Warm rays of sun lit the city of Traal. Mauve stopped near the palace’s entrance. He was wearing the black satin costume he bought the previous day. An armed guard stood in front with a spear, dressed in a shirt and pants made of white linen and a turban wrapped around his head. 

“Hello, I come in the name of Queen Velli. May I request an audience with Queen Traal?” Mauve asked politely.

The guard nodded and moved aside.

“The throne room is just ahead. After you,” said the guard.

Mauve was pleased to get an audience with the queen so easily. As he walked down the corridor, he was impressed by the riches of the palace. The walls were made of intricate golden etchings and the floors of black marble were so clean it mirrored Mauve’s reflection. But Mauve felt a sudden pain at the back of his skull. It resonated within his brain. His sight blurred and he lost focus, his consciousness fading into blackness.

***

Mauve opened his eyes. He could feel a dull pain at the back of his skull. As he rubbed his head he looked in front of him. His vision was still blurry but he could see walls made of grey mismatched stones. As it became clearer, he noticed black steel bars. He opened his eyes wide, realizing that he was in jail. 

“It was a trap!” he exclaimed.

Mauve got up promptly and grabbed the steel bars, shaking them violently.

“Let me out of here!” he shouted desperately.

“It’s useless to shout. No one will hear you,” said a raspy voice.

Surprised, Mauve looked around.

A skinny man wearing a dark robe with white fur around the collar and sleeves was sitting in a dark corner of the cell, his long black hair trailing on the floor. His face was obscured by a large black hat. His gloomy appearance sent a shiver down Mauve’s spine.

“W-who are you?” Mauve stuttered.

“My name is of no importance, but you may call me ‘Mon’ if you wish,” replied the man in an almost jovial voice.

Mauve searched his pockets for his master key. He had to get out of here as soon as possible. Luckily it was not taken away. As Mauve picked the lock, the cell door opened.

“Impressive,” said Mon. Despite his scary looks, he was relatively polite. “Good job young man. Thanks to you, I am free!” 

Mauve was a bit embarrassed by the praise he was getting. 

“It’s no big deal,” answered Mauve as he smiled faintly.  “We have to be careful, there might be guards.”

Mon stood up and dusted his robe. 

“Don’t worry, there are none,” Mon replied.

“Huh, how do you know?” asked Mauve.

Mon smiled. He had strangely sharp teeth. 

“I can sense their souls,” he replied.

As the two prisoners walked down the unlit passage, Mauve saw skeletons in the other cells. He turned his attention away from the macabre sight. There was light ahead. The exit was not very far. Mauve hesitated. He did not trust Mon’s statement. He could be crazy, he thought. But Mon felt his hesitation.

“We can walk outside young man,” Mon reassured him. “They let prisoners starve to death in this desert prison.” 

Mauve took a cautious step outside. The sun blinded him. Mon followed him casually. Mauve looked left and right.

“You were right, there’s no one here,” said Mauve.

“I told you, didn’t I?” replied Mon jovially.

The prison was in the middle of a forest. But Mauve could spot the city’s domes in the distance.

“We should head for the forest,” said Mon.

Mauve nodded and followed Mon towards the tall green trees.

***

Mon was sitting on a fallen tree trunk. Mauve was walking back and forth. He was not welcome in Traal. That was a problem, he thought. The quest he was sent on was an impossible one and he felt very discouraged. Queen Malicia could jail him again if he failed to bring back the null orb. His thoughts were interrupted by Mon.

“Young man, tell me a little about yourself,” said Mon.

“Oh, I forgot to present myself. I’m Mauve,” said Mauve. “I’m from Velli and you?” 

Mon looked at Mauve with interest.

“I used to live in Velli,” said Mon.

Mauve was feeling strangely chatty.

“Oh you are Vellian too?” replied Mauve. “How did you end up here?” 

Mon looked down smiling.

“I came here looking for something,” he said vaguely. “What about you?” 

The answer left Mauve guessing. Mon was being secretive.

“I’m looking for an artifact called the null orb,” stated Mauve.

Mon looked up at Mauve with mild surprise. 

“Me too,” said Mon.

“You are?” asked Mauve curiously.

What a coincidence, thought Mauve. Mon and him were looking for the same thing. Mauve felt some excitement. He was not alone on his quest. There were so many questions he wanted to ask Mon. 

“Why are you looking for it? How do you know about it? Do you know where we can find it?” asked Mauve excitedly.

The young man continued with a series of questions. Mon patiently waited for him to finish.

“The queen of Traal used the null orb on me. As a result, I can no longer use my magic,” replied Mon. “That is why I need to find it. To reclaim my powers.”

Mauve listened carefully. Mon had more to say.

“She left me a small figment of my magic so I would not die,“ continued Mon. “For you see, one cannot live without magic.”

The explanation confused Mauve.

“What do you mean? I do not use magic yet I am alive,” said Mauve.

Mon chuckled at the young man’s statement.

“The soul is inherently magical, that is why you cannot live without it,” answered Mon. “You do not know how to use your magic, I will teach you since you helped me.”

Mauve’s eyes brightened. He always dreamt of using magic as a child. But he always thought that most people were born without it. 

“You’ll teach me, for real?” asked Mauve.

Mon nodded with a smile.

“For you to use your magic, you need to use your soul,” explained Mon. “Pour your feelings and emotions outside your body, turn them into something real.” 

Mauve scratched his head. He was not sure he understood.

“That’s so abstract,” he said.

“Try it, materialize your feelings into something concrete,” continued Mon.

Mauve closed his eyes, firmly concentrating on his emotions. He tried what Mon had counseled him. It felt embarrassing and a bit silly, but he kept trying. Until he could feel a warmth envelop his body. Mauve opened his eyes and looked at his hands. He felt the warmth and saw some sparkles materializing in his palms.

“So, this is magic!?” he exclaimed.

Mon was pleased.

“Good job young man, you learn fast,” Mon said. “Now all that’s left is for you to discover what you can do with your magic.” 

Mon stood up and approached Mauve.

“Let me take a look at your soul,” he said quietly.

Mauve stood still while Mon placed his hand over his forehead. Mon quickly removed it with a surprised expression.

“That is peculiar. You have the soul of a shapeshifter,” said Mon.

Mon’s usual smile had left him. Mauve was a bit puzzled.

“It is quite rare to find human shapeshifters. This is normally an attribute of the elves,” Mon continued.

As Mon was lost in thought, Mauve tested his magic. He focused and tried to change his physical appearance. In the fraction of a second, his face and clothes started changing. His purple hair grew longer and darkened to black, his eyes changed from blue to green and his skin greyed. His clothes started to change as well, a large hat appearing on his head and his black satin clothes morphing into a long dark robe with furred collar and sleeves. He had turned into Mon. An exact copy. Mauve touched his face and patted his robe. It was not just an illusion, his physical form had really changed.

“Mon, I’m you!” said Mauve proudly.

Even his voice sounded different. It was raspy. Mon was impressed.

“I can use my magic to sneak in the palace and find the null orb!” said Mauve happily.

“That is indeed a very good idea,” replied a smiling Mon.

***