Messenger of the Dark Prophet (The Bowl of Souls: Book Two) Read Online Free PDF

darted between the door and the elf. “Should we go in and help?”
     
      “No-no. This is the Magic Testing Center ,” Qyxal explained. “Testing and developing new types of magic is a very dangerous endeavor and accidents are known to happen. This building was built with very thick reinforced walls and warded to withstand almost any type of released energy. All major magical experiments in the school are done here. I am sure that whomever is inside the room is fine.”
     
    They walked down the hall until they came to a door marked with the number thirteen. “This is your door. I have other duties to attend to. I’ll see you at dinner.” Qyxal said.
     
    “But why am I here?” Justan asked.
     
    “You’ll see.” The elf left Justan with a wave and walked back down the hall.
     
    Justan opened the door to a windowless room empty of furnishings save for two chairs. The walls and ceiling were made of gray stone and the room was lit by torches. A man in nondescript brown robes stood bent over one of the chairs mumbling and tracing symbols on the seat with his finger. He looked up as Justan entered and walked towards him, hand extended.
     
     “Greetings, you must be Justan, son of Faldon the Fierce. I am Locksher, the Mage School Wizard of Mysteries.”
     
    Justan shook his hand vigorously. “It is very nice to meet you, sir. I have been told that you might be able to help me.”
     
    The wizard accepted the handshake with a gracious nod. “Lately I’ve noticed that just about everyone I meet starts out the conversation with those words.” Locksher was younger than Justan had expected. He was about the same height as Justan and had jet-black hair only slightly graying at the temples. He had one eyebrow raised as he looked Justan over. “Please, have a seat. I must admit I am quite curious after the things that Valtrek has told me about you.”
     
    “Valtrek?” Justan paused before he sat down.
     
    “Yes, he requested that I be the first one to try and help you find out where your powers lie.”
     
    Justan sat. He didn’t want anything to do with Valtrek. The man had taken him from his home and had nearly gotten Jhonate killed. But he pushed those feelings away. It really didn’t matter who had asked Locksher to come. He had questions that he needed answered. Locksher took the chair opposite Justan’s.
     
    “Your reaction tells me that there’s to be more to your visit here than just magic testing,” the wizard said. “But whatever else there is, let’s start with the testing.”
     
    “May I ask a question?” Justan asked. “Why does this test have to be done in a magic-proof room?”
     
     “A perceptive question from a new cadet,” Locksher said, giving Justan an appraising look. “Normally this testing is done gradually throughout the year with a student finding his own pace. However, your situation is a bit different. Your time here at the school is short. You need to find out as soon as possible so that you can maximize your studies. This has been done in the past from time to time, but there have been rather, um, explosive results.”
     
    Justan raised his eyebrows. “Explosive?”
     
    Locksher yawned. “Oh, don’t worry,” the wizard assured him. “No students have ever been harmed. It’s the instructors who have been blown away. This is why I was preparing some protective shields when you came in. As long as I am sitting on this chair, I will be fine.” Justan was taken aback by the casual way in which the wizard spoke of such alarming things. “So, let’s get started then. Clear your mind.”
     
    Justan sat back and emptied his mind. It came easy to him now. Locksher pulled a small crystal sphere from within his robes and sat it on the floor between them.
     
    “Close your eyes. Now, I want you to turn your thoughts inward. Think of the inside of your body, the lungs and heart. Picture them in your mind . . . Good. Hold that picture.”
     
    Justan immersed