He had a brown cloak and a grey, old wooden staff with an orange gemstone. He showed no expression which indicated what he felt about the situation. He was looking at Pi’ve incessantly, seemingly trying to figure out if they had met previously or not. He wondered when the silence would be broken, but before Pi’ve could speak, the wizard scanned the crowd. He was watching the people migrating from the outskirts of the square and inwards, to where the crowd transformed into a line.

  ’Impressive… Impressive, I must say.’ The old wizard said. ’How long since something like this has happened, I wonder…’ A small pause, as he churned through his memories. ’623 years, right here, in this very square. Two years before the Wizarding Fair there was a man— dead now, obviously— who had found some evidence for Oarios III, and where he may be. There was a riot, because the man was captured, imprisoned, then tortured and killed. Some people had seen this evidence he was talking about, and consequently, something similar happened to what is happening here right now… so now, judging by that time, this is just the beginning.’

  Despite the peculiar opening speech, the wizard turned back to Pi’ve, smiled and stretched out his hand. Pi’ve reached out, and was received with a firm handshake.

  ’Pi’ve, pleasure to meet you.’

  ’Yond, likewise.’ The wizard named Yond said. ’Now, just to be clear,’ he did a hand-movement to stress this next point, ’I must somewhat condone what you have done, for as a wizard, it is in my— our— best interest to follow the rules and regulations set by those tasked with the matter, but I also must commend the entrance.’

  ’Rules and regulations? Entrance?’ Pi’ve said, a bit confused.

  ’Well, obviously, you are new. I know because I have never seen or heard of you before. Us wizards aren’t that many, so if you haven’t been new, then I would have heard of you. Had you not been new, then you would know that what you have done is not allowed. But as I said, it takes a lot of courage to enter the world of wizards the way you did, regardless.’ Yond said. ’You did not actually think that this showcase would not cause any stirrup, did you?’

  ’No, well… It may have crossed my mind, but— I thought that maybe the right heir to the throne would be found and—,’

  ’Yes, I understand that. But to us, there is no right heir to the throne. It is not our way to involve ourselves in such matters— in their matters, I mean.’ Yond said, pointing to the vast crowd of people now shouting and being generally loud. ’Hence, your entrance is rather grand, and perhaps a tad bit boisterous.’

  There was no judgement in his voice or mannerism, but either way, the knot in the pit of Pi’ve’s stomach returned, for he knew what he had done was considered wrong. Yet, he did not understand. Surely, there had to be wizards in the councils of the mighty and wealthy. Before he could ask the wizard about this, another wizard showed up.

  ’Ah, hello, Yond.’ He said in a friendly manner, and Yond nodded once. ’Are you the cause of this?’ He then asked, turning his attention to Pi’ve.

  Pi’ve could not help but place his hand over his mouth nervously, before telling him that, yes, it was in fact he who had caused this. The wizard guffawed, reached out his hand and Pi’ve grabbed it.

  ’Magnol. At your cervix… Service, I mean. I guarantee some will come for your neck, though.’ He said and laughed. It did take the edge off though a little, to see that even though Pi’ve had broken wizard law, or regulation, some thought it funny. Funny at his expense, mind.

  ’It is no laughing matter, Magnol. People will die.’ Yond said, and Magnol lost his smile. Pi’ve went back to dreading what he had done fast. Was it really that serious?

  ’No, I suppose not.’ Magnol said and looked thoughtful for a second. ’I have not seen you before— Yond, he could not possibly have known, you know, that this was against the law. Either way, how I see it, this isn’t a direct breach of any law—,’

  ’Of course it is a breach of the law. It is a breach of the first law in the wizard Exclusion Act. You know that as well as I do.’

  ’Yes, but, first of all: He did not know,’ Magnol said, raising a finger. ’and according to Kerlina, who works in the WCC—,’

  ’Yes, I know Kerlina…’

  ’— new wizards need to be given leniency in matters regarding law.’ Magnol said, seeming to defend Pi’ve. ’We have no right to assume that they have been taught—’

  ’I understand, but I am not saying he should be charged with a felony. I am just saying that… this was rather daring, if not wrong regardless.’

  ’Weeell, I think—,’

  A new wizard joined them, cutting Magnol off.

  ’What is going on?’ The new wizard said, looking at Yond and Magnol, and when he saw Pi’ve, he smiled and reached out his arm. Pi’ve grabbed it and shook. ’Neth, a pleasure.’

  ’Pi’ve, likewise.’ Pi’ve said. He was shrinking for each second. It was obvious that this was something momentous, having four wizards stand in a circle talking amongst the common people. There were as many eyes upon them as there were eyes on the newly arrived king of old. Having caused this doubled the shame he felt. He was a pebble amongst boulders. They were real wizards, and the way this had turned out, Pi’ve felt like he was being looked down upon by them, the ones he had looked up to since he was a child, even if Magnol had defended him.

  Before Magnol could say anything, Yond shot in ’Pi’ve here has brought back the old king Oarios III, unlikely as that sounds.’ He said telling it how it was.

  ’You have what!’ The wizard said. ’Why d’you do that for? Are you simple?’

  Pi’ve could not help but cringe. He felt pain in his chest. His heart seemed to jump out of his mouth, and he became sick to his stomach.

  Neth seemed to have a new perspective of the congregation in the market square now, and as he looked about on the massive crowd, he shook his head repeatedly, muttering under his breath. It took some time, but eventually he turned back to Pi’ve and said ’damn fool’, staring him down.

  ’Neth!’ Magnol said sternly. ’He did not know better. He is new, don’t you see?’

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  ’Did not know better!’ He practically shouted, scoffing and turning around. ’Well, let me tell you something, Pi’ve. I do not care that you are new. What you have done is inexcusable, and I am to do everything to have you punished, that’s for sure.’

  ’Alright, Neth. That’s enough. Do go about threatening him, now.’ Yond said, finally showing some sort of anger.

  ’What are you gentlemen so calm for? People will die, you understand that?’

  ’Well, yes, we have said that that is a possibility, but—,’

  ’Hey, hey. What is going on here?’ another wizard said as he made himself a place amongst them. Pi’ve was now only looking down at the ground, too ashamed to even greet the wizard. When they had gotten the wizard up to speed, he too began to berate Pi’ve, and Pi’ve had no choice than to accept it.

  They went on and on, with Neth and the last wizard who joined them, apparently named Feron, telling Pi’ve off and saying that he should be thrown in the cellar for what he had done. Magnol defended Pi’ve adamantly, saying that Pi’ve could not have known. He even asked Pi’ve if he knew what this could bring, and when Pi’ve said that when he first found the old king, he had hoped that the current king would be replaced. They all gaped at that, but still Pi’ve could not understand why. Obviously the current king was a bad man, and he told them that.

  Magnol slapped his forehead. That was apparently a bad thing to reveal. ’You make it difficult for me to defend you, Pi’ve. Yes, he may be a bad man, but that does not mean that you have the right to interfere in the way of their governing. The power-imbalance is too vast between ordinary humans and us wizards. If we were to be able to interfere, then we would just rule ourselves—,’

  ’Alright!’ Pi’ve shouted. ’I did not know! I used to live under this rule, and I am sick and tired of the power-hungry and despicable man we call king!’ Pi’ve said, looking around at the wizards who was standing towards him. ’I made the decision because this man is over a thousand years dead, and I thought that wizards did have a role in government. And I admit that it may have been foolish to think that. This lost king wanted to be here, rather than on that ridiculous island he was buried on, so I did what the letter said.’

  ’What bollocks!’ Neth said. ’You used to live here, you say, and you think that wizards have a role in government?’

  ’Yes, I thought, surely, the smartest people in Soilar were a part of the governance of the people. Is that idiotic of me to assume?’

  ’No, it is not idiotic to think that. It was like that a long time ago, as wizards are people too. But power corrupts us too. Hence, there were laws introduced that forbade wizards to enter the ranks of the people.’ Yond told Pi’ve.

  ’See,’ Magnol said. ’Of course he wouldn’t know that this was wrong. It goes against logic. I too didn’t know this before I talked to someone who knew.’

  ’Surely, your mentor told you, Magnol.’ Feron said.

  ’No, Feron. He did not. And do you know why? Because he is an elf. Elves does not care about the conduct of wizards and people, for they care only for themselves, and whatever fancies them at the moment.’

  ’That’s not true.’ Neth said, seemingly offended. ’Elves care very much about the doings of humans.’

  ’You out of everyone here should know that they do not. If not, you are being wilfully ignorant.’ Yond said, and there was visible anger on Neth’s face. He turned around, walked a few paces and seemed to be breathing heavily, before calming himself and joining the group again.

  ’Alright, alright, but what should we do now?’ Feron said addressing the whole group. ’The damage is done. Look at all these people… where are the guards?’

  Pi’ve, for the first time in a while looked up, and indeed, there was an ocean of people in the square. It was filled. Pi’ve had been so fixed on the situation he was currently in, that he had forgot about the people in the square. No, it was not only filled. He saw that the streets that went into the square had been filled, and people was waiting to come inside to look at what had brought so many people here.

  ’It is indeed extraordinary.’ Yond said. ’And as you say, the damage is already done. I think more involvement from us wizards will only be more damaging to what will take place. We are best to leave it be. Maybe it even dies down.’

  ’Hah! Slim chance.’ Magnol said. ’But, I do not think that any legal action should be brought upon, Pi’ve, just so that I make myself clear on that front.’

  ’That is not your decision to make.’ Neth said, and Feron nodded intently with him.

  ’Oh, so you intend to run to the WCC, do you?’ Magnol said angrily. ’Ratting out a new wizard! What nice a welcome that would be!’

  ’Ahh. Here you are.’ The wizard in black robes was back. He had been one of the first to see the king after Pi’ve had placed him in the square. ’I see you all have met Pi’ve, the greatest fool to become a wizard in a long time.’

  Pi’ve’s head sunk again. He felt so much regret that he wished now that he had just drowned, and that was no exaggeration. He did feel like the greatest fool to ever become a wizard. He was right.

  ’I believe that I was the first wizard to look upon the great, human king Oarios III today. Wasn’t I Pi’ve?’ The wizard said. ’And— well, I will get straight to the point. I have already filed a case against you, Pi’ve. New wizard or not,’ it pained Pi’ve how cold he sounded; how matter-of-factually he laid it out. ’You must learn somehow. I will, personally, not hold you to it further, if the WCC finds that you should not face any consequences for this, but for now, I— we, maybe— feel that you have done the wizarding community a disservice. Thank you.’ And then he left.

  It seemed like the wizard had left all the others quite speechless, for they did not speak for quite some time after his visit. Maybe Feron and Neth did not really intend to escalate it further. Well, that was how Pi’ve interpreted their disbelief anyhow.

  ’He made that decision quite fast, didn’t he?’ Magnol said. ’Don’t worry Pi’ve, it isn’t going to go that far.’

  ’What does the law say, exactly?’ Pi’ve said carefully. ’I mean, what laws have I broken?’

  ’Wizards are not to meddle or interfere in the affairs of the common people’s government on any stage or level, it is written in the Wizard exclusion act.’ Yond said helpfully, and scratched his beard thoroughly. ’You could argue that since he has been gone so long, and is not a king and not currently in the government that it is in contention whether or not, and to what extent you broke that rule, but…’

  ’Well, look who begins to sound like me.’ Magnol teased Yond.

  The air around Pi’ve suddenly seemed to compress, to bare down on him somewhat; the air became heavier to breath. It was not caused by the fact that the wizard in black had filed a case against him. He had been made aware that there were laws, and therefore he could, maybe should, be made accountable, and if they decided to do that, he was alright with that. No, the pressing feeling came from somewhere. It felt like mana, but not his own. It came from outside somewhere. Behind him.

  He saw the others go silent and bow slightly, and he knew then that there was someone behind him. Pi’ve turned, and saw a tall man, with long, white hair and long and straight, quite thin beard. He looked ancient. Wizards were old as a rule, some of them a couple hundred years old, Pi’ve had heard rumours that some even surpassed a thousand, but mostly, they all looked like just ordinary old men, with robes. This wizard looked older than all others around him put together, and twice that. He was hunched slightly, and leaned against his staff heavily.

  ’Dandrian. Great to see you in good health.’ Yond said. They all seemed to wait for the wizard to speak. Pi’ve had never seen this wizard before, but from the immense energy which he was expelling, he knew that this wizard was a cut above the rest.

  ’Nice to see so many gathered together all at once. No doubt some great fate has made it possible. Seldom do we congregate such outside the Wizarding Fair. But alas! I must insist upon you all leaving Pi’ve alone and scatter elsewhere. Barna has requested him a visit, and I, as lucky as I am, was sent here to tell him.’ Dandrian said, and just like that, they all bowed once more, and left without more words.

  After a few moments, Pi’ve looked at the wizard who had come, apparently to his rescue. ’Thank you. It was beginning to feel like a prison.’ Pi’ve said, and Dandrian smiled. ’If I may. The way they— who are you?’

  ’Ah, let us not bore ourselves with such questions. I am but a wizard like yourself, and as such, no more important. But indeed, you may ask Barna if the conversation gets too dull, so let it be a subject matter to have in the back pocket if you should need it.’ Dandrian said, smiling at Pi’ve. They began walking out of the city square.