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The Right Reasons Chapter 4

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Chapter 4 in which questions are raised and answers given

Hiccup’s mind was racing as he followed Jack through the maze like hallways of Santoff Clausen his feet walking mechanically, trying with little success to make sense of what had just happened. No matter how he weighed it, he kept coming to the same impossible conclusion; somehow, he, Hiccup “The Worthless” Horrendous Haddock III, the greatest disappointment to come out of his tribe in living memory, the most un-Viking Viking ever born on Berk, had used magic. He had no idea how that was possible, but he’d seen himself shoot lightening, actual lightening, at Jack and he certainly didn’t have any other explanation for that. He had never had so much as a hint of any kind of magical…anything in the past. He’d just been incredibly mad at Jack and wanted to knock the mocking sneer off his face when suddenly…lightening.  

Hiccup so engrossed in his thoughts was that he walked right into Jack before he realized the taller boy had stopped in front of an innate stained glass door, the intricate patterns featuring the various phases of the moon. He stepped back quickly, expecting some sort of angry reaction from Jack, the low growl that sounded from just behind him told Hiccup Toothless was expecting the same. “Sorry!” He said quickly, throwing both hands up in an apologetic and slightly defensive gesture.

“Don’t worry about it.”  He said with a smile, waving away Hiccup’s apology. Turing on his heel Jack grabbed the large handle, shaped like a crescent moon, and opened the door, revealing the same library Hiccup had arrived in the previous night. Raising his voice Jack called out “North? North! North, you were right as usual, I’ve brought him!”

There was a jubilant exclamation from somewhere farther back in the many rows of bookshelves, followed by the sound of something large hitting the floor. The heavy footfalls of his giant black boots announcing his arrival, North stepped out from an isle between two shelves and grinned at Hiccup, the red of his mouth in stark contrast with is beard as he opened his mouth and let out another boisterous laugh.

“Ah-ha! I knew it! I felt it, in my belly! You got it out of him then?” North said, his question directed at Jack.

“Yea, took a lot though, I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to break him.” Jack said, lazily resting his staff over one shoulder, a pleased look on his face.

“A tough on eh? Well I’m hoping was not too hard on you.” North said, his gaze jumping to Hiccup before returning to Jack, giving the confused Viking no time at all to respond.  

“So, what he do? Manipulation? Transmute something? Good old fashion kinetics?”

Jack shook his head, an even wider smile spreading across his face “Nope. It was a full on manifestation North.”

The large man froze where he was, rummaging through a large trunk shoved under a desk that was piled nearly to the ceiling with dozens of books of every shape and size, and turned to stare at Hiccup, his eyebrows so high they were lost within his hair. “Was it now? Well done my boy!” North boomed, walking over and clapping Hiccup on the back so hard the small boy stumbled forward slightly, throwing out an arm to keep his balance.

His frustration boiling over now, Hiccup shouted “Hey!” getting both Jack’s and North’s attention, the latter stopping mid-sentence as he looked down at the small and rather angry Viking boy before him. Taking a deep breath to calm himself, it wasn’t like him to be to easily frusterated, Hiccup started to speak. “What was that out there? Why was he,” he pointed at Jack “trying to ‘break me,’ what is a ‘manifestation,’ and what in the name of hel is going on?” he demanded, his gaze darting from North to Jack and back again.

“Ah! Of course, you are wanting explanation da?” Hiccup nodded his head slowly, his expression a mixture of exasperation and bemusement. “Well, is really very simple matter. You, Hiccup, are wizard.” North said, the large man speaking as if he had just said something glaringly obvious like ‘the sky is blue’ or ‘Hiccup, you look like you’re about to pass out.”

“I’m a…no.” Hiccup let out a disbelieving laugh as he stammered, looking for the words to make this large and all to enthusiastic man understand that there was some sort of mistake. “I can’t be a…a wizard. You must have made a mistake because I’m, well, not a lot of things but certainly not a wizard.”

“I am sure you are many things Hiccup, you would not be here if not so, and one of them is wizard!” North boomed, leaning down so as to tower slightly less over the small Viking.
“I can’t be a wizard! I’ve never used magic before in my life, I’ve never had the smallest hint of it, never made anything happen I couldn’t explain, nothing! How would I suddenly become a wizard?” Hiccup’s voice was raising as he felt his heart begin to beat faster as he felt the icy chill of fear starting to worm its way into his chest.  Magic was mistrusted at best by his people, and more often than not outright hated, if he really was a wizard then it was just another thing to ostracize him from his tribe and he had plenty of those already, thanks.

“Hiccup, are you alright?” North’s face was suddenly concerned, an understandable reaction considering Hiccup could feel himself beginning to hyperventilate. In a moment Toothless was at his side, offering a supporting shoulder which he used to prop himself up more steadily on a shaking arm. Even as he felt a full blown panic attack starting to set in Hiccup couldn’t help but be a confused and more than a little annoyed; why were his emotions running so hot today? He had always felt things a bit stronger the most of the people he knew (another un-viking like property he had) but he’d never been so easily swept away by his emptions.

“North, I think he might still be suffering the effect of the…” Jack piped up from where he had perched himself, on top of one of the closer bookshelves, his bare feet hanging down and bumping old tombs as he swung his legs lazily. He tapped his head at his words trailed off.

“Oh! Of course, how could I be forgetting!” North shouted as he ran over to a table that was covered with dozens of glass vials of every shape and size all filled with liquids of every color of the spectrum. After a moment of rummaging, light clinking sounds, and several low Russian words that sounded like curses filling the air, North moved back to Hiccup who was trying to calm himself with moderate success. Handing Hiccup a small vial with a clear liquid that seemed to summer slightly in its transparent capsule he said “Here, drink. Will make you feel better.”

Hiccup eyes the unknown substance for several long seconds, his gaze jumping from the beaker to North’s encouraging face several times before he grabbed the tube and downed it in one gulp. He gagged as an acrid taste filled his mouth and burnt its it way down his throat; he started coughing violently as a bitter after taste settled into the back of his throat. A moment later he retched, closing his mouth as he felt his breakfast return for a much less present encore, leaving a sour taste on his tongue before he forced it back down, letting out a small burp as he shuddered.

His voice barely above a croak Hiccup said “The hel was that?” speaking burned his throat slightly.

“Was antidote, you feel better now?” North asked, taking the now empty vial from Hiccup and slipping it into an inner pocket of his velvety red cloak.

“Other than the burning throat, nausea, and after taste of vomit?” Hiccup retorted, one hand pressed to his stomach as he slowly straightened up.

North looked none at all put out by the sharp reply, instead casting an appraising eye at Hiccup as he said “But emotions are under control now da?”

“I guess so, more than they were bef-wait, how did you know my emotions were getting out of control?” Hiccup asked, suddenly suspicious “What exactly was that an antidote for?”
“I think you should start from the beginning North,” Jack said from his perch atop the bookshelf  “would be faster than piecing it together question by question.”

“Yes, beginning is good place to start, but which beginning?” The large man ran a hand through his beard, stroking his chin as he looked thoughtfully into the distance for a moment. He looked about to start speaking several times, but each time he would stop and close his mouth, his face scrunching up in contemplation. Finally, after several more failed attempts to start, North said “Let’s start at very beginning. Magic, Hiccup, is all around us. It drifts through the air we breathe, it flows through the water we drink and it permeates the very earth we walk upon. Magic, in its truest form, is the life energy of the world. Most people go through their lives unaware of magic that shapes every aspect of their existence; there are special few, though, who are aware of this magic and can manipulate it to some degree. Most of those who control magic control in innately-” Hiccup tried to control his curiosity and stay quiet through North’s explanation, he really did, but finally he just couldn’t ignore the questions anymore.

“How does someone become aware of magic? Are they born like that or do they learn it? What do you mean manipulate magic, what can they do? What do you mean by-” The questions flooding from Hiccup were interrupted by a booming laugh as North threw his head back and bellowed, his large frame jumping as he boomed his mirth to the ceiling.

“You have inquisitive mind, this is good! Good wizard must be creative and inquisitive,” he said as he made his way over toward a bookshelf, perusing the shelf before pulling a large leather bound volume from the top shelf and returning to Hiccup “Good wizard also listens and learns.”

Hiccup felt a bit of warmth suffuse his ears at North’s reproach, light was it was.

“Sorry…”

“Don’t be, never apologize for questions Hiccup! Now, where was I…” North trailed off as he attempted to regain the train of through he had lost.

“Me.” Jack piped up from the corner of the room where he had hooked his staff over a beam in the ceiling and, gripping the length of gnarled wood with his legs and hands, was hanging upside down, a pleased looking grin plastered across his pale face.

“Ah yes. Most people who are sensitive to the magic are attuned to a particular aspect or facet of magic and can control it innately. Most of these people have been doing it since they were born, it is natural for them, as second nature as walking or talking for you or I.” Seemingly wanting to illustrate North’s point, Jack gave a little jump, unhooked his staff, and did a once around the large library, dropping a layer of snow onto Hiccup as he passed overhead.

Brushing the fluffy powder from his hair Hiccup shot a glare at Jack before saying “Well that’s clearly not me, I’m pretty sure if notice if I’d been using magic since I was little.”

“Of course, and no is not. Of people who are sensitive to magic, there are a very special few who are attuned to magic in its purest, most base from. These people can shape that magic in any way they want, manipulating any aspect of magic they desire, they are the wizards of the world Hiccup; that is what you are, and what I am.”

“So you’re saying that I can do anything I want by snapping my fingers?” Hiccup said, more than a little skepticism in his voice.

“With enough practice, and a strong enough will, yes.” North said, punctuating his statement with a snap of his fingers. To Hiccup’s amazement a small bird, no larger than his hand flared into existence over North’s hand, still in the post-snap position. The creature was made up entirely of a glowing, sparking, contently fluctuating mass of bright red light; twittering happily is flew around North’s head three times before heading straight at Hiccup, bursting into a group of little sparks which slowly drifted toward the floor before fading from existence.

“What was-“ Hiccup’s voice caught in his dry throat and he stopped to swallow twice before speaking again “what was that?”

“Magic!” North exclaimed, throwing his hands, one still clutching the book he had retrieved, out in emphasis.

Hiccup had always been a very open minded person, and that open mindedness had paid off in more ways than he could count, but even he was having a hard time wrapping his mind around everything North was saying. “How did you know I was a…” Hiccup waved his hand vaguely, unable to say the word ‘wizard’ “Why now then? Why did this…magic…suddenly pop up now?”  
“Those whose magic is innate, like Jack, usually have it form the moment of birth. People like you and me, we could go entire lives without ever even knowing about our magic, unless something happens to trigger it.”

“Like what?”

“Like exposure to large magic, or powerfully emotional event-“ North was interrupted by Jack, who had returned to his place hanging from the ceiling like a strange blue and white bat.

“Or a little elixir in your morning juice.” He said with a devilish grin.

“JACK!”  North bellowed, shooting a surprisingly cold glare at the winter spirit from beneath his busy white eyebrows.

It took a moment for Jack’s words to click in Hiccup’s head but when they did his eyes grew slightly wider and to pointed an accusatory finger at North “You spiked my drink?”
“No!” North exclaimed, looking askance before losing some of his bluster “Well yes, but was harmless to wizards.”

“Uh huh, and what if I hadn’t been a wizard?”

“Then swelling would have gone down in a day or two.” North said quickly before moving on “Point is, you are wizard Hiccup.” Giving the small boy an encouraging smile which Hiccup did not return.

“What exactly did you spike my drink with?” North sighed deeply, before speaking.
“Was just a small elixir to help awaken magic in you. I could talk till sun is set twice and not be able to explain how to use magic, is something you have to experience yourself first. Elixir helped open your mind to the magic and also gave your emotions stronger hold of you, and I asked Jack to do what he could to make you angry.”

“Oh, and here I thought he was just a giant prick. Why would you want me angry though?”
North chuckled lightly before responding “Only sometimes.” He ignored Jack’s indignant ‘hey!’. “And I wanted Jack to anger you because anger is easiest emotion to insight, and can burn very strong very fast. Is a crude and rushed method for engendering first magic, but time is against us.” Hiccup was quiet for a long time before finally speaking “What if I don’t believe you?”

With a small grin North handed him the book he had taken from the bookshelf. Looking down at the worn leather cover Hiccup saw several lines of looping gold writing embossed on the cover written in some language that Hiccup had never seen before.

“Ummm, thanks but uh, I mean don’t get me wrong it’s a lovely book, but I have no idea what this says.” Hiccup said, hefting the book every which way, admiring the way the letters glimmered in the different angles of light.

“Are you sure?” North said with a knowing look.

“Pretty sure, seeing as I’ve never seen this language before in my life.” Hiccup said, gesturing at the cover offhandedly.

“Really?” North sounded surprised “Huh, I guess you are not wizard then, my mistake.”
Hiccup stared at the large man incredulously, irritation flaring into full blown anger as he thought about everything North had just told him, the quiet but growing louder every second hope that he was right, and now it was ‘his mistake?’ “What? So now nothing you said matters, just because I can’t read some stupid old book? That seems like a pretty stu-“
Hiccup’s voice caught in his throat as he glanced down at the book, his fist freezing in its downward arch toward the book an inch from the cover. Before his astonished eyes the scrawling script on the cover was shifting, changing until it formed the words “I Believe: A Beginner’s Guide to the Most Wondrous Fundamentals of Magic.” Looking up at North, Hiccup thought he had never seen such a smug smile in all his life.

“You are wizard.” North said his expression going from smug grin to an almost fatherly smile, one which Hiccup couldn’t help but return. “And a fine wizard I am sure.”

“Oh he’ll be a fine wizard, very fine if you ask me.” Jack’s voice cut in.

Hiccup felt his cheeks flush slightly at the comment and North rolled his eyes before winking at Hiccup. With a soft snap, Jack’s hoddie fell down over his face, blocking his view of North and Hiccup, and revealing a considerable amount of sculpted pale midriff for a slit second before Jack yelped in surprise and tumbled to the ground, having lost his grip on his staff, Hiccup quickly turned his face to hide the brighter red tint that had crept into his cheeks and the guffaw that broke form his lips at the sight. North joined in with his signature booming laugh and even Jack, after a “ha ha, very funny” joined in.

After their group mirth subsided Hiccup said “So, uh…what now exactly? Am I like…your apprentice now?” He asked, rubbing the back of his in a self-conscious way. North chuckled lightly before replying

“Now you go and relax for today, get to know everyone better.

Tomorrow you come here, I have much to teach, and you Hiccup, you have much to learn.”
First off, I AM SO SORRY THIS TOOK SOO LONG -_- Everything seemed to not want me tow write this, school, life, and a couple very uncooperative muses. The chapter is a little boring honestly, a lot of explanations; I hate it, but it must be done. More fun and interesting chapter will be out soon I promise!
© 2013 - 2024 CyXandrix
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craziestfoxlady's avatar
You've probably gotten a lot of these comments, but are you going to continue with this? It's been a long time, and I know you have other stories but this one has sparked my interest and I am more than excited to find out what happens next! Hiccup will probably look down on himself even more considering how untrustworthy witches and wizards are in Viking culture...