The luminous sphere shined even brighter from his command. Leo was now able to see more of the training grounds than the explosion site beside him. Afterwards, he turned his attention to the apple tree rooted to right where it should be. The same spot it’d been since he and his friends planted it from only a small sprout. And near it was the forest pathway Leo used to enter and leave the training grounds. The sorcerer magically reclaimed the orb and headed for home, until suddenly…

“You will not make it back that way, sorcerer.”

Leo heard the voice again and stopped from taking another step. But it hadn’t addressed him by only name like it had the past few occasions. Which must mean that someone, or something, was there spying on the young sorcerer. And he figured they were responsible for taking him in his sleep as well. The young sorcerer turned back and fiercely conjured bright-gray flames from both his hands.

“Who’s there?!” Sharply demanded Leo. “Show yourself!”

“There is no need for alarm, Leo.”

And yet, he continued to hold his guard, seeking the source of the voice. But it was cut short, when a small form of magical energy appeared from thin air. It shined like a spherical body of water, hovering over the surface of the grassy field. Leo, however, kept his focused on said matter when the energy started altering its form. It bewildered the sorcerer seeing the bizarre thing morph without a magic wielder in sight. Although, it didn’t prevent him from initiating the first attack.

“Calm yourself,” the voice insisted. “There is no need for fighting.”

Leo’s spell diminished when the voice again made itself known. It hadn’t come off in the form as the distant whisper the sorcerer was familiar with. But none of that mattered when he saw the magical energy in its newly finished form. It was a bright, translucent silhouette of a faceless, male figure standing in the field. He, or rather “it”, made the first step toward the incredibly agitated Leo.

“D-Don’t come any closer!” He warned, raising a hand.

“But I have not attacked you, have I?”

The magic figure gestured at itself as if it were trying to reason with him. And while it provided a valid point, it wasn’t enough to persuade the startling sorcerer. Leo fired the first shot at the magical silhouette still walking toward him. Unfortunately, the blast was absorbed by an invisible field he never knew about. He fired more rounds after that, hoping it would break it, but the results were the same. When he had finally stopped, the mysterious being towered over, petrifying the sorcerer.

“W-Who are you…?” Stuttered Leo. “More importantly, what are you?!”

“You may address me as Morphos,” introduced the voice. “And that is all I can tell at this moment.”

The living form addressed itself as “Morphos,” reaching its hand out to Leo. He thought of backing away, but his legs were unresponsive to create any distance.

“You have been chosen,” stated Morphos, “To bestow upon my power.”

“W-What?!”

With that statement, Morphos placed a hand on the sorcerer’s chest. Leo, not understanding what was happening, felt the fidgeting from his body start to fade. Then, a light came from between him and the mysterious being before him. It provided an unusual sense of comfort that replaced all negative thoughts inan instant. After the light had faded, Morphos pulled his hand away, leaving Leo to fall on his knees.

“W-What… what did you do…?” Questioned the sorcerer.

“I have bestowed upon you a gift,” Morphos responded. “May it be of service to you in the future, young sorcerer.”

Many thoughts were going through Leo’s mind of the strange being. The most concerning though, was whatever the “gift” that’d been bestowed upon him. After trying to get back up, the sorcerer noticed his legs were not respondent. And to make matters worse, a wave of fatigue suddenly washed over him as well. His consciousness, however, stayed strong to witness Morphos’ magical form fading away.

“W-Wait…!” Demanded Leo weakly. “What’s this ‘gift’ you spoke of?! And why did you take me all the way out here?!”

“I did not take you anywhere, actually,” Morphos stated.

Those were the final words said before he vanished from the field. Now, all Leo could see was pure darkness enveloping over him and the training grounds. Then all of a sudden, he felt an estrange sense of falling, landing a top of a hard surface. The sorcerer abruptly shot up and opened his eyes to a place he immediately recognized.

“I’m… I’m home?” Leo said uncertainly.

He turned at every corner, making everything was where it should be. Both the furniture and decorations were in place from what the sorcerer could tell. And it seemed his parents still hadn’t returned home from their afternoon in the village. Leo pulled himself off the floor, feeling an unexpected weight inside his chest when moving. He thought it was only nothing, but then another theory stirred in his mind instead.

“Morphos…”

That name resonated like a whisper off the sorcerer’s own lips. He started recalling all of the events that had occurred just after he had fallen asleep. Along with the “gift” he’d been bestowed when the mysterious being touched his chest. It made sense to declare it as nothing but a dream, yet Leo couldn’t shake how real it felt.

“I-It was a dream,” he declared. “It had to have been a dream.”

Leo pushed that topic aside and went over to look out the front window. The night sky made the outside so dark, but he still saw light coming from the village. And only a second later, the sorcerer spotted his parents teleporting in front of the house. As much as Leo wanted to go greet them, the need for sleep was again creeping over him. So, he headed up the stairs and went straight to bed. 

End of Chapter Three