Magic Chocolate

Queen Ifria stood disguised in a hooded cloak in the black night. An anxious knot flared up as she waited impatiently before the wooden door.

A purple robed man came out with a wrapped object. “It is finished, your highness.”

Ifria snatched it up, unraveled it revealing a small dark item.

“Elymus, your magic is unmatched,” said Ifria.

The sorcerer bowed. “Thank you, your highness. I only have enough ingredients for a few months. I must travel to the Forest of Illusion to gather more cocoa beans.”

“There is another problem. The longevity that the chocolate gives us is making people wonder how it is so.”

“From the days I found the magic properties of the cocoa beans, I knew this time would be inevitable. I have an idea. Many of the citizens of the kingdom are pious and we can use that. If we claim God is responsible for our long life, they may believe.”

“How exactly would we do this?”

Elymus grinned. “I will feign an angelic vision to King Troas and others.”

“Then the magical substance will do just that!”

“It will prepare the incantation. I will need to go to the forest in the morning.”

Ifria walked off.

Ifria awoke, feeling the youthful, enchanting power of the chocolate.

She stood from her bed and saw a letter, slipped under her door and picked it up then read:



I have gone to the forest to collect the beans. Will return by midday.

Your servant, Elymus,

Ifria smiled then went to the royal gardens. She sat on a bench behind a porcelain fountain. The scent of flowers filled her head and she dozed off.

She awoke during midday. She went to Elymus’s room door and waited. Soon it was two hours after midday and Ifria was nervous.

Suddenly, a guard breathing heavily ran up to her. “Your highness! Nobleman Elymus just came to the courtyard of the castle sorely wounded!”

“Take me to him!”

“He is in the hospital wing.”

Ifria ran and found the secret sorcerer wrapped in bandages lying on a bed.

“Elymus! What happened!”

He groaned. “A manticore…attacked me. I tried every magic attack to fight it, but to no avail. I am near death. Go to my chamber and retrieve a healing potion.”

Ifria sprinted to his room and grabbed one then ran back to the wing.

“Here it is,” Ifria said as she gave it to Elymus.

After thirty minutes, Elymus stood up, clutching his chest.

“Are you alright?”

“I have sore news, your majesty. I may have lost my powers.”

“What do you mean!”

“There is a particular manticore sting that neutralizes magic.”

“And you were stung by it?”

“I do know if it was the right species.”

Ifria gasped.

“We will find out tonight when I attempt to enchant the minds of those faithful to God. I will rest until then.”

Elymus laid down and Ifria sat on a stool. Night came and Ifria gently nudged Elymus awake. “Is it time?”

“It is.”

Elymus rose and went with Ifria to his room. He grabbed some vials. “We must go to the highest tower to perform the enchantment.”

The two headed to the Emerald Tower. Elymus carried the vials in a satchel and they climbed the spiraling stairs. At the top, Elymus took the vials and set them down on the ground.

“Step back, your highness.”

Ifria obeyed

Elymus set a pan next to the vials. “We will see soon if the enchantment will work. And if it doesn’t, the lack of the chocolate will cause our death in months.”

Paleness came over Ifria’s face. She folded her hands.

Elymus saw the outline a hawk in the light of a full moon. His mouth gaped.

“What is it?”

Elymus trembled. “The moon hawk on the 23rd of February! It is a bad omen! It entails something worse than death!”

“What about the spell?”

“You don’t understand! Our souls are doomed to a realm of eternal torment! The omen trumps my power, if I retain it!”

“Then do it!”

Elymus ran a palm down his face. “I am telling you it is no good!” Elymus took the vials and threw them off edge of the balcony. “We are vexed!”

“There must be way to nullify the omen!”

A raspy voice came from behind them. “There is a way.”

Then two turned and saw a man in a white robe. “The Lord God has seen your duplicity and the way you unnaturally defy death! There is one way to dispel the curse of the moon hawk. Forsake your magical arts and pledge your hearts to Him.”

“Who are you?”

“A priest of God.”

“We will never submit to your God!” said Ifria.

“Do not be so hasty, my queen! It is that or eternal doom in the NetherRealm! Perhaps we should consider his offer.”

“Not only would your souls be spared, but you will receive everlasting life as well,” said the priest.

Elymus frowned. “I have been a sorcerer for so long. I do not know how to live without my power. But, if is the difference between death and perpetual suffering and living on forever…than I accept!”

Ifria looked down and was silent for a short while. “Besides my husband, the king, you have been my closest friend, Elymus. And I have always thought you a wise soul. “I will accept your God as well.”

The Priest of God smiled. “Receive the essence of the only God!”

Ifria’s eyes closed, and she felt a presence like rushing water pass through her. Her eyes shot open and it was as though she was seeing things for the first time. So strong was the experience that she cried.

All Elymus could do was stare into space with a tear. “I understand,” he mused.

The priest each hand on both their shoulders. “Come now. With you two converted, in time the kingdom will be transformed!”

And so, a new day dawned in the kingdom of Evercrest.