Fading Memories

Magicians' children always gathered in the gardens of the Fram's residence. Avarish Fram liked children and was happy to accept them at his home. Children loved the beauty of the gardens, which were exceptionally beautiful and well cared for in the house of Frams. There were plenty of hiding places and shady nooks, where young people could keep their secrets.

Gwan was trying to conjure fire. It was a bit pointless, because the magical talent was discovered at the age of eight or nine years, and Gwan was only six. However, children of the magicians loved to imitate their parents, as they wanted to grow up faster. Gwan's face turned red with the effort, but it was unsuccessful - the fire did not appear.

"I'm sure that I will make it..." Gwan made snorty sound and again concentrated. The girls giggled. Gwan was a popular boy, full of life and the kids always centered around him. One of the girls, seven years old Faruza, shouted at the boy sitting on a bench.

"Come on, Ari! I'm sure that this time Gwan will success!"

Arieskin Fram was sitting on the bench a little to the side and watched friends. He knew his own gardens like his own pocket, he always met here with the other children, but he always preferred to watch them from afar. He was a very quiet boy, he did not like noise around him. Now he smiled enigmatically. Gwan was the son of a weaker mage, his power probably will wake up after two more years. But it was fun to watch as his face contorted in effort.

He did not answer, he began waving his legs, which did not reach the ground, because the six years old Arieskin was a very small child. Faruza shrugged, but her cry and lack of  Arieskin's answer drawed attention of the Gwan. He stopped and looked at friend.

"It doesn't interest you, what I am doing?" said with the offensive tone.

"IF you will do it!" laughed Arieskin.

Gwan flushed, this time with anger. He was the leader of the group, and Arieskin always had for him an unpleasant word.

"You don't have the power and you envy others" he said, narrowing his eyebrows. "Maybe it's true what they say about your mother."

Arieskin sat on the bench and stopped waving legs. His face looked like drained from all blood, he became pale like a ghost.

"My mother said she is a slut" Gwan said proudly, glad he learned a new word. He heard his father used to talk with his mother, who advised not to let Gwan go to Fram's gardens. Apparently Mrs. Fram is a woman from common folk who married Avarish for glory and money. And she said that word. Slut.

It happened almost instantly. Arieskin at one time sat on the bench, in the second pummeled Gwan with fists. He was shouting some words, but no one understood him. Surprised Gwan wasn't defending himself, lying on the ground and shouting. Screams recall tutor who tore Arieskin from his victim. Arieskin had tears in his eyes. Why Gwan said that? After all, was his friend!

Tutor took the boy to the property. Arieskin walked as in a dream, he was in shock and could not believe that Gwan said these words. Tutor led Arieskin to his bedroom, he said he was going for his father and locked him in the room. Arieskin threw himself on the bed and wept. He wept long as the door opened and his father came.

"Arieskin" Avarish sat next to him and touched him lightly on the shoulder. Arieskin lifted his face from the pillow. "He ... he talked bad about my mother ..."

"I know, Arieskin."

Avarish took his son in the arms, then pushed him away, so a boy could see his face.

"Do you know what your name means?"

The boy shook his head, wiping tears with his hand.

"Arieskin is the word from the old language and means " giving hope". We didn't give you this name withour a reason. You are our hope, Arieskin. You are much more than the son of a magician, you're my son. You are the son of Bellon. You should be more than name-calling, than an insult. You are important, and your mother is the best woman in the world. You should always keep this in mind."

The boy was sitting, sad, his face impassive.

"I'll tell you a secret. Your mother is actually the daughter of poor people outside the aristocracy. However, her grandmother came from an old family, who had fallen after the last war with the trolls. In her veins flows the blood of elders and therefore she gave you a name in an older language. They can't offend the older blood. If any of your colleagues insulted your mother, they offended the older blood. And that is impossible."

Avarish hugged Arieskin tightly, the tears  of a boy were drying slowly on his face.

Arieskin was sitting in the library. The faded memories hit him with such power, that tears appeared in his eyes. Gwan was simple boy, as he remembered. And he now learned politics - his power didn't awake and he didn't become a student in the academy. He won't become a mage...but it still hurts. Even after what father said to him.

He took the next book. It was late but he wanted to stay longer in the library.