A Mentor for A Misfit

A Mentor for A Misfit
By M. Lowery

Urzo felt small and insignificant looking at the gates of the enormous city, Idorun. Its gray stone walls, spear-like towers, and heavily-armored guards were enough to make him turn away, to run back to the comforts of the Spindlewick Forest. But the goblin pushed away the urge. He put a hand over his chest and rubbed his ragged shirt. Turning back was one thing he refused to do.
With a sigh, Urzo approached the front gates of Idorun. He glanced up at the two guards. Both carried halberds and wore heavy iron armor. Both men stared warily at Urzo and with contempt. Urzo expected this. Goblins were not well-liked by the other races. He understood that they were seen as troublemakers, thieves, swindlers, and criminals. But there were exceptions to the preconceived notion.
“What do you want, goblin?” the first guard demanded.
“Speak quickly,” the second guard said.
“I come seeking…a mentor, a mage,” Urzo stammered. “To teach me how to control and use magic.”
“Magic?” The guards exchanged amused looks. The first guard stifled a laugh while the second guard shook his head.
Urzo nodded. “Yes, magic.”
“A pipsqueak like you can use magic?” the first guard sneered.
“Yes sir.” Urzo lifted one hand. I’ll prove it, he reminded himself.
Closing his red-orange eyes, the goblin concentrated. At first, there was no sensation, no tingling, no burning. However, four seconds passed, and a warmth boiled in his belly. It was small at first but intensified. The warmth rushed through every inch of his body. The warmth filled his fingers, toes, arms, legs, and head. The feeling was frightening but invigorating for the young goblin.
Then, with a sigh, he willed the sensation to the palm of his hand. He turned his palm and faced it heavenward. A flame burst in his palm. Puny and dim, the flame looked weak. The guards laughed at this, but Urzo growled and stared at the flame. It shifted, crackled, and expanded in size. The fireball grew bright and large as a saucepan. Then, the fireball exploded and sent embers and sparks falling to the stone road.
The warmth faded and vanished within him, and Urzo panted. He was still not in full control of his magic. But he was willing to seek help and make something of himself.
“A poor display of magic,” the first guard said.
“But if you seek a mentor, ask for a mage,” the second guard replied. “You may enter Idorun.”
“Thank you,” Urzo said with a bow.
Without delay Urzo made his way past the guards. He walked down the cobblestone road and into the city proper. He ignored the sneers and laughs of the guards. The young goblin focused on his goal. Finding a mage to train him how to control his magic was vital.

He wanted to be more than a forest goblin. He wanted to be a mage and a hero.
Idorun was bustling with people. Humans, elves, dwarves, sprites, orcs, and beast men walked the streets. They made the most of their waking hours. Urzo noticed the wary glances cast his way. Goblins were not a common sight in such a city. Still, he continued to walk on and focused on looking for mages.

Urzo walked deeper into the city. He passed a bakery, an inn, a blacksmith shop, and a general store. He noticed a house at the corner of an intersection. The house had a sign with an emblem and text etched on it in black letters. The words read HEIRU BANNISTER, IDORUN MAGE. Urzo stared at the name and the emblem, nervous.
“Come on, you have to find a teacher,” he muttered.
Lifting one hand, he knocked upon the door three times. Then, he stepped back and waited. Three minutes passed. The door clicked and swung inward. A broad-shouldered man answered the door and stepped into the doorway. He donned a thick black robe, black shoes, and a necklace of red and violet gems. Gold rings adorned both fingers. There was no doubt that this was Heiru Bannister.
The man looked down at Urzo with cold blue eyes. They narrowed. “What do you want, goblin? Money? Food?
Clothes?”
Urzo stared at the man, trying to muster the courage.
“What is it, boy? Spit it out! I have much to do.”
“I…I need a mentor, a teacher, sir!”
“For what?”
“To teach me how to use magic.”
“Magic?” Heiru scowled. “Teach you? Are you stupid?”
Urzo frowned. He held the man’s gaze. “Because I want to be a mage and help people, and I…I can use fire magic.”
“A goblin wanting to be a hero and mage? That is a joke. Goblins only know how to rob, steal, cheat, and cause trouble.”
“But sir…that’s not fair! Not all of my kind are like that. Certainly not me!”
“I don’t care. Leave my sight, goblin. I’ll hear no more.”
Urzo opened his mouth to respond, but the door slammed shut. Another click sounded, and footfalls retreated away from the door. The goblin gnashed his teeth. He turned away and shook his head.
I can’t believe that man, he thought with anger. I can’t give up though. There has to be a mage willing to teach and train me.
He turned right at the intersection. He ignored the sneers and contemptuous looks from a pair of elves as he passed them. Urzo stopped at another house that belonged to another mage. He knocked on the door and was greeted by a woman with long hair and bronze-colored eyes. She looked down at Urzo, rolled her eyes, and shut the door immediately.
She didn’t even give me a chance! Urzo considered knocking again. He wanted to know why the woman shut the door on him without a word. However, he decided against bothering the woman. Turning away with a shake of his head, the goblin continued his search.
He checked home after home. He explained his plight and aspirations to each mage. But one after another, they continued to dismiss him. Doors shut in his face. Some mages issued threats. Some denied that he could even perform a simple spell.
Urzo grew frustrated. He threw up his hands and shook his head. Am I wrong to seek a better life? Am I wrong to want to break free of stereotypes about my race? Someone has to be willing to teach me how to use magic and make me an apprentice. Someone!
He wandered the streets of Idorun, searching for a willing mentor. By midday, he seemed ready to give up. He turned down an alleyway and rubbed his green face with both hands. But three people were in the alleyway and the young goblin stopped short.
Two men stood over a woman lying on the ground. Both brandished daggers and wore ragged tunics and trousers. They snickered and eyed the woman hungrily. The woman was on her back, dressed in gray robes. Her skin was dark green. Polished white tusks poked up from behind her lower lip. Her hair was short and coal black. Her stave lay a few feet away.
Urzo realized the woman was an orc. Most of the mages he had visited were humans, elves, sprites, prowlers, dwarves, and dark elves. He had not expected to see an orc magic. But he could tell that this orc was being robbed and in trouble.
“Hand over your valuables, mage,” the first thug barked. “Spell or no, you better do what I say.”
“And if I don’t,” the orc woman retorted. “Then what?”
“We strip you of every scrap of clothing and possessions and have fun with you, Edana. Right, Pangu.”
“Right, Tamrik,” the second thug replied with a laugh.
“I won’t give you anything. Leave before I unleash hell on you!”
“Like hell, stupid orc!” Tamrik kicked the orc mage across the face with one foot.
Edana grunted. Blood speckled the stones and wall from the blow. The orc woman growled and struggled to rise, but Tamrik and Pangu started kicking her. Both men cackled as Edana grimaced and shielded herself with her arms.
Anger boiled deep down in him. Urzo lifted both hands and concentrated. I have to help her! He willed the magical energy to flow through him. At first, nothing happened. He kept his hands upraised and outstretched. He inhaled a breath before he exhaled.
Steam rose from his wrists, palms, and finger tips. He imagined the magical energy flowing through his body and to his hands. The steam grew intense. Gray-white plumes wafted upward. Red-orange sparks cracked. Seconds shifted to minutes, and the sparks became two fireballs.
Tamrik and Pangu continued their kicking. Edana’s eyes shifted to Urzo and widened. Urzo pulled his hands back before thrusting them forward. Both fireballs shot forward. They shot forward and struck both men. Their tunics caught a flame.
“Damn it!” Tamrik cursed. He staggered back and swatted his clothes.
“Where did this come from?” Pangu cried.
“How in the hells do I know, idiot?”
Both men backed away and patted at their clothes. The fire spread from their tunics to their trousers. Edana rose to her feet shakily. The orc woman hurried over to her staff and picked it up. She turned to the men and lifted the staff.
Urzo looked at his hands, surprised at his attack. He then noticed the men turned to him. They still were attempting to put out the fire, but to no avail. They looked at Urzo and glared. Both began to advance toward him, realizing that he had cast the spell. Before they could get close, Urzo heard Edana murmur something under her breath.
The fires vanished. Tamrik and Pangu staggered forward. They fell to the ground, eyes closed. Both men began to snore while on the ground. Urzo sighed in relief. He then noticed the orc woman approaching him and stepped back.
“Please don’t hurt me!” Urzo said. “I was only trying to help!”
“Worry not, goblin…”
“I was…looking for a mentor and I just stumbled upon.”
“Worry not, goblin,” Edana replied. She stopped before Urzo. She stood much taller than him, at least six feet while he was five foot three inches. Up close, she was toned and tough-looking but not as muscular as most orcs. There was much intelligence in her eyes and resilience. “I owe you for saving my life.”
“Aw…it wasn’t much.” Urzo shrugged. “My name’s Urzo.”
“Urzo? Interesting. I am Edana Bluestone, mage of Idorun.”
“A pleasure to meet you.” Urzo nodded. “So…do you think you can mentor me and help me to control my magic?”
“Of course. It would be an honor.” Edana chuckled. She started to leave the alley. She staggered for a moment. Urzo grabbed her staff to help steady her. “Thank you, Urzo. Come. I will teach you all I know about magic and how to wield it. It’s been 5 years since I’ve had an apprentice.”
“5 years?”
Edana nodded. “Yes, and I had been searching for an apprentice. But most would reject me because of my race and stereotypes.”
“That’s how it was for me looking in this city for a mage to mentor me.”
The orc made a disgusted face. “Some people can be rude. Anyway, let us look to the future. We have much to go over, my apprentice.”
Urzo smiled. “I look forward to it, teacher.”