put his hand on his forehead. It looked like he passed out and so did everyone else. It was so quiet and he looked around. Everyone was on the ground. “What had happened..?” Then he remembered. He looked for Ged. He was on the ground too, still holding the wand in his hand. “Sparrow Hawk”. He got closer to Ged and shook his body. Ged didn’t make any sounds. Was he stroke by the thunder? He thought. Then Ged opened his eyes. “Sparrow Hawk! Are you ok? Can you hear me?” Ged stared back at him with his dark eyes. “What had happened?” “I do not know. It seemed like everyone passed out. I do not know why. I thought the thunder stroke you. I though you might be dead”.


Ged couldn’t remember much at all. He looked at Vetch and his other friends, still on the ground. He remembered the dark sky, rain, the thunder and the witch. He tried to remember what had happened after he saw the witch, but couldn’t recall anything. Then something came up on his mind. “Roke?” The little beast who was sitting on the rock was nowhere to be seen. “Roke?”

Then he found his tiny beast, lying down on the ground. “Roke?” Ged touched him. His body was cold and the small smoke was coming out his tiny body. “Roke?” Then he understood what had happened. He was stroke by the thunder, but why? Then he remembered what had happened. He was looking at the witch and saw the lightening which was heading to him. He somehow saw it by slow motion, and then pushed by someone. Someone who is small….It was Roke. He stroke by the thunder to protect him. “Roke?” He held his tiny beast. He pushed his ear to Roke. He heard nothing. No warmth, no heat beating. Ged didn’t say anything. He was stunned. “Is he dead?” A friend of Vetch asked him. Ged didn’t say anything. He began to walk, Roke in his hand. “Sparrow Hawk?” Ged didn’t reply. He disappeared into the darkness.


Chapter twelve The choice

Neither Vetch nor his friends knew where Ged was. Few days passed since that night. There was no one who saw Ged or his little beast.


There were footsteps and Ged turned his head. “Hello, Sparrow Hawk” The old guy with white beard smiled at him. “You are the gatekeeper..”. Ged said it quietly. The old gatekeeper sat next to Ged. Ged was holding the little Otak. “Yes, and the principle of this school. Name is Albert”. Ged didn’t look too surprised to know that he was actually the principle of his school. Albert looked at the little Otak again. “What you did was very very dangerous. Did you know that?” Ged nodded. “Yes, sir. But I needed to do it”. Old guy grinned. “Well, I’m sure of that, but what kind of consequence are you holding in you hands?” Ged drooped his head. “I didn’t such thing would happen. I never wanted to involve him into this like this. I…” Ged mumbled. “I didn’t mean to hurt him or lose him”.


The old sorcerer put his hand on Ged’s shoulder. “Sorcerers always need to be sure whether they are ready to use certain spell or not. It is vital”. Ged nodded. “Yes, sir”. “Now, I tell you something, young man. I know a resuscitate spell”. Ged looked at him with surprise in his eyes. “Is that true, sir? Then can you revive him?” The old man smiled at him. “Yes, I can”. “Then sir!” “Wait, young man”. The old man held his hand at Ged. “Yes, of course I would do so, but there is one thing, a very important thing that you need to know”. “Yes, sir”. Ged nodded eagerly. Albert slowly spoke. “I can resuscitate him, all right? But when he’ll wake up, he wouldn’t recognize you. At all.” Ged looked confused. “What do you mean by that, sir? Why wouldn’t he remember me?” “Because it’s a very complicate spell. To bring back one’s life. They get their lives back but they lose their memories”. Ged didn’t say anything for a minute and whispered at himself. “He wouldn’t remember me…”. “No, he would not”. “Are there any other ways to revive him without losing his memory?” Albert shook his head quietly. “Not at this moment. No. But there are wizards who are still on their ways to invent the new spell. A resuscitate spell which bring back one’s life and memory at the same time, and I have to tell you, they’re making progress”. “When will they complete their process, sir?” “I do not know, young sorcerer. I do not know. No one knows”. Ged drooped his head once again. “I want him back, sir. I really do. He is my friend, but…”.

Ged recalled Roke. How they met for the first time. How they practiced magic together. How they used to lie down on the ground under the sunshine, next to each other. How they used to curl up on the bed. How they had all the fun together. Tears came out from Ged’s eyes.

“You are truly a good friend”.

He said that to Roke under the blue sky. Roke looked back at him as if to say he feels the same way.

Albert put his hand on Ged’s shoulder again. Ged didn’t even try to wipe his tears away from his cheeks. “Sir”. “Yes”. “I made my decision”.







Albert stood up. “You’ll be a great wizard, my young man. You will be”. Then he walked away. Ged looked at the bright moon.








Chapter thirteen A new beginning

It felt like he was floating. It felt good. It felt like he was wrapped around by the sunshine. He opened his eyes. He saw a face of a young boy. Dark hair. Dark eyes. He was smiling at him. He smiled back at him. He felt so peaceful. His young master and him. Two of them. Smiling at each other.


He opened his eyes. It felt like he was sleeping for a long long time. Then he heard the voice. “Roke!” He slowly got up by his feet. There was a man who was smiling down at him. Dark hair. Dark eyes. But he was so much older than his master. Roke cautiously stepped back. The man laughed. “Roke! It’s me! Ged!” Roke looked up at the man. Even though he was older than his master, he had the same eyes that have so much warmth inside. “Roke, it’s me. Ged. I have grown up. It’s been 20 years since you died”. Roke leaned his head to the one side as if to say he doesn’t understand. It seemed like he really was his mater, but why is he so much older than the last time he saw him? What does he mean by “since you died”?

Ged put Roke on his lap. “This is a long story”. Then Ged continued to explain what had happened.


How he refused to take Albert’s offer to resuscitate him. “I didn’t want you to forget what we had together, Roke”. Ged said. “My principle told me that he can resuscitate you, but you will lose your memory. We could have begun from the beginning, but it would be different”. Then he continued. How he put a spell on Roke’s body so it wouldn’t get rotten. “I kept your body inside of the little cradle. So you’ll be comfortable”. How he trained hard everyday, so he skipped few grades and graduate from the school few years early. How he joined these group of wizards who were working on inventing the new resuscitation spell. “We completed the new spell, but then for about 3years, we kept experimenting on dead animals. It was forbidden to use it until this year, and then there you are. You could revive without losing your memory with me”.

Ged cuddled Roke. There were tears in his eyes. “I trained and studies so hard, Roke. It was so difficult without you. I felt so lonely at some points, but the idea of having you back kept me going”. Roke looked up at his master with his huge dark eyes. Tears came out of Ged’s eyes. “Now, can we start over again? I’ve got so much to show you. I even have my own dragon now. We have to have a ride together”. Ged was smiling, but crying at the same time.

All these lonely days without his friend.

It seemed like tears won’t stop. Then he saw familiar emerald green shine in Roke’s eyes. Then, there were soft tiny wind around his face and wiped his tears away. Ged smiled.

“Let’s go”.

Roke jumped up on his master’s shoulder which got so much thicker than he remembered. Ged opend the door. The sky was blue. The soft sunshine shone down at them.