Ultimus Thesaurus: The last Treasure (Era of Change Book 1) (2 page)

I am glad that he is one of those who have managed to obtain a diploma and I am sure that his words will be an appropriate conclusion to the last few years. Many thanks!” he said and left the stage, waving his hands as the crowd cheered at him and adored him.

He knocked me on the shoulder and smiled, while he whispered: “You will be sorry if you disappoint me again.”

I swallowed it, eased my collar a little, while I felt the sweat running down on my face from my forehead. I fought for every thought in my head and tried to focus until I finally realized what I was doing. All these years I did what others had told me to. I was afraid of the world because I wanted it to recognize me, even though it never did. I took the step forward and began to talk. And although I felt the need to finally say the words which I had held back for all these years, I just couldn’t do it.

The sweat still ran down from my forehead and I believed that I would die of dehydration at this precise moment. I reached into my pocket and dug out my handkerchief. As I was unfolding it I saw the small silver coin falling down to the ground. It was a moment of fear that I could lose it, and also a clear and strong epiphany. When I looked at it and thought of what it meant, I saw Jasper Lawrence in front of me and I asked myself what he would do if he were here right now. It made me smile and so I wiped the sweat from my forehead and put the coin in front of me on the desk. Everything was clear at once: a light cough to clear my throat, a sip of water and the opening of the top button of my shirt were all it needed.

“My name is Jacob Ayrs, and I am the son of the mayor. For many years I thought that I was born under a special star. Although I was cared for, I was afraid. Although I am rich in money, I was poor in friendship. Although I am smart in school, I was stupid in life. 

We live in a time of change and only too well do I remember the words of my father who has held a speech about values and understanding about five minutes ago. And the words of my grandfather opened my eyes. My dream is not this diploma in my hands and also not to make the guild proud, nor my father, but myself I want to see happy one day. Out there in the world, there is a man named Jasper Lawrence, who is both a hero, as well as a lost. He is like I, only better, and so I wish to follow him, although I cannot do it nevertheless.

I hope that this speech shows you one thing, namely that there is no dream out there waiting for you, not even a mystical change. You yourself must go, race and fight, because the world won’t change itself, it will just disappear, as will all of us. I wish you all the best, just as my father and his father before, but I wish you something more, namely the courage to follow your dreams. Many thanks!”

It was as if my speech had taken over my body and I was not the only one stunned by shock. The entire audience looked at me and almost stared enchanted into the void, and while most parents, teachers or colleagues of my father were upset about my presentation, my father himself was nearly consumed by his anger. As always he hid away his emotions behind a smile and while he put his arms around me, he made clear to me that I had committed my last mistake, this time perhaps the worst of all. But no matter what would happen, this day was one of the best of my life, because down there in the audience was a woman who heard what I said and also understood it - Lucia.

In certain moments you must grow beyond yourself, at least that’s what people told me. Often I have asked myself whether the people who tell you all these things, have ever even considered to do this as well. Because if you think of the repercussions, then all that stands out is the question 'why?'. Why did I do this? Why am I punished for it? And why is it always me?

“That was the last time. I will leave nothing to coincidences anymore. It is over! This book, I should probably just burn it here in front of you. Just admit it, it was Lucia, right? You spoke to her before my speech. And I am sure you spoke about all of this! My reputation is ruined and whether this family will ever recover from this, I do not know. Who should still remember my name? You have destroyed everything. You are nothing more than a disgrace to this family, to this village, and also to this world. You have the rest of the day to think about your disobedience and to reflect about your stupidity,” screamed my father as he angrily left my room.

Edgar, our butler, made sure that I would not leave the room, even though I clearly wouldn’t dare to anger my father even more. My father loved to do destroy things rather than to understand them and as much as I wanted to make sense of this, I just couldn’t bring myself to it. I took off my glasses and put them on my bed. On the ceiling hung a game of stars, one of the last magic artefacts in our possession. 

It simulated our planetary system and was powered by the connection between the circular magnetic stone network and the magical energy maintained within it. I had no idea what that meant but it interested me since I was very young. I had very many books, but none taught magic. 

It was now almost extinct and many people believed that it never even existed. For me, who could survive in a technical world, it seemed not threatening, but it was still sad.

Only one thrown stone at my window tore me from my almost meditative condition of frustration and forced me back on my legs. I put my glasses on because I did not want to run the risk of stumbling over things or even falling out of the window. Even if this fear was unfounded and I knew that I could never be so stupid, I still had to put all the possibilities in relation to one another. Lucia was still busy throwing stones up at my window, as she clearly knew, that I was just making her wait. When I finally managed to fixate my glasses, I opened the heavy window and a further stone hit me directly against my nose. My loud cry immediately aroused the curiosity of Edgar, who at once rushed into the room finding me standing in front of the open window with a bleeding nose.

“Is everything in order, my lord? I have heard the noise and only wanted to make sure that you are well,” he inquired with his silver tongue. He sneaked slowly like a snake through the room and took a not quite unintentional look out of the window.

Of course, Lucia had already hidden herself and therefore was hardly in danger - whereas the danger seemed to already have found me, despite my caution.

“Everything is in order, Edgar. I was just careless when I opened the window. As you know, it is very difficult to open,” I said and held a cloth on my nose while I complimented Edgar out of the room.

“Next time please call me if you need help, young Sir. I serve your house for so long now, that you should know that such lower task is a duty of mine.”

“It was a long day, Edgar, and even though it is early afternoon, I long for a brief moment of silence and relaxation. I would be extremely grateful if you would refrain from rushing unannounced into my room. Good day.”

I firmly closed the door and even before I completely turned around, I noticed Lucia already sat on my bed.

“That was a very special speech. Your father has not promised too much,” she commented and looked at the game of stars.

“You don’t know half of it. This bleeding nose is just the beginning of the end. Tomorrow I have a couple of hours and then he will personally accompany me into the city. It was the final mistake, he said. My book is also still in his possession.”

“Tomorrow ... my birthday. But hopefully you come over, even if just shortly? I would be glad to see you at least one last time before it becomes uncertain what happens next.”

“This is what I said when I spoke of the few hours’ time. It was the only reason I could bring up to convince him. He thinks that it would be a good idea if I witness your failed existence one last time before I transition into higher circles of society.

 Sometimes I think that this man is made of nonsense. You are at least as smart as I am. Even if it means nothing to you, you could achieve the same things I do.”

“I shall become a scaredy-cat? Oh sorry I meant of course, diploma holding chicken-hearted honouree,” she said and made me laugh my anxious mind away.

“What would I be without you?” I asked her and rummaged my room for a small box.

“Probably the son of a proud father, who would praise you all day,” she said with a serious expression and looked at me.

“I can already imagine the nightmare. ’Oh son, I finally have found a successor! Who besides you could lead this insane, misguided failure of a population if not my own arrogant and blinded offspring?' And then he would perhaps even gift me one of these expensive jackets.”

“That would not be your style. Men with glasses and bleeding nose need something special. What is in the box?”

I put the box on the bed and took my coin in hand.

“This coin reminds me, that you will achieve your dream at some point. Maybe tomorrow finally is the day that your father returns. I would like to give this box to you, but you shouldn’t open it before you see your father again. As I will be away for an unforeseeable period of time, I thought that I give you something to accompany you while I am gone, as my last gift so to speak. My father is, as you know, impatient. I hope that I will see you tomorrow.”

She took the box and stood up. And while she approached the window, my fear of never seeing her again grew with every step she took.

“Do not fear. You are special,” she said and gave me one last wink before she opened the window and disappeared.

I let myself fall back on the bed and put the bloody cloth and my glasses next to me. Nothing except laughter could escape me, because this day was different than any other day I knew. For this was the first time I did not fear my future. Although I did not get many hours of sleep, it was nevertheless enough to give me new strength. When Edgar entered the room at night and woke me up, the sun was already gone.

“Young lord, the dinner is served. The master will be waiting for your arrival in five minutes.”

I had no intention to join my father, but I also did not want to let the 'Master' wait. No matter what the future would bring, it would free me from him. Edgar and the rest of the servants had prepared the great hall, probably as a last gesture of goodwill of my father. Even if he did not like to say it I was nevertheless part of his inheritance.

“Sit down! You are late for dinner. Were you sleeping again? Your weak spirit can probably not endure an entire day. If I look back at this day, it is not surprising. To destroy the life of a human being must be exhausting.”

As always he tried to make my life a beautiful and wonderful journey and so I wanted him to share this path with me, even if only for a night. My mere presence already triggered cramps in his face which I enjoyed to the fullest while course after course was served.

“What do you expect from your future? Your wish, what was it? Being some kind of circus fighter? What plans does a person like that have? I contemplated all day about it.”

I put the fork and knife aside, since I started to think of ways to use them, of which most seemed wrong and gruesome at first, but with every word my father uttered, changed to such a reasonable state, that I couldn’t trust myself anymore.

“I do not expect that you understand me. It is clear to me, that if one searches for the treasures of this world and writes the stories of his life, he won’t ever be someone you could respect. But in the end it makes no difference. No one who has seen me ever thought of me as the person you want, and as long as I cannot live the way I want, I will be afraid of the world. Your plans stir my anger and let this fear grow. I accepted the fact that perhaps I will never find happiness, but no matter what you try to make of me, I will always remain your son.”

“Don’t be too sure of that. The technology is advancing rapidly,” he replied and continued to eat.

With a slight cough I dappled my mouth with the napkin and stood up.

“Please excuse me, father. Tomorrow is an important day for me and therefore I will take my leave now.”

With a smile he took a sip from his glass and said: “Sleep tight, perhaps after all this sleep, a son I can be proud of, will finally awake.”

And so I removed myself from the dinner table and walked through the lonely hallways of this palace along the dark corridors down to the empty rooms, up to my room and lay on my bed and whispered: “If this man ever awakes, I will kill him myself.”

I woke up from a dream that I couldn’t remember, but the fear that I felt reminded me, that it was a nightmare. I checked my breathing, grabbed my glasses and rubbed my hand through my face, before I stood up. The sun could already be seen on the horizon and I realized that this would be the day on which my future was to be set in motion. Of course I wasn’t keeping all options in mind. In a certain way it was ironic, that even if I thought about all these different possibilities every time, I never thought of what really was about to happen. I rummaged my room for some blank paper sheets and an old quill which I deposited here, knowing that my father would take away my book. It was to be a letter to Lucia that I could either give to here now or wait and send it with the mail, depending on what would happen on this day.

Dear Lucia,

For many years I have asked myself whether I really deserve to have such a friend. Again and again you stood by my side, no matter how times have treated you. You saw my anxiety and instead of pitying me, you tried to understand my problems. It was your strength that bolstered me and I hope that I will eventually be able to return what you gave me. No matter what the world will do to you, never change.

Eternally yours

Iago

I folded the letter and put it in the envelope. A short time later the door opened and Edgar intended to wake me up.

“Good morning, young sir. The breakfast is served in a few minutes. The master excuses himself and he asks for your presence at twelve o'clock. I should also convey to you that a further attempt to disappoint him will not so easily be forgiven.”