Caleb Wagner
Bio
Hi, my name is Caleb Wagner. I grew up in small rural town in southern Ohio. Throughout my childhood I saw many sides to many different types of people. I have seen massive falls from grace and underdog stories time and time again.
Stories (20/0)
The Words
Often while engrossed in a conversation I find that what I say merely flows forth. I can never trace any specific thought that generated what I said in that moment. I know that I have thought and that more likely than not the topic has fluttered its way through my seldom quite mind, polinating the flowers of my opinions. Yet admist an oratory adventure or while enshrined a verbal spar my thoughts are silent, like the witching hour just before a heavy snowfall. The personifications of my opinions and of my partner's watch mute from the stands. I find myself unhindered and consumed. The spirit of the speech fills the recesses of this anxious mind with a calm, robust confidence. It whispers in the bravest of voices that I will not falter. That I cannot. The faith settles so deep that past concerns are fossilized: mere relics of the past. There in this mass musing extinction, I am left the sole lifeform to fufill the only niche I know: speech whether verbal or written.
By Caleb Wagnerabout a year ago in Poets
The Black Witch 14
The guard who had rushed to retrieve the choale returned as I wiped the budding tears from my eyes. She presented a large mug full of a deep brown liquid to me. Her gloved hands clenched the body of the mug as though she were delivering a state secret. I took the handle with a firm hand. The guard's expectant eyes bore holes through my face. I tried my utmost to down the whole drink, but the richness that was undercut by the alcohol stopped me halfway through. The guards chuckeld at my controted face. "It's good. I should've taken it a bit slower though." I told the childlike eyes resting on the body of a warrior. The guard beamed. "The chocolate flavor gives a nice level of sweetness and bitter to the fizzy beer. It's the best during the cold season in my opinion. Though if chilled adequetly it is refreshing on a summer's night." The tenative searching from when she asked me about the drink was nowhere to be heard. I took another big gulp of the drink "Ah, that does hit the spot." I affirmed before the slight buzz hit me. "Do you all want some? I feel bad drinking by myself." The guards gave me a light smile. One was about to speak up then "You can not have active guards drink, my dear expirement." Kuri's seductive voice sauntered in from behind me. "You make a good point. How about you dear researcher?" I called back while rolling my eyes to the chuckling guards. Kuri stopped just behind me and peaked her head around my shoulder. "Are you trying to get me drunk Elliot?" Her playful tone, mischevous smile, and the alcohol in my system brought goosebumps as she finished the question. "No, no. I'm trying to get you to drink a little with me. It's up to you if you want to get drunk." I shot back matching Kuri."Very well. Lets find a nice room and have a maid to bring us a few more drinks." Kuri's voice adopted a subtle sweet tone. The guards looked at me wide eyed. Kuri turned cusping her hands behind her and started toward some room in the mansion. She led me to a small room with lined with bookshelves, a few arm chairs, and a single table. The room was bathed in the warm amber glow of the evening sun that had sunk just behind the trees lining the estate. Kuri's tan skin and ocean blue eyes accepted the late daylight. We sat as a maid ushered in to hear our wishes. "Two more choales please." Kuri's voice matched the light streaming into the room when she adressed the maid. With a quick bow the woman left, and thus I was left alone with kuri. The guards had opted to stand just outside the door. They probably did so to hide their excitement. I sipped what was left of my choale while staring at the witch that had stolen my heart. "Elliot, I have a question." Kuri was serious. Her eyes shone just as bright but her smile had faded. "What did you speak to the god of darkness about? Why did they answer your prayer?" Her question conveyed her genuine curiosity, yet there was some panick. "I talked about you, you and I, and the gods' view on us. I wanted know how to fix this, if what I did was truly beyond reproach in their eyes." I knew any pretense and lie would falter before those eyes.
By Caleb Wagner2 years ago in Fiction
The Black Witch 14
The guard who had rushed to retrieve the choale returned as I wiped the budding tears from my eyes. She presented a large mug full of a deep brown liquid to me. Her gloved hands clenched the body of the mug as though she were delivering a state secret. I took the handle with a firm hand. The guard's expectant eyes bore holes through my face. I tried my utmost to down the whole drink, but the richness that was undercut by the alcohol stopped me halfway through. The guards chuckeld at my controted face. "It's good. I should've taken it a bit slower though." I told the childlike eyes resting on the body of a warrior. The guard beamed. "The chocolate flavor gives a nice level of sweetness and bitter to the fizzy beer. It's the best during the cold season in my opinion. Though if chilled adequetly it is refreshing on a summer's night." The tenative searching from when she asked me about the drink was nowhere to be heard. I took another big gulp of the drink "Ah, that does hit the spot." I affirmed before the slight buzz hit me. "Do you all want some? I feel bad drinking by myself." The guards gave me a light smile. One was about to speak up then "You can not have active guards drink, my dear expirement." Kuri's seductive voice sauntered in from behind me. "You make a good point. How about you dear researcher?" I called back while rolling my eyes to the chuckling guards. Kuri stopped just behind me and peaked her head around my shoulder. "Are you trying to get me drunk Elliot?" Her playful tone, mischevous smile, and the alcohol in my system brought goosebumps as she finished the question. "No, no. I'm trying to get you to drink a little with me. It's up to you if you want to get drunk." I shot back matching Kuri.
By Caleb Wagner2 years ago in Fiction
The Black Witch 13
I was greeted by the morning and with it a feeling of satisfaction. The birds sung of my triumphant battle to fix my mistakes. I was grateful for their praise but there was new battle: how to broach what the god had told me. The question of wether it was possible to get Kuri to admit and accept that planted itself behind my joy. I decided to do my calisthenics to clear my head. The exercise told me one thing, I needed to take this one step at a time. With the clear headed advice of exercise me; I began to prepare for my first friendly lunch with Kuri in a while. With the workout finished I greeted the guards; they returned it. The shock of that stopped me for me a moment. A sense of pride followed me into the bath and all the way to my study session after breakfast. The information I pulled from the books I studied felt even more pertinent. I could use it to have conversations with Kuri, it would help me understand her and her home better. Before I knew it the time I allotted to studying was over. I returned the books to the library and on my way out Kuri stood in the hall. She was leaning against the wall acroos from the door. A slightly furrowed brow painted her beautiful face with slight severity.
By Caleb Wagner2 years ago in Fiction
The Greed Beget the Dragons
There weren't always dragons in the Valley. Had they listened to their forebearers there would not be. The children of this valley's first settlers were instructed with a firm hand. "Hold you greed young ones. The bounty of this valley is a great gift. You should take what you need and return what you can. The gods will send a plague of dragons and drakes should you not." Those who were cast from their homes and who were gifted this new valley spoke this line. They tried all manner of education to ensure their children would learn. So that they too would not fall victim to theirselves and dragons. As the generations of man crept by this sage advice crept away. Just some five years ago when man still lived inbetwixt these great mountains only a few knew to fear. Most who called this place home thought dragons were a mere myth. Instead the only issue was, who could have the most. Who could take the most. Whose greed would consume the valley first. This way of thought was prevelant only for a generation.
By Caleb Wagner2 years ago in Fiction
The Black Witch 12
The return trip from the temple was a surreal one. The lingering existential angst from meeting with a god was flavored with the astonished almost reverent stares of the guards. I followed behind one of the guards who continually stole glances at me over her shoulder while the two behind me bore holes in my head. They asked no questions about the expierence. I am sure they didn't know what to ask. I would not be able to answer the questions even if they had the right ones. The experience was too heavy. The quiet residential streets in the wanning sun only compounded my questioning of reality. The walk passed by in a flash as I wrestled with my view of reality.
By Caleb Wagner2 years ago in Fiction
The Black Witch 11
I spent about two hours scouring the books for information on the god of darkness. While they were widely worshipped being an upper god made directly approaching them hard. With the rarity of contact low as it is the number of people who wrote about their expierences was excidingly rare. That did not dissuade me, and in those two hours I was able to glean a few important bits of ettique. The god of darkness from my readings seemed to be reserved, but a fair being. With the information fresh in my head at the end of the two hours I stood up. "Alright, lets go." The guards had been patient during my study and were ready to go at anytime. We began the mission with my command.
By Caleb Wagner2 years ago in Fiction
The Black Witch 10
Saki's encouragement only carried me through my bath. By the time my head was resting on my pillow I was swimming in anxiety. I wanted tomorrow to come without delay but I was terrified to face it. Amidst my anxiety I fell prey to the folly of thinking that my problems would be solved when I awoke. The thoughts in my head slipped from my grasp as my eyes grew heavy. The silence of sleep had returned.
By Caleb Wagner2 years ago in Fiction
The Black Witch 9
The walk back to the mansion was silent and uneventful. The sky faded to a darker shade blue over head while the horizon behind us allowed some red to reflect off the buildings. I could not help but feel that I had crossed a cultural line that I should not have. Although in my home world what I said would have been considered crossing the line for a married man. Yet here it felt even more taboo, considering Kuri's connection with the gods for her it was tatamount to treason. The thought that I should have ended it with saying thank you made itself at home in my head. The walk was a painful one, I feared that once we returned to the mansion Kuri would disappear. I racked my head for a way to resolve this but none came to mind. An apology would be perceived as forced at this point. "Should I give her space and let her approach me about it first?" The thought appeared in tandom with desire to apologize right away. I wrestled with the double think in my head, we passed through the gates to the mansion during my internal debate. The door appeared and was opened before I could remove my head from the storm clouds.
By Caleb Wagner2 years ago in Fiction
The Black Witch 8
The woman's cry brought the attention of the entire block to us. I could feel the judgement, an opinion so deeply entrenched that definding knights wish they could use it against seiges. I knew all to well that anythig I said or did would be immediately discredited. So I raised my hands above my head and backed away. During my withdraw the woman quieted her scream. Lingering in her eyes was a fear that almost brought me to tears. I wanted to say something, to offer up my apologies. My voice ran from this desire, afraid that it would be useless. It had decided not to try. I had shrunk once again. "Its ok, this man will not hurt you. I can vouch for him. If he were to try then he would have to deal with the Black witch Kuriga and these imperial gaurds." Kuri's voice was somehow powerful enough to make it through the whole square but soft enough to offer comfort. The woman looked up at the smiling, embodiment of power. Her eyes darted to me and I bowed my head to show my submission. With Kuri's soothing, my admission of non-conflict and some time the woman returned from the state of a terrified animal. She stood up, dusted of her behind, and took a deep breath. She offered a deep curtsey with a lowered head. "I apologize for the rudeness lady Kuriga, prince Elliot. I have had rather traumatic expierences with men before I emmigrated here. The sudden shock of seeing a man overode my judgement. I hope you will forgive me." She seemed a different person. Now her words carried a tremendous air of grace. Kuri looked at me "In this situation you should be the one to accept the apology. While I hold considerable power, I am somewhat extranational. You are the ranking person status wise." The guidance she offered was sent via our telepathic link. In response I straightened my posture and spread my right hand out with palm facing to the sky. "Do not worry. I forgave you when I saw the fear in your eyes. I knew that you meant no ill will by it. I am happy that you have calmed down and please should you need anything do not hesitate to reach out to me. I will do my best to help you overcome this trauma so that your life may be better if only by a slight margin." The formal apology receiving posture felt awkard, but my acceptance was scincere.
By Caleb Wagner2 years ago in Fiction
The Black Witch 7
I woke up with the morning sun dancing through my window. The light had just made it past the horizon but came to greet me none the less. I trudged my way to the water basin in my room, and splashed the water on my face. Feeling refreshed it was time to start my normal calithstenics routine. As I completed each rep thoughts of the day started to appear. What would Kuri and I do? Would Amelia go back to work? How much hostility could I expect to face today? These questions and all there possible answers swirled in my head as my muscles contracted. After about an hour and a half sweat had coated enough of my body thaat I felt ready to tackle the day. The dirty feeling that permeated my skin reminded me to take a bath before I officially started. I walked to the bathroom clothes in hand, the large bath tub was almost wasted on my simple bathing. Thankfully this world had figured out plumbing via magical apparatuses so there was no extra work involved in bathing.
By Caleb Wagner2 years ago in Fiction
The Black Witch 6
This weird trio of the lone male, a magnificent witch, and fragile child sat ourselves in a parlor. My shadows positioned themselves around the room. For the first time the guards who watched over me were visibly perturbed. The only reason I could fathom for this is they did not expect a man , a noble at that, to protect a young girl that was decieved into almost killing him. Their eyes let a touch of hope peak through the corner, but it was miniscule in comparison to their expectation that things would turn sour. "One of you go get a maid to bring sweets and tea for us." Kuri not oblivous to their mindstate broke their tension for a moment. "Not you, Saki" Kuri offered as she positioned herself to look at the child still clinging to my chest. Saki brought her foot down midstep and pivoted towards Kuri. "As you wish." Her eyes and voice told the same story, she wished to remove herself from this situation. A situation that had dealt a devastating blow to her beliefs. "Now then my dear amelia, what do you help with around here? You seem like such a mature girl; I'm sure you do a lot." The contradictory voice of Kuri had both the softness one used for a child and plenty of maturity to make amelia feel important.
By Caleb Wagner2 years ago in Fiction
