Hirael was scared and worried. “This was so unexpected” he thought.

   His mother, Ariana had already warned him thousands of times that this Wizarding World contained both kind and cruel people. He hadn’t paid heed to her at all. He remembered telling his mother one day “Mum, what is the need to worry so much? Of course, I won’t even go near the cruel people.” He now realised that his mother had been right and he had been wrong. He had perfectly understood the difference between kind and cruel people but he hadn’t been careful enough to beware of them. He regretted not having listened to his mother. “I’m sorry, mum” he whispered in the darkness even though he knew she wouldn’t hear him.

   He had an extremely foolish urge to hug and weep in his mother’s arms which he had been experiencing since he was captured. He knew that he was sixteen now and he felt very guilty of having this kind of stupid urge but he just wasn’t able to help himself. He visualised his mother sitting in the darkness weeping. The thought of his mother made him wonder whether he would ever see her again. “No” Hirael shouted out loud. “That would never happen – or would it?” a voice inside his head said. He realised that thinking about his mother was painful. He brought his thoughts back to the present and was surprised to find his face soaked with tears. He hastily wiped them away.

   His thoughts now drifted towards his father who was dead. Hirael had often heard his mother musing over the fate of his father. She had already told him thousands of times how his father, Soddle had died. He remembered his father’s best friend Merlin who had cheated his father of true friendship. His father had always trusted him. They had been childhood friends. He wondered how it would be if he, himself was cheated of true friendship. He would hate it, he was sure of that. He remembered his mother saying “If you don’t keep practicing magic and spells with someone, it would completely wear off you and no matter how hard you tried, you wouldn’t be able to do it again.”

   His father had chosen Merlin for practicing magic and spells together. Hirael wondered how his father hadn’t known that Merlin was jealous of him. His intuition replied “Maybe he knew, but he just didn’t show or react that he did” He desperately hoped that it was true. He remembered the day his father died. “It must have been the most tragic day.” he mused. He remembered his mother, Ariana telling “Your father was killed by Merlin” It had been a terrible shock for him the first time she had told this because he had known that Merlin had been his father’s best friend, and also was a respected wizard in this Wizarding World but then she had continued by saying “However, I believe he has changed a lot now. I have hardly ever seen or heard him fighting or killing anyone thereafter. I am tremendously sad that your dad was killed but – ” At this point, his mother had had tears in her eyes and her voice had begun cracking as far as he had remembered.

   After weeping for a few minutes, she had continued “But (sniff sniff) that doesn’t mean that I shouldn’t forgive him (sniff sniff). He was already extremely sad that he had killed such a true friend (sniff sniff). He had even cried about the act he had done. I could tell that he was very guilty (sniff sniff). He was even wondering about how he was going to show his face to others, having committed such a cruel and pitiless act (sniff sniff).”

   Hirael felt that his mother was angry when she had been telling the last few words but he was not exactly sure about it. However, Hirael didn’t think that Merlin should be forgiven so easily. He deserved a huge punishment, for having killed his father and only because of Merlin, he had now only one family member to live with. “This is perfect injustice” he thought. “If people kept forgiving others so easily, they would surely continue doing these dreadful mistakes, as they would be sure that whatever mistake they do, they would be forgiven.” He remembered his mother telling him the incident of his father’s death when he had been barely two and then when he had been five and finally when he had been ten. He had been “too small” as per the words of Aunt Caroline. However, he had understood it when he was ten. He recalled the incident.

   “It had been a dark evening. The sun was just going down the horizon. His father, Soddle and Merlin were busy practicing their magic and spells among each other. Merlin had wanted to practice the “Flying Sprinkler” which made one levitate in the air for some time. His father had agreed. However, instead of making a “Flying Sprinkler”, Merlin was busy making a “Killing Sprinkler” which killed one immediately. His father had been unaware of Merlin’s intentions. Merlin had sprinkled the “Killing Sprinkler on his father leading to his death.” At this point Hirael stopped because his face was again soaked with tears. He wiped them away again. He had hardly ever seen his father. His father died when Hirael had been barely one.

   Hirael continued thinking about what had happened according to his mother after his father had died. “Merlin had been captured and was sent to be punished in the Wizarding Government” he thought. “Serves him right!!” he murmured. “When he had reached the government, he had pleaded, requested and even asked for forgiveness and had promised he wouldn’t repeat the mistake again.” It made him sick thinking of the incident. “Did he expect the government to forgive him and just let him go? Mum had told that forgiveness must be given to everyone, did he have that in mind while pleading?” he wondered. Hirael knew that this acceptance of mistakes didn’t work with the government, however the number of days can be decreased. His mother had told him that mistakes should be forgiven but she had said so in a general sense. This didn’t work out with the government.

   He continued recalling the incident “The head of the Wizarding Government, Carl knew what a grave mistake Merlin had done, and so didn’t agree with him. Carl felt that Merlin deserved a huge punishment. Yet Merlin had tried again and pleaded numerous times. Men had been tugging at Merlin’s sleeves to take him to the prison. Merlin had hastily shaken them off and shouted at the top of his voice ‘PLEASE DO FORGIVE ME. I PROMISE I WILL NEVER DO ANYTHING LIKE THIS AGAIN. PLEASE.’ Carl had been amused on hearing this. Nobody had had the courage to yell like that. Carl had at last taken pity and had reduced the number of days of his punishment from one year to six months.”

    Hirael remembered, while his mother had told him this part of the story, he had spat out and yelled without thinking “IS THIS FOOLISH WIZARDING GOVERNMENT RULED BY HUNDREDS OF FOOLS?! HOW COULD THEY DO THIS? THIS IS NOT AT ALL FAIR.” His mother tried to control him but he hadn’t been ready to hear any nonsense. “PITY SHOULDN’T BE SHOWN TO PEOPLE LIKE THESE, WHO KILL INNOCENT PEOPLE PURPOSELY WITHOUT ANY MISTAKE OF THEIRS.” He had shouted at the top of his voice. Recalling how he had shouted, he forced a smile and then again was absorbed in his thoughts.

   “Merlin had spent continuous six months in the prison and the day for him to return to his home had finally dawned. He had been taken to Carl, who warned him that if he came to know that Merlin had taken to his bad ways again, he would again have to spend many months in the prison. Merlin nodded his head and silently went back home.” Again, Hirael felt his anger for Merlin. Merlin had done such a grave mistake and yet his number of days of punishment had decreased and he had been allowed to re-enter his home. Even though Hirael felt he would love to yell at the top of his voice again, he knew that it would be like crying over spilt milk. He brought himself back to the present and tried to think of a plan to handle the present situation.

   He remembered his mother, Ariana giving him a box and saying “Hirael, I am sure that you would be very curious to see what is inside this box, but I would advise you not to try and open this box. This box had been given by your father, a few days before he had died. He had told me to not open this box and see what was inside until and unless I was in grave danger. Now, I have grown old and so, now I would like you to take charge of this box. Keep it safely. Whatever is inside the box can be used only once. So, make the best use of it whenever required” Hirael had taken it from her and had hung it around his neck as per his mother’s advice. Hirael knew that if he wanted, he could use it now, but somehow, he didn’t think that he was in much danger now. He would be in danger at dawn…” He started day-dreaming (or should it be night-dreaming?) again and his thoughts drifted to how he had been captured.

   “It had been a bright sunny day and he was flying above in the sky on his unicorn, marvelling at how fast he was going. Hirael always loved exploring, so he decided to go a little farther away than where he normally used to be. That was when a wizard approached him and said ‘Merlin is inviting you for a feast. He is extremely happy that you are finally here. He has been waiting for you thousands of days so that he could ask for your forgiveness as well as he had killed your father. Please follow me. I would escort you inside.’ Hirael hadn’t liked the idea at all. His first thought had been that if Merlin really wanted to ask for forgiveness, he could have come over to his own house. However, he decided not to ask this. His intuition had told him that going to Merlin’s house would prove terribly dangerous. Yet, his mother had trusted Merlin, so he had known what to do. So, he followed him and had gotten himself into this trap.

   “Oh my, what a stupid thing I have done!!! I should have trusted my intuitions, for they have always been right. How could I have not trusted it?! That evil wizard Merlin has also gotten hold of my wand now. I can’t even magic myself out. Now I am going to be tortured and everything – maybe even killed” he whispered. He began hitting his forehead against the wall and then, after a while he stopped, realising it was of no use. He sat down in a corner and eventually, realised that it was already dawn. “How long have I been thinking?” he wondered. He decided to go to the window and refresh himself. He had already thought about escaping, but somehow, he didn’t want to. He wanted to fight and face whatever was coming, no matter however awful or dangerous it may be. He decided to use the box hung around his neck, only if he didn’t have any other choice.

   Having stood near the window for sometime, Hirael was just returning, when he heard voices near the door. He absolutely recognised one voice as Merlin’s, and wondered who the other was. Obviously, they had thought that he was asleep to be so careless as to talk near the door. He stuck his ear to the door as much as possible and wished that he could get much closer. He was able to make out only a few words, but they were enough to make him aware of what was about to happen. Merlin was telling someone to do the most murderous act, to make a Killing Sprinkler. He knew he was the one on whom it was going to be sprinkled. The conversation had stopped. He slowly and silently went back to the corner of the room. He was surprised to realise that his legs were shivering so much that they could barely hold him. He sat down hurriedly afraid that he would fall down. He wondered how he was going to face what was coming. Hirael thought of escaping again, but again he was reluctant to do that. His intuition told him “Be like your father. Face whatever is coming.” He thought of planning something, but he knew he wouldn’t be able to think. He became more and more tensed as the minutes passed. He felt that the minutes were passing tremendously fast. He kept thinking “Maybe more two hours to go… one hour… Any time now” After a few minutes, the door flew open.

   Merlin came inside and before Hirael even knew what was happening, he dragged him outside. “Be calm, be calm” he told himself “You knew this was coming. There is nothing to worry about.” he murmured, even though he knew there were many things to worry about. He knew his mother would be very worried by this time. He hoped that her first suspicion would be Merlin. He wondered what his father would have done if he had been in his place. “I am sure he would stay and fight, just like you are going to do now.” A voice said in his head. Merlin had now dragged Hirael to an enormous room, similar to where he had been all this time. He was going to be killed in this room, he knew it. This room contained all the spells or at least most of them that he had had learnt in his life. He didn’t know how he was going to return home unharmed. His intuition told him “Nothing is going to happen to you. You are not going to die. Trust me.” He knew his intuition was always right, but in a situation like this he couldn’t think of a single way of not going to die.

   He decided to try his best to get rid of Merlin. By this time, Merlin had already gotten hold of his wand. Hirael knew that he didn’t have any chance but to fight Merlin and hope for the best. He saw Merlin making the room sound-proof with a tap of his wand. Then Merlin turned to him and said “You are just like your father” Hirael wondered what Merlin meant by this. Surely, he didn’t mean in the good terms?! But then he continued “Foolish and innocent just like your father. Your father or should I say Soddle, also didn’t know when and where he was getting into a trap. He blindly trusted everyone, believing whatever path he chose was always right. I would say he was pretty overconfident. You are just like him, not knowing when and where you are getting in a trap.” 

   Hirael knew whatever Merlin had just said was perfectly true. He had acted without thinking and had regretted it hundreds of times, but he didn’t want Merlin to know that he was regretting or agreeing with what Merlin said. He simply said “Merlin, or should I say dad’s most unworthy and untrue friend or fiend wasn’t able to control himself from killing dad just because he was very powerful. I agree that many people believe that you are a very nice wizard, but I don’t. I have been waiting for this moment since years when you will show your true colours. I agree that I am not as powerful as you and I even know your thirst for killing me, but I warn you, by killing me, you are not going to achieve anything except by spending years and years in the prison again. Even if I die, I am sure that some or the other day, soon enough, this Wizarding World will come to know of your true colours and you will get a really big punishment which you deserve.”

   Hirael saw that Merlin was on the verge of bursting. Merlin stammered “Ho-ow d-dare yo-ou!!! You don’t know who I am and what all I can do –” Hirael interrupted “Of course, I know who you are. You are a silly, little cockroach, who continuously wants to come in my way and I am sure that one of these days it would be stamped and destroyed forever.” Hirael saw Merlin’s anger starting to build up again. He was truly enjoying himself. His mother hadn’t allowed him to talk about other people like that. He thought that by decreasing Merlin’s confidence, he could fight him better. Merlin had become so angry, that instead of replying back, as Hirael had expected, he decided to kill him immediately.

    Hirael saw Merlin snatch the Killing Sprinkler and he became more and more tensed. He now knew what he had to do. He snatched the box on his neck, opened it as fast as possible. He found a gem inside. He didn’t know what he had to do with it. He just clutched it with all his might. He didn’t understand what was going to happen by just clutching the gem, however he just wanted to do his best. Merlin had been very angry and so, hadn’t noticed Hirael getting hold of the gem. He just came towards Hirael and sprinkled the Killing Sprinkler. Nothing happened. Hirael was also very surprised because usually, the Killing Sprinkler’s effect was supposed to be instantaneous. Merlin’s reaction was that of astonishment. He sprinkled the Killing Sprinkler again, yet nothing happened. Hirael slowly understood that it must have been because of the gem in his hand. “I have to find out what this gem is when I get back home.” he thought, amused.

   Now, he knew that no matter whatever he did, there was no way that he could be harmed. He confidently approached Merlin and said “I had already warned you that some or the other day people will come to know of your true colours and I am really glad to say that this day has arrived much sooner than I had expected. I am pretty sure that you hadn’t expected this. I would very much like to kill you somehow or the other, now that none of your spells are working on me, but I am not as cruel and cold hearted as you. I really pity you for your cruelty, which has already bought you all the way to the Wizarding Prison and which will again surely bring you.”

   Then Hirael had done a really unexpected thing. It was unforeseen for both him as well as Merlin. Even Hirael didn’t know why he had done this and of what use it was. He had disclosed the gem which was in his hand to Merlin. The moment he had disclosed, Merlin was shocked as rays of light had appeared at the end of the gem, and before he even knew what was happening, the rays had already reached his eyes and Merlin was blind. Hirael hurriedly rushed forward and grabbed Merlin’s wand as if he had known what he had to do all these years. Hirael was surprised. It was like he had planned this already and was just waiting to get his plan worked out. By this time, Merlin had started shouting “HOW DARE YOU GRAB MY WAND LIKE THAT. YOU WILL SURELY PAY FOR THIS SOME OR THE OTHER DAY….” 

   Hirael had started running. Merlin’s voice was becoming fainter and fainter as he ran. Hirael knew he had no energy to run, yet he wasn’t able to stop himself. He hadn’t got any food and sleep at all since last afternoon. People were gasping as they saw him in the streets. He wondered whether he should first go to his mother or to the Wizarding Government. He knew that he was very hungry and sleepy, but to prevent more such deaths, he thought he would better go to the Wizarding Government and first get Merlin captured. He ran as fast as possible to the Wizarding Government. The wizard outside told him that there was a very important discussion taking place in the government and it would be better if he wouldn’t interrupt. But, at that moment it didn’t matter to him even if the world was going to be destroyed. He just wanted Merlin to be captured as soon as possible.

   “It could be possible in some way that Merlin could escape, although, I can’t think how.” he thought. Even though the wizard outside tried to stop him from entering, he just yelled “JUST KEEP QUIET AND GO AWAY. THIS IS A REQUEST.” Hirael, just pushed his way past and had entered. As soon as he entered, he abruptly rushed towards Carl and poured out the whole story. He even told that Merlin had forced someone to make the Killing Sprinkler, however, he didn’t know who. Even though Carl had been irritated for having been interrupted in an important discussion, he softened when he heard the story. He sent two wizards to arrest Merlin.

     Meanwhile, news had spread that Hirael, who had disappeared had suddenly come back and had headed towards the Wizarding Government. His mother, Ariana heard this and rushed towards the Wizarding Government. At the same time, Carl was talking with Hirael “You have shown a lot of bravery in this act, Hirael. I am sure that you are very exhausted and you want to go home and sleep but I would like to have a few words with you, if you permit.” Hirael nodded his head. “I was wrong to have reduced Merlin’s punishment. I am sure if he had had the punishment for a few more years, you wouldn’t have had to undergo such dangerous consequences. I am really sorry to have pitied him now. It is only your forgiveness that I should seek, because it was only due to me, you had to face such consequences. Will you forgive me?”

   Hirael was overwhelmed. He didn’t understand what to say. He opened his mouth and then closed it again, not knowing exactly what to speak. He finally found a few words and spoke “I don’t know what to say. I am nothing compared to you, yet you are asking me to forgive you?! I am not at all angry at you. Of course, I forgive you.” he said hurriedly noticing Carl’s reaction. “But I mean, you shouldn’t be sorry. I mean there is nothing to be sorry about.” he said. Before Carl could reply, Hirael’s mother had arrived and before he even knew what was happening, she had started hugging him with tears in her eyes. Hirael felt tears coming to his own eyes. He didn’t even try to stop them. At that moment, it didn’t matter to him even if the whole world was looking at him. He just wanted to cry, cry and cry in his mother’s arms. He knew how he had missed her all the time he had been in Merlin’s house. He hugged her tightly not wishing to leave her. He wished he could stay like that forever. Finally, he let go of her and wiped away his tears, and at the same time, the two wizards who had been sent to arrest Merlin had arrived and to the immense relief of Hirael, along with Merlin. Hirael’s mother who hadn’t known the incident till now, was surprised to see Merlin, and that too blind.

      Carl, noticing her reactions, narrated to her what all had happened. She again hugged Hirael so tightly, that Hirael felt suffocated. “I should have known what kind of a wizard he is. You were right, he was and is surely up to no good.” She whispered feeling sorry. “Mum, you -” She interrupted “No, I should feel sorry. It was partly because of me too that you were captured. I am sorry.” Hirael knew, whatever he said to his mother of not feeling sorry, he wouldn’t be heard. So, he just kept quiet and allowed her to talk to him. When she had finally let go of him, he came back to his senses and focused on what was happening. Hirael could tell that if Merlin had had his eye sight now, he would have glared at him with all his might. Hirael asked Carl whether he was going to grant Merlin his eye sight again.

   He shook his head and said “He perfectly deserves what he has got, and now that I have understood what kind of a wizard he is, I will make sure that he wouldn’t be granted a day of peace.” Hirael nodded and asked him “How long is his punishment going to be now?” “I wanted to ask your suggestion for that, as you are the one who has undergone these terrible consequences. What do you think?” Carl asked “Er- First of all, I would like to thank you for asking me. So, actually he deserves to stay in the prison for the rest of the life, but, er- I don’t want to be as cruel as he is, but I think he can have more ten years of imprisonment.” Hirael said and Carl nodded in agreement. “I was thinking on those terms too but as I shouldn’t show pity to people who are as cruel as Merlin, I wanted to know your suggestion as well.” Merlin, who had been listening to their conversation, started shouting “NO, YOU CAN’T DO THIS TO ME. THIS IS NOT FAIR -” “It is as fair as you had treated this young boy here.” Carl said smiling. He gestured to some men to take Merlin away.

    After he had been taken away, even though he wanted to return home and eat, Hirael asked his mother “What was that gem which had protected me from all kinds of spells and magic that Merlin had tried on me?” His mother replied “It was the ‘Gem of Protection’. It can protect you from any kind of harm when there is one. Your father was the one who had created this gem. He was very famous for it. He has left us one of his most valuable creations.”

   Hirael’s head had begun spinning. He felt very joyful. Even though his father had died, he had taken the utmost care to protect him. Without him giving this gem, he wouldn’t have survived. He thanked his father in his mind and then something struck him. He went and asked Carl “Did you question that wizard whom Merlin was telling to make the Killing Sprinkler?” “As of now, I don’t know who that wizard was, but I have decided to declare something” Carl said. Hirael raised his eyebrows in question. To this, Carl himself went outside with a megaphone, but Hirael thought he already knew what Carl was about to do. He declared “From now on if someone or the other threatens you to do something wrong, please don’t hesitate to come here and complain” “Er- it was really nice of you to think of something like this.” Hirael said. Carl just smiled. “So er- thanks” Hirael said, hardly knowing what else he could talk. “Actually, I am the one who should thank you. It was only because of you that this Wizarding World is saved from further problems. It is only because of you that there will be no more murders and fights. So, thanks a lot” Carl said smiling.

   Hirael didn’t know what else he could say and so, turned around to go home, seeing that his mother was waiting for him. He smiled and went home happily along with her. After a while, there was a huge crowd at their doorstep wanting to know what exactly had happened. Ariana called Hirael to answer the crowd but by then the ‘young hero’ had already snuggled up into his bed, dreaming of his upcoming adventures.

   So, how about starting a new adventure with Hirael??