Page 28 of Jade Lion and the Witch Boy
The guy clears his throat. “My name is Luther. I am a wizard. And I’ve been looking for you, Jade Lion.”
CHAPTER 11- SEB
“A W-WIZARD?” Istammer. There is so much information to process now. This well-dressed guy casually walked into what was supposed to be an obscuring fog. But I suppose Kai’s spell is nothing but a beaded curtain to another adept mage.
Wizard. The word sends chills down my spine. Lisbeth has no nice words to say about the classification of spellcasters who draw power from the sun. Anika and Ashley have both been shunned as well, facts they shared with Taina and me when we joined the coven. If witches have learned to hide from mortals, we’ve also learned to steer clear of wizards as well; they’ve never been friendly with our kind. At least, that’s what I’ve been taught. I’ve never met a wizard?until now.
The guy stares at us warily. Maybe he knows he’s outnumbered. Or maybe he’s frightened by the seven-foot-tall cat man in front of him.
“How do you know of me?” Kai asks.
“And what do you want?” I add with what hopefully sounds like a threatening attitude.
“I am a lead agent of a multi-coven worldwide protection organization known as the Union of Mages. We work to keep the magical community safe from otherworldly threats and other dark forces.” The guy slowly puts his hands down, but I continue to scowl at him.
I exchange a quick glance with Kai; neither of us is letting our guard down. Kai’s hands are raised, like he’s ready to blast this guy with arcana or claw at him if he tries anything funny.
I clear my throat and step forward. “That’s great. I’m a former Boy Scout and a barista who can cast spells, too.”
Luther smiles. “Oh, you’re a wizard? I haven’t seen you around the Union. Have we not contacted your coven?”
“Witch, actually. Now, what do you want with us?”
His smile falls, and he looks at Kai. “Just you, great Jade Lion.” He puts his hands down and nods. “We have been searching for you.”
“Why?” Kai asks through a growl.
“Because we need you. Your existence is that of legend. You are foretold to lead all wizards in the fight against chaos and destruction.”
“Kind of dramatic,” I reply. When I turn to Kai, he’s scrunching his eyes and shaking his head. I recognize that look—he’s recollecting more memories.
“Hey, you okay?” I ask, approaching his side.
Kai shifts to his human form and blinks several times. I touch his shoulder and he looks at me. “Yes. I am…remembering things.”
“Wow,” Luther says, his breath catching in awe. “The long-lost ancient Chinese mage, the Jade Lion, is here.” He smiles, but I glare at him.
“Can you give us a moment, wizard guy?” I turn back to Kai and rub his arm. With a lower voice, I ask, “What did you see? Do you need to sit down?”
“No. I am alright. But I believe this is not the first time wizards have asked for my help.”
“You mean, in your time, you knew wizards?”
“Yes. And I…I believe I led them into battle with dark forces in efforts to protect the world.”
I nod and play with the charm on my wrist. It’s supposed to ward away malicious intentions, but if he’s a secret agent wizard guy, then who knows if it will work. I bite my lip and continue,“Lisbeth’s spellbook read that you, the Jade Lion, could be a great leader. I didn’t know what that meant.” I glance at Luther, then back to Kai. “How do we know this dude is telling the truth?”
“I can prove it!” Luther’s voice, just two yards away, pulls our attention. He gives a sheepish smile. “You can, uh, cast an interrogation spell on me.”
He approaches, and I shoot him a look of annoyance. “What?”
“You can sift through my mind and my memories to see if I’m telling the truth.” Luther raises his hands up again as he slowly approaches us. “You can vet me. Because I want you to trust me and the Union. We really need you, Mr. Jade Lion.”
Kai frowns. “You may call me Kai.”
Luther smiles with relief. “Well, Kai, I can walk you through the spell. You just have to—” Luther gasps and freezes up when Kai puts his hands around his scalp. Beams of light flow from Kai’s fingers through Luther’s head. I’d feel bad if this stranger didn’t literally ask for it.
Kai clamps his eyes shut and concentrates on reading Luther’s memories. “What are your intentions?” Kai asks with his eyes closed.
