The Owl Mage

Chase grumbled as he sat up in the bed. They had warned him when he bought the old farm that he might have some predators still stalking around. Jeez, he didn’t even have any livestock yet. He fumbled around for the light switch beside the bed knocking over the glass of water be had placed there. He cursed then searched for some pants and a shirt. His shot gun was propped up by the bedroom door for easy access. Four legged predators weren’t the only things to worry about. He thought about bringing his pistol then thought better of it. He was proficient at both but he didn’t think he would need the pistols accuracy. He wasn’t ready to go on a killing spree just yet. There wasn’t anything out there to kill so maybe a warning would do to keep the would-be predators at bay.

The cold air hit Chase like a fist as he steeped out on the porch. He cursed the weather man who said it would be a warm night. He also cursed himself for not remembering his shoes. He started to go fetch them when he again heard the noise that woke him. It was coming from the barn and it wasn’t letting up. In fact, it seemed to be getting worse. Chase changed his mind and went back inside not only to get his shoes but to also get his pistol. Armed, he made his way slowly toward the barn. As he got closer, he could see flashes of light accompanying the noises. He could swear they were mini explosions or maybe some kin do gun fight but the sounds weren’t right. He had been a policeman for a while and this didn’t sound like any gun fire that he had ever heard. In between the explosions or whatever they were, he could also hear voices, two in fact. He had made it to just outside the barn door. He pressed against the warn wall pausing to listen. Yes, there were two voices that seemed to be fighting.

“Look at you,” the first voice said in a low gravely voice. “You can barely stand up let alone fight. Give us what we want and we promise to make your death quick.”

“You know I could never do that,” said the second voice sounding tired and weak. “I know what you will do with it and I have been sworn to keep it sage, even if it means my death.”

“Death is what you will get old one.”

Chase had heard enough. He pulled open the door and drew his pistol at the same time, aiming it toward where he heard the voices. Three individuals stood staring at each other, Chase, a barn owl, and a shadowy cloaked figure. The owl was the first to regain his composure.

“Move human,” he shouted at chase also taking the chance to roll out of the cloaked figures reach.

Chase’s mind was still trying to wrap his mind around what he was seeing but his trained reflexes were still working. He dove behind a railing just as the cloaked figure raised its hand and released a bolt of energy. When he finished rolling, chase found himself sitting right beside the owl who had also ducked behind the railing. They sat their looking at each other for a second, Chase to make sure he wasn’t dreaming, the owl to appraise the readiness of this human. A bolt explosion snapped them both back into the moment.

“Look human,” began the owl. I don’t have time to go into every detail of what is going on here, just trust me when I say, we are in dire danger. In mere moments others of the Shrouds, that’s what it’s called by the way, kind will surround us. I have to give you something that will hurt a little but will allow us to live. Usually there is much training but we don’t have time.

While listening to the owl, Chase’s training was still in play. After each bolt of energy erupted around them, he was firing at the now named Shroud. His bullets didn’t seem to be hurting it, only backing it up a little which told him that he was at least hitting it.

“OK, I’m willing to go on a little faith here after what I have just witnessed,” Chase said after firing a few shots at the Shroud. I’m not really use to seeing an owl talk you know.

“Few of us can,” said the owl. I will go over the how and why of it later, if we survive. All I need from you is your permission.”

Chase took another shot at the Shroud and looked at the owl contemplating his options.

“I don’t think I have a lot of options. My bullets are only annoying that thing and if more are coming we will need more fire power. Let’s do it. Give me whatever you need to give me.

The owl smiled, yes, they can smile at least this one could. He seemed relieved. He closed his eyes and spread its wings. A glow started to build up around it getting brighter and brighter. It got so bright that Chase had to cover his eyes. When it seemed that the light couldn’t get any brighter, it erupted from the owl and hit Chase. The owl had lied. It didn’t hurt a little. It hurt a lot. Chase screamed feeling every nerve in his body light up and fill with tremendous energy. Even his mind was attached as images filled with equations and instructions filled it.

The last bit of light left the owl and it slumped to the ground. He weakly stared up at the human. He had been lucky. He could sense that the human was strong and would be able to physically take the onslaught that he was being given. He just hopped his mind could handle it. When the glow finally died down, he watched the human also slump to the grown.

“Ouch,” Chase said managing to pry one eye open. “That hurt a whole lot.”

The owl grinned in relief. “Human, what is your name. I can’t keep call you human.”

“Chase Shadows,” Chase answered. “I know, he said when the owl gave him a strange look. “My mom either had a big sense of humor or she somehow knew what my life would be like. I will tell you about it sometime when we don’t have more pressing matters to attend to.”

The Shroud had not been idle during all this time. The moment it saw the bright light, raced to meet its brothers. Their only chance was to destroy them both before the full power could be unleashed. The rest of the Shrouds had gathered outside the barn. After the Shroud from the barn gave them the run down they mobilized and surrounded the barn. The human was new to magic and didn’t even have a way to deploy it. They had already destroyed the only wand in existence.

The Shrouds were wrong. Before they could organize their attach, a beam of energy erupted from the barn blasting the closest to nonexistence. The rest of them looked at the barn in shock as the human emerged with the owl on his shoulder. In his hands he held the shot gun. The beam had come from it. He began to pick them off one by one. Before they could organize, Chase had picked off more than half of them and wasn’t slowing down. The few that were left turn tail and ran.

Chase watched the few Shrouds that were left float off into the night.

“Well that wasn’t so bad,” he said to the owl on his shoulder.

“They were unprepared,” said the owl. Next time they will come at you harder. They will try their best to destroy you before you come to your full power. Before that happens, we must prepare and train.

“You know I cam out here to live a quiet life with no one to bother me. Now I have to fight off a bunch of power-hungry pieces of cloth.

“It could be worse.”

“How?”

“I’ll let you know when it happens.”